Samúð

Samúð is an Icelandic noun meaning sympathy, compassion, or empathy toward another person’s suffering. It can also refer to the act of expressing condolences to someone who has experienced a loss.

In everyday use, samúð describes both the feeling of concern for others and the concrete expressions of support. It is common to say that someone has shown samúð, or to convey samúð in messages or through gestures of help. Typical phrases include sýna samúð (to show sympathy) or sending samúðarkveðjur (condolence messages) when appropriate.

Cultural and social context emphasizes samúð as a means of social cohesion and mutual support. Expressing samúð is part of everyday manners in the community, especially after illness, hardship, or bereavement. Media coverage of tragedies often notes public displays of samúð, and organizations may issue statements to convey solidarity and care.

Etymology and related terms: The word is of Old Norse origin. It is generally understood as combining an idea of togetherness with feeling, reflecting the social function of shared sorrow in Icelandic culture. Related expressions focus on offering comfort or support to those in distress.