útgöngu

útgöngu is the genitive singular form of the Icelandic noun útganga, which means exit, departure, or outing. The base form útganga refers to the act of going out or leaving a place, as well as to an exit or opening that allows such movement. In everyday language, útganga can denote a social outing (a night out) or a departure from a location, depending on the context. In technical or architectural contexts, útganga points to a designated exit from a building, vehicle, or other facility.

Etymology and form are straightforward in Icelandic. The word is built from út- meaning out and ganga meaning going or walking, tracing back to Old Norse. The nominative form of the common noun is útganga, while útgöngu is used in inflected forms, including compounds and phrases that describe an exit or related concept.

Usage notes and contexts are important for understanding útgöngu. In everyday speech, útganga often appears in contexts of leaving a place or going out for activities. In safety, building, or transportation contexts, útganga commonly designates an official exit, and it features prominently in signage, emergency planning, and regulatory language. Icelandic compounds frequently attach útgöngu or its inflected forms to other words to describe related ideas, such as exit routes or exit points, though exact spellings can vary with grammatical form.

In sum, útgöngu is a grammatical form tied to útganga, a versatile term that covers both the act of going out and the physical exit in built environments, with usage spanning everyday language and formal safety or architectural contexts.