Sjúkur

Sjúkur is an Icelandic word that functions as both an adjective and, in a broad sense, a noun. As an adjective, it describes someone who is unwell or ill, as in “Ég er sjúkur” (I am sick) or “Hann er sjúkur” (He is ill). As a noun, it can refer to illness or disease in a general, everyday sense, though in formal medical language the term sjúkdómur is typically used.

In medical and official contexts, sjúkdómur is the standard term for disease, condition, or illness, used in statistics, diagnoses, and professional writing. Veiki is another common Icelandic word for illness or malaise, often conveying a sense of general unwellness. The choice among these terms depends on register: sjúkur is more common in everyday speech, while sjúkdómur is preferred in clinical or formal discourse.

The word originates in Icelandic and has cognates in other North Germanic languages, reflecting shared roots for terms describing sickness or ill health. In contemporary usage, sjúkur remains a versatile, everyday word that people employ to describe personal health states or to generalize about health conditions in non-technical language.