vísur

Vísur is the Icelandic word for verses or poems, derived from vísa, a short lyric or stanza. In Old Norse and medieval Icelandic literature, a vísa is a self-contained unit of verse that could appear as a standalone poem or be quoted within longer works. The tradition encompasses a range of metres and styles, notably fornyrðislag and dróttkvætt, which shaped how vísur could be composed and transmitted. Vísur appear throughout the corpus of medieval poetry, including the Poetic Edda and various sagas, where poets or narrators insert traditional verses to summarize events, praise patrons, or convey wisdom.

In modern Icelandic, vísur remains the general term for a poem or song lyric and is commonly used to refer to a single verse as well as a collection of verses. The plural vísur is used for multiple verses; the term can also function in titles or discussions of lyric tradition. The concept of vísur is central to understanding Icelandic rímur, skaldic poetry, and the broader lyric culture, and it continues to influence contemporary Icelandic poetry and song.