félagslegt

Félagslegt is Icelandic for “social.” It is an adjective used to describe things that relate to society, social relations, or the communal sphere, as opposed to the private or individual realm. In policy discussions, sociology, and everyday language, félagslegt is applied to denote phenomena that affect people collectively, such as social issues, social structures, and social life.

Etymology and related forms: Félagslegt is built from félag, meaning “society,” “association,” or “company,” with the adjectival suffix -legt. The prefix félags- appears in a range of related terms, for example félagsfræði (sociology) and félagsmál (social affairs). The word is widely used in both formal and everyday Icelandic.

Usage and examples: Common collocations include félagslegt vandamál (a social problem), félagslegt líf (social life), and félagslegt réttlæti or félagslegt réttlæti (social justice). The term also appears in phrases describing institutions, policies, and activities that involve or affect society at large, such as social welfare programs and social structures.

Notes: Like other Icelandic adjectives, félagslegt agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number, and it is most often encountered in contexts discussing collective or societal aspects rather than purely private ones. The word forms a productive part of the vocabulary in sociology, political discourse, and everyday descriptions of social life.