Samþykktu

Samþykktu is an Icelandic finite verb form derived from the verb samþykkja, meaning to approve or accept. It is the third-person plural past tense form of samþykkja and is used in sentences where the subject is plural, such as a council, committee, or group that has given approval. In translation, it commonly corresponds to “they approved.”

In context, samþykktu appears in formal and administrative language, including government decisions, legislative texts, contracts, and resolutions. A typical sentence might read: Stjórnlagan samþykktu tillöguna, meaning “The council approved the proposal.” The form can also appear in less formal reporting of events where a group’s consent is notable.

Etymology and cognates: samþykkja derives from Old Norse samþykkja, and the word shows cognates across Scandinavian languages. In Danish and Norwegian, related forms such as samtykke express the concept of consent or approval, reflecting shared Germanic roots. Icelandic preserves the distinct orthography with the letters þ (thorn) and kkj, characteristic of the verb’s inflected forms.

Orthography and transliteration: samþykktu contains the Icelandic letters þ and ð in related forms; when rendered without special characters, it is often transliterated as samthykktu. The pronunciation features a dental fricative at the start of the second syllable and a final “kt(u)” cluster typical of Icelandic verb endings.

Overall, samþykktu functions as a key past-tense form in Icelandic for reporting that a collective body has given its approval, and it sits within a family of words tied to consent and assent across Scandinavian languages.