óhætt

Óhætt is an Icelandic adjective meaning not dangerous or safe. It is used to describe actions, environments, or instructions that are considered to pose little or no risk. In everyday language as well as safety guidance, the term signals that something is acceptable or advisable with minimal risk.

Etymology and form: The word is formed with the negating prefix ó- attached to hætta, the root related to danger or hazard. The construction is typical for negations in Icelandic and aligns with related terms in other Nordic languages.

Usage: Óhætt appears in safety guidance, signage, product labeling, and journalistic risk assessments within Icelandic texts. It can function in sentences such as "Það er óhætt að nota þetta tæki," meaning "It is safe to use this device." While it conveys low risk, its use depends on context and it is more common in everyday language than in formal regulatory language.

Limitations: The term does not guarantee absolute safety; it indicates low risk as assessed in a given situation. Users should consider surrounding instructions, conditions, and standards, and avoid overgeneralization from a single statement of safety.

See also: hætta (danger), öryggi (safety).