Skoðun

Skoðun is an Icelandic noun with several related meanings. It primarily denotes the act of looking at something in order to assess or inspect it, i.e., an examination or assessment. It can also refer to a person’s view or opinion about a matter. The word is formed from the verb skoða, meaning “to examine” or “to look at,” with the suffix -un.

In medical contexts, skoðun is widely used to describe a professional examination performed by a clinician. A common example is læknisskoðun, a medical examination. The term can also appear in other professional settings to denote a formal assessment or evaluation of a condition, procedure, or situation.

In everyday language, skoðun is used to express opinion. For example, Mín skoðun er að ... means “My opinion is that …” The plural form skoðanir is used for opinions, while the singular can refer to a single examination or to opinion depending on context.

Skoðun also appears in administrative, legal, and educational discourse to indicate assessment, review, or consideration of policies, practices, or performances. It is often used with verbs such as hafa skoðun á (to have an opinion about) or gera skoðun á (to conduct an assessment of).

Etymology: the word derives from the verb skoða with the nominalizing suffix -un, linked to Old Norse and related Nordic forms through a root meaning “to look” or “to inspect.”