íslenski

Íslenski is the masculine singular definite form of the Icelandic adjective íslenskur, meaning “Icelandic” or “of Iceland.” In Icelandic grammar, adjectives decline to reflect the gender, number, and definiteness of the noun they modify. When placed before a masculine singular definite noun, the indefinite form íslenskur becomes íslenski. For example, íslenski maðurinn means “the Icelandic man,” and íslenski bærinn means “the Icelandic farm.”

The form contrasts with other gender and definiteness combinations in Icelandic. The root Íslandadjective family also yields related terms such as Íslendingur (Icelander) and the noun íslenska, which is used for the Icelandic language. In everyday Icelandic, íslenski appears primarily in written language and formal speech where a definite masculine noun is being described.

Usage notes: íslenski is not used as a standalone noun. It functions as an attributive adjective accompanying a noun, and its exact ending changes with gender, number, and definiteness of the noun it modifies. The broader Icelandic word family includes other inflected forms such as íslenskur (indefinite masculine), íslensk (indefinite feminine), and íslenskt (indefinite neuter), with corresponding definite forms in each gender.