Óeðlilegar

Óeðlilegar is the feminine plural form of the Icelandic adjective óeðlilegur. It describes feminine plural nouns and can mean irrational, unnatural, or not in accordance with nature or reason. In Icelandic, adjectives agree with the noun in gender and number, so óeðlilegar accompanies feminine plural nouns such as tölur or aðstæður. The term is common in mathematics to describe irrational numbers, and it is also used in everyday language to describe unusual or abnormal phenomena.

The word is formed from the negating prefix ó- attached to eðlilegur, which in turn derives from eðli, meaning nature or essence. Eðlilegur denotes natural, normal, or sensible; óeðlilegur conveys deviation from what is natural or rational. The contrast with eðlilegur marks a valuation rather than an exact scientific category, and the nuance can vary by context.

Uses include mathematics, where óeðlilegar tölur denote irrational numbers such as π or sqrt(2). In everyday speech, the term can describe behavior, statements, or circumstances that lack a rational basis, for example, óeðlilegar fullyrðingar or óeðlilegar aðstæður. It is less neutral than synonyms such as óvanalegur (unusual) or óalgengur (uncommon). Example sentences: Þessar tölur eru óeðlilegar. Þessar fullyrðingar eru óeðlilegar. Við komumst að óeðlilegum aðstæðum.