bjarga

Bjarga is a verb in Icelandic meaning to save, rescue, or preserve from loss. It is used in literal senses, such as saving a life or rescuing someone from danger, and in figurative senses, such as saving money, preserving a tradition, or protecting the environment. The infinitive is að bjarga. In the present tense the form for the third person singular is bjargar (and similarly for other subjects: ég bjargar, þú bjargar, hann bjargar). The past tense forms include bjargaði for the singular, with corresponding forms for other subjects. The past participle is bjargað.

The word originates from Old Norse bjarga and belongs to a family of related Germanic forms found in other Nordic languages. The root bjarg- is etymologically connected to concepts of protection or shelter, and in Icelandic the noun bjarg commonly means a cliff or rock face, though it is a separate lexical item from the verb.

In usage, bjarga appears in contexts ranging from lifesaving to broader acts of preservation. Phrases such as bjarga lífi (to save a life) demonstrate the literal sense, while bjarga fjárhag or bjarga menningu illustrate figurative savings or protections of resources and culture. In modern Icelandic, the verb is common in everyday speech, journalism, and literature, including discussions of rescue services, disaster response, and personal responsibility.

See also: Icelandic language, Old Norse, rescue and safety terminology.