Genitive Type Descriptors: -konar
To categorize things in Icelandic, you'll frequently use phrases ending in konar (kind) to express concepts like "what kind of" or "all kinds of."
| kind (used in genitive expressions) | konar |
These expressions combine a genitive pronoun or adjective (usually ending in -s) with konar. They act as set phrases and are indeclinable—they never change form, regardless of the gender, number, or case of the noun they modify.
Here are hvers konar (what kind of), alls konar (all kinds of), and einhvers konar (some kind of):
| What kind of ornament is this? | Hvers konar skrautgripur er þetta? |
| We sell all kinds of peculiar ornaments. | Við seljum alls konar einkennilega skrautgripi. |
| Is this some kind of spare part? | Er þetta einhvers konar varahlutur? |
Using -s lags
Another word used in the exact same way is lags, the genitive form of lag (kind or sort).
| kind / sort | lagið |
Just like konar, it pairs with a genitive pronoun to create descriptors like þess lags (that kind of) or hvers lags (what kind of).
| It is important to find that kind of spare part. | Það er mikilvægt að finna þess lags varahlut. |
| What kind of unconventional label is this? | Hvers lags óhefðbundinn merkimiði er þetta? |
More Descriptors
Other useful indeclinable combinations include margs konar (many kinds of), sams konar (the same kind of), and nokkurs konar (some kind of / a sort of). Notice how they attach effortlessly to abstract or technical nouns without changing form.
| Many kinds of categorization are highly systematic. | Margs konar flokkun er mjög kerfisbundin. |
| We use the same kind of arrangement in the database. | Við notum sams konar uppröðun í gagnasafninu. |
| This is some kind of systematic database. | Þetta er nokkurs konar kerfisbundið gagnasafn. |