leið

Leið is a common Icelandic noun meaning a way, path, or route, and it also covers a method or approach. In its physical sense, leið denotes a route through space—what you travel on, such as a trail or street. It can also refer to a route between places, for example a sea route or an airline route; in practice Icelandic speakers often pair leið with other words to name a specific route, and many place and transport terms are built from leið.

In a figurative sense, leið describes an approach to a problem or task—a method, plan, or course of action. It can also denote guidance or instruction in contexts such as training or education (leiðsögn, leiðbeiningar).

Common derivatives include leiða (to lead), leiðtogi (leader), leiðari (guide or driver), leiðsögn (guidance), and leiðbeiningar (instructions). The plural is leiðir and the definite singular is leiðin.

Leið is used widely in Icelandic discourse, from everyday travel to formal planning and rhetoric. It appears in many compound terms that describe navigation, routing, and strategy, reflecting its core sense of direction and method.