ólíklegur

ólíklegur is an Icelandic adjective that translates to unlikely, improbable, or doubtful in English. It is formed by combining the prefix "ólí-" meaning "not similar" or "dissimilar" with the adjective "líklegur," which means "likely" or "probable." Therefore, "ólíklegur" literally suggests something that is not probable or not likely to happen.

The term is commonly used in everyday conversation and formal writing to express skepticism or a low probability of an event occurring. For instance, one might say "Það er ólíklegt að það rigni í dag" which translates to "It is unlikely to rain today." It can also be used to describe a person's chances of success or a particular outcome. For example, "Hann á ólíklega möguleika á að vinna keppnina" means "He has unlikely chances of winning the competition."

The antonym of "ólíklegur" is "líklegur," meaning likely or probable. The degree of improbability can be further emphasized by using adverbs such as "mjög ólíklegt" (very unlikely) or "afar ólíklegt" (extremely unlikely). The word's structure and meaning are straightforward, making it a fundamental part of Icelandic vocabulary for expressing uncertainty or low probability.