heldur

See also: Heldur

Faroese

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛltʊɹ

Etymology 1

Old Norse heldr, comparative of a lost term.

Adverb

heldur

1. sooner, rather, somewhat

Usage notes

• heldur ikki - neither

Etymology 2

2nd and 3rd person singular present form of halda (to hold, to think)

Verb

heldur

1. second-person singular present of halda
2. third-person singular present of halda

Icelandic

Etymology 1

Adjective

heldur (comparative heldari, superlative heldastur)

1. sturdy, strong, solid

   Ísinn er ekki haldur.

   The ice isn't strong.

Declension

positive forms of heldur

strong declension (indefinite)	singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	heldur	held	helt
	accusative	heldan	helda
	dative	heldum	heldri	heldu
	genitive	helds	heldrar	helds
	plural	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	heldir	heldar	held
	accusative	helda
	dative	heldum
	genitive	heldra
weak declension (definite)	singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	heldi	helda	helda
	acc/dat/gen	helda	heldu
	plural (all-case)	heldu

comparative forms of heldur

weak declension (definite)		masculine	feminine	neuter
	singular (all-case)	heldari	heldari	heldara
	plural (all-case)	heldari

superlative forms of heldur

strong declension (indefinite)	singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	heldastur	heldust	heldast
	accusative	heldastan	heldasta
	dative	heldustum	heldastri	heldustu
	genitive	heldasts	heldastrar	heldasts
	plural	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	heldastir	heldastar	heldust
	accusative	heldasta
	dative	heldustum
	genitive	heldastra
weak declension (definite)	singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	heldasti	heldasta	heldasta
	acc/dat/gen	heldasta	heldustu
	plural (all-case)	heldustu

Etymology 2

Adverb

heldur

1. comparative degree of gjarna; rather, preferably, specifies a choice or preference

   Synonym: frekar

   Ég á mjólk og gos, hvort viltu heldur?

   I have milk and soda, which would you prefer?

   Hvort viltu heldur pizzu eða hamborgara?

   Which would you rather like, a pizza or a hamburger?

2. comparative degree of gjarna; rather, somewhat, fairly

   Synonym: frekar

   Mér líst ekkert á þennan stól, hann er heldur óálitlegur.

   I don't fancy this chair at all, it looks fairly unimpressive.

Derived terms

• ekki einasta ... heldur einnig
• ekki heldur
• hvað þá heldur (“let alone, not to mention”)
• kjósa heldur (“to prefer”)
• vilja heldur (“to prefer”)
• öllu heldur

Conjunction

heldur

1. but, instead
   • Timothy 2:11-12 (English, Icelandic)

     Konan á að læra í kyrrþey, í allri undirgefni. Ekki leyfi ég konu að kenna eða taka sér vald yfir manninum, heldur á hún að vera kyrrlát.

     A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.

Derived terms

• heldur en (“rather than”)

Etymology 3

Verb

heldur

1. second/third-person singular present indicative of halda

   Hann heldur að Spánn og Ítalía séu sama landið.

   He thinks Spain and Italy are the same country.