hýsa

Húsa is an Icelandic verb meaning to house, to provide shelter or accommodation for people, animals, or objects. Used transitively, it describes arranging housing or shelter for someone or something, and it can refer to both temporary and permanent arrangements. In everyday language húsa appears when discussing housing logistics, placing people or assets in a dwelling, or repurposing space for occupancy.

Etymology and cognates: Húsa is derived from Old Norse and is cognate with the Nordic words for house in Danish (hus), Norwegian (hus), and Swedish (hus). In Icelandic, the noun for a building is hús, and the verb húsa extends the sense from a physical structure to the act of placing under a roof or providing shelter.

Usage: In Icelandic, húsa follows standard verb conjugation patterns and is used across formal and informal registers. It commonly appears in contexts related to housing policy, logistics, and arrangements for accommodation. The meaning emphasizes the action of providing space or shelter rather than the physical structure itself, and context helps distinguish temporary housing from long-term arrangements.

See also: housing, shelter, accommodation, Icelandic language, etymology of house terms.