Õppur

Þöppur is an Icelandic adjective used to describe someone as dense or slow-witted. In everyday language it is primarily a colloquial, pejorative term applied to a person who is perceived as not quick to understand or to grasp new ideas. While the primary sense is metaphorical (describing mental agility), it can occasionally describe something with physical density, though this is far less common in common speech.

Etymology and usage notes are not always explicit in common dictionaries. þöppur is a native Icelandic word and belongs to informal vocabulary, often found in conversational Icelandic, humor, or light literature. Because it carries a negative connotation, it is generally considered impolite or insulting when directed at someone. In formal or careful writing, more neutral terms such as “lënur” (not productive here) or “slow to understand” would be preferred, depending on the context.

Grammar and inflection follow standard Icelandic adjective patterns. In practice, þöppur appears in the masculine singular nominative form, with gendered and plural variations adjusting to grammatical agreement with the noun it describes. This means speakers adapt the form to match number and gender in sentences, as with most descriptive adjectives in Icelandic.

Examples:

- Hann er mjög þöppur. (He is very dense/dull.)

- Það virðist sem hún sé þöppust í þessu verkefni. (It seems she is a bit dense in this task.)

See also: idioms and terms for describing intelligence in Icelandic, colloquial insult registers, and related adjectives for personality description.