föngið

Föngið is the definite singular form of the Icelandic noun föng, which denotes a captive or prisoner. It corresponds to English phrases such as “the captive” or “the prisoner.” The indefinite singular form is föng, and the plural form is föngin. The term is used to refer to a person held in captivity, whether as a prisoner, detainee, or hostage, and appears most often in formal, historical, or literary contexts.

Etymology and related forms: Föng derives from Old Norse fangi, a term meaning a person who is captured or held. It is related to cognate words in other Nordic languages, such as Danish fange, Norwegian fånge, and Swedish fånge, all sharing the same Germanic root concerning captivity and capture.

Usage notes: In contemporary Icelandic, föng is a relatively formal or literary word; everyday usage more commonly employs fangi to mean “the prisoner.” Föngið, as the definite singular, is thus typically found in written narratives, historical accounts, or formal discourse when referring to a specific captive. The word can appear in discussions of war, confinement, or legal detention, especially in older or stylistically elevated Icelandic.

See also: prisoner, captivity, detention, fånge.