verðlaunahaldara

Verðlaunahaldari is an Icelandic term used to denote a person who has received or holds a prize or award. The word is a compound of verðlaun, meaning prize or award, and haldari, meaning holder. In Icelandic writing, it functions as a neutral descriptor for someone who has been granted an honor, regardless of the field or level of the prize.

The nominative singular form is verðlaunahaldari; the genitive is verðlaunahaldara. The term is suitable for formal contexts, such as official announcements, biographical notes, and prize lists, where the emphasis is on the status conferred by the award rather than on nomination or the act of presenting the prize.

While verðlaunahaldari indicates prize possession, it does not specify the prestige or scope of the award. In practice, additional descriptors may be added to clarify the context, for example by referencing the awarding institution or the field (such as science, literature, or sports). The term thus functions as a general, non-technical label for any prize recipient within Icelandic usage.

See also: laureate, prize recipient, award.