íslenskur

Íslenskur is an Icelandic adjective meaning "Icelandic" or "from Iceland." It is used to describe things related to Iceland or its people and is typically placed before a noun, where it agrees with gender and number. Examples include íslenskt tungumál (the Icelandic language) and íslensk tónlist (Icelandic music). In reference to a person, it can appear in attributive phrases such as íslenskur maður (an Icelandic man). The feminine and neuter forms are íslensk and íslenskt, and the form changes to agree with plural nouns as well.

While íslenskur is commonly used to denote origin or affiliation, it is not the standard demonym for a person from Iceland in everyday speech. The usual noun for a person is Íslendingur (Icelander), with íslenskur serving as the corresponding adjective. The word can also appear in compound descriptors such as íslenskur bakari (an Icelandic baker) or íslenska nationallegar traditions.

Etymology and status: íslenskur is formed from Ísland (Iceland) with the common adjectival suffix -enskur, part of a broader pattern for nationality adjectives in Icelandic. The term has been in regular use since the development of modern Icelandic and appears in both historical and contemporary texts.

Notes: as with other Icelandic adjectives, íslenskur declines for gender and number, and its exact form depends on the noun it modifies. When referring to the Icelandic language itself, speakers typically use the language-specific noun or adjective forms in context.

Related topics include Ísland, Íslendingar, and the Icelandic language and culture.