óreglulegum

Óreglulegum is an Icelandic linguistic term used to describe irregular inflectional forms. It is the plural, case-marked form of the adjective óreglulegur, meaning “irregular.” In Icelandic grammar, adjectives normally decline to agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case; however, some inflectional patterns do not follow the regular rules. The form óreglulegum appears in contexts where the adjective modifies plural nouns in certain cases, and it is commonly used in descriptive grammar to label irregular forms.

The term functions as a descriptive label rather than a separate part of speech. It is found in grammars, dictionaries, and academic discussions of exceptions to standard inflectional patterns. Óreglulegum can apply to irregularities involving nouns, verbs, or adjectives in Icelandic, including data from historic texts or dialectal varieties as well as loanwords that do not fully conform to established paradigms.

Etymology and usage: The word is built from ó- (a negation prefix) and reglulegur (regular, rule-based), with -gum serving as a plural/case-bearing suffix in Icelandic adjective inflection. The label helps scholars group and analyze deviations from regular paradigms rather than identifying a specific lexical item.

See also: Icelandic grammar, Inflection, Adjective declension, Irregular verbs.