The formal determiner such (slíkur)

Formal "Such" with Slíkur

In casual speech, you might use invariable words like svona or þannig to say "such" or "like this/that". In formal and written Icelandic, these are often replaced by the determiner slíkur (such).

Unlike svona, slíkur is fully inflected. It declines like a strong adjective, meaning it must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case.

Here are its base (nominative) forms:

GenderSingularPlural
Masculineslíkurslíkir
Feminineslíkslíkar
Neuterslíktslík

Notice how slíkur changes form to match the noun following it in the examples below:

Such social media control the information flow.
Slíkir samfélagsmiðlar stjórna upplýsingaflæðinu.
We do not want such social media.
Við viljum ekki slíka samfélagsmiðla.
Such data collection is dangerous for society.
Slík gagnasöfnun er hættuleg fyrir samfélagið.
Have we never seen such a behavioral pattern before?
Höfum við aldrei séð slíkt hegðunarmynstur áður?

Analyzing Digital Behavior

Discussing modern social trends, such as internet addiction and the algorithms that track us, often requires a more formal register.

Here are a few more examples of slíkur in action alongside useful vocabulary for analyzing the digital landscape.

The algorithm uses such data collection.
Reikniritið notar slíka gagnasöfnun.
If internet addiction is real, such a mode of communication is bad.
Ef netfíkn er raunveruleg, er slíkur samskiptamáti slæmur.
Such a smart device changes the real world.
Slíkt snjalltæki breytir raunheiminum.
The real world is better than social media.
Raunheimurinn er betri en samfélagsmiðlarnir.