fólkið

Fólkið is an Icelandic noun meaning "the people" or "the populace." In everyday usage it refers to the general public or to humans collectively, rather than to a specific individual. The definite form fólkið is used when the people are being discussed as a unit, such as in civic or political contexts.

Etymology and form: Fólk derives from Old Norse fólk and is cognate with the English word folk and the German Volk. It is a common word in Icelandic, used for a collective sense of people. The definite form is produced with Icelandic definite suffixes, giving fólkið for "the people."

Usage: The term can appear in formal, literary, or everyday language. It is often employed when discussing public sentiment, social consensus, or national identity. In political rhetoric, fólkið can denote the electorate or the general populace; the exact nuance depends on context and tone, ranging from neutral to rhetorical emphasis on common will.

Notes and variants: While vanligtly referring to the general public, fólkið can also appear in contexts about the “common folk” or historical/folkloric settings, sometimes contrasted with elites or kings. Phrases such as “fólkið í landinu” (the people of the country) are common when speaking of national affairs.