aðlögast

Aðlögast is an Icelandic verb meaning to adapt oneself or to become accustomed to new conditions or circumstances. It is used to describe the process of adjusting to changes in environment, work, culture, climate, or routines. The verb is often used in the middle voice and is commonly paired with a reflexive element (such as sig) or with a prepositional phrase indicating what one is adapting to.

Etymology and form: The form comes from the verb aðlaga (to adapt) with a reflexive/middle-voice suffix, producing aðlögast to express self-adjustment. As a reflexive or intransitive verb, it emphasizes the subject’s own action of fitting into new conditions rather than an external adjustment of something else.

Usage and nuance: Aðlögast emphasizes the gradual, personal process of becoming accustomed. It can refer to personal life changes, such as moving to a different country, changing jobs, or adjusting to new routines, as well as larger scale adaptations like responding to environmental or societal changes. It is common to say someone is aðlögast að aðstæðum or aðlögast að breytingum.

Examples:

- Það tók mig langan tíma að aðlögast að nýju starfsumhverfi.

- Fólk þarf að aðlögast loftslagsbreytingum og nýjum aðstæðum.

- Fyrirtæki hafa þurft að aðlögast breytingum á markaði og tæknibreytingum.

See also: aðlaga (to adapt), aðlögun (adaptation), lagast (to adjust, change for the better in some contexts). The term is part of a broader set of Icelandic expressions for adjustment and acclimatization.