íbúð

Íbú is an Icelandic noun meaning a person who lives in a particular place; a resident or inhabitant. In standard usage, the form íbúi is used for the singular and íbúar for the plural. The term is common in everyday speech as well as in administrative and statistical contexts when referring to the population of a city, region, or country. For example, phrases such as "íbúar borgarinnar" or "íbúar Reykjavíkurborgar" describe the inhabitants of a given area.

Etymology and related forms: Íbú derives from Old Norse búi, a term for a dweller or resident, with the Icelandic prefix í- forming a noun that indicates relation to a place. The word is cognate with related Nordic terms describing inhabitants or residents and is an established part of Icelandic demographics vocabulary.

Usage notes: The word is primarily used to talk about people who reside somewhere, regardless of citizenship status. It appears in census data, urban planning, housing policy, and everyday conversation when identifying who lives in a locality. Definite forms exist in Icelandic (for example, the, plural: íbúarnir; singular: íbúinn), but the indefinite singular and plural are most common in general reference.

See also: Population, Demography, Citizenship, Urban planning.