Adjectives of Tendency: "-gjarn"
To describe personality tendencies or habits, Icelandic frequently uses the suffix -gjarn. It functions similarly to English suffixes like "-prone" or "-ful".
Attached to a noun or verb root, it creates an adjective describing someone who has a strong tendency toward that behavior. For example, from stjórn (control) comes stjórngjarn (controlling), and from dómur (judgment) comes dómgjarn (judgmental).
Like all adjectives, words ending in -gjarn must agree with the gender of the noun they describe. The feminine form undergoes a U-shift (the a changes to ö):
- Masculine: -gjarn
- Feminine: -gjörn
- Neuter: -gjarnt
Reading the Stars
Discussing astrological signs like vatnsberinn (Aquarius) and sporðdrekinn (Scorpio) is a great way to see these traits in action.
You will also see how these star signs pair with other traits, like being gullible (trúgjarn) or envious (öfundgjarn).
A Spectrum of Traits
You can build a wide variety of descriptions using this suffix for both positive and negative qualities. Notice how the adjective takes the neuter ending -gjarnt when describing a neuter noun like fólk (people).
Other traits are highly valued in the workplace, like being ambitious (metnaðargjarn).
Finally, being conciliatory or eager to make peace is sáttgjarn.