Fjarlæga

fjarlæga is an Icelandic verb meaning to distance, estrange, or alienate someone or something. The term emphasizes social or emotional distance rather than only physical removal. It can describe processes that make a person or group feel less connected to another person, a community, or an idea, often as a result of actions, attitudes, or circumstances.

Usage and nuances

The verb is typically transitive, used with an object referring to the person or group being distanced. For example, it can describe causing someone to become less integrated with a social circle, organization, or belief system. It can also be used reflexively to indicate distancing oneself from others or from a situation, though such reflexive use may be less common in everyday speech. In meaning, fjarlæga overlaps with other Icelandic terms for separation or removal, but it foregrounds the impact on social connection and belonging rather than mere physical displacement.

Grammar and related forms

The infinitive form is fjarlæga and it follows the pattern of many Icelandic weak verbs. Conjugation mirrors other verbs in its class, with tense and mood formed through standard suffixes and auxiliary constructions. The word is closely related to fjarlægja, which more often conveys the sense of removing or separating physically, while fjarlæga emphasizes social or relational distance.

Etymology and cognates

Fjarlæga derives from the same semantic field as fjarlægja (to remove or distance). It has cognates in other Nordic languages, reflecting a common Germanic origin related to distance, estrangement, and removal.

See also

fjarlægja; estrangement; alienation.