Þolandi

Þolandi is an Icelandic word derived from the verb þola, meaning to endure or tolerate. It functions as both a present participle adjective and a noun. As an adjective, it describes something that endures or is capable of withstanding a condition, for example, endurandi or enduring circumstances. As a noun, it refers to a person who endures or tolerates something; in practice, the noun use is relatively uncommon outside literary, academic, or formal registers.

Etymology and form: þolandi comes from the verb þola and uses the common agent noun suffix -andi, a pattern shared with several other Icelandic participles and nouns. The form can operate as a descriptive modifier or, less frequently, as a substantive referring to a person who endures.

Usage: In contemporary Icelandic, the term is more often encountered in linguistic discussions, literary prose, or analytical writing than in everyday speech. Its primary sense is ethical or descriptive: someone who endures hardship or tolerates a situation. It coexists with related roots such as þol (endurance, tolerance) and compounds that express specific kinds of endurance, including pain or stress.

See also: þola, geðþol, sársaukaþol, þolfræði.

Notes: As with many agentive participles in Icelandic, the exact inflection and commonality of usage can depend on register and context. In regular conversation, speakers more commonly use explicit constructions like “maður sem þolir” (a person who endures) rather than relying on the standalone noun þolandi.