þjóðfélagsins

þjóðfélagsins is the genitive singular form of þjóðfélag, Icelandic for “the society” or “the civil society.” It marks possession or relation to society and is widely used in academic, journalistic, and policy contexts. Common phrases include þróun þjóðfélagsins (the development of society) and stefna þjóðfélagsins (the society’s policy), among others. The term can refer to the social order, institutions, and the conditions of life shared by a population.

Etymology: þjóðfélag is a compound of þjóð (people, nation) and félag (association, community). The genitive form þjóðfélagsins literally means “of the society” and is used with a head noun to attribute actions, characteristics, or policies to society as a whole. The form is neutral and standard in formal Icelandic.

Usage: In neutral, descriptive writing, þjóðfélagsins serves to discuss social structure, welfare, class, or public policy without implying moral judgment. It often appears alongside related terms such as samfélag (society), félagsfræði (sociology), and velferð (welfare).