Hlíða

hlýða is an Icelandic verb meaning to listen attentively or to heed, and by extension to obey. It denotes acting on instruction, advice, or another's will rather than merely hearing. It is commonly contrasted with hlusta, which centers on the act of listening rather than compliance.

Usage and sense: The verb is used when a person follows directives or pays attention to what is being said as guidance. Typical collocations include hlýða ráðum (heed advice) and hlýða leiðbeiningum (follow instructions). It can describe obedience to a person or authority, in personal, professional, or formal contexts.

Grammatical notes: hlýða governs the thing being heeded (often expressed through noun phrases in the accusative or dative, depending on construction) and the source of the directive is typically expressed with possessive or genitive forms. The subject is the one performing the listening or obedience. The verb is used across tenses and moods like other Icelandic verbs.

Examples:

- Hún hlýðir ráðum foreldra sinna.

- Hann hlýðir leiðbeiningum kennarans.

Nuance and related terms: The opposite of hlýða is óhlýðni or disobedience; someone who does not heed is described as óhlýðinn. Related nouns include hlýðni (obedience). Etymology traces hlýða to Old Norse hlýða, with cognates in other North Germanic languages referring to listening or obeying.

See also: hlusta, hlýðni, óhlýðni.