Skynlegt

Skynlegt is an Icelandic adjective meaning perceptible, tangible, or evident. It describes phenomena or statements that can be perceived with the senses, observed directly, or appear to a person as obvious. In everyday usage, skynlegt can convey that something is clear or self-evident to the senses, though contexts vary and subtler nuances may apply.

Usage and nuance: In science and philosophy, skynlegt contrasts with theoretical, abstract, or inferred aspects, referring to what is empirically observable. In everyday speech, it can also mean sensible or reasonable in the sense of practical judgment, often in phrases such as það er skynlegt að... meaning “it is sensible/appropriate to...”.

Origin and related terms: The word derives from the root skyn- meaning sense or perception, with the suffix -legt forming adjectives. Related terms include skynja (to perceive), skynjun (perception), and skynsemi (sense or reason). Cognates exist in other Nordic languages, such as Danish synlig and Norwegian synlig, which share a related sense of visibility, though Icelandic uses skynlegt more broadly to include perceptibility and obviousness.

Usage notes: Skynlegt is common in both everyday language and more formal discourse. It can describe physical visibility as well as the perceived or evident nature of an assertion, making it a versatile term in discussions of observation, evidence, and everyday reasoning.