sjúklingur

Sjúklingur is an Icelandic noun meaning a person who is ill or a patient. It is used in hospitals, clinics, and everyday language to refer to someone receiving medical care due to illness or injury. The term is common in medical contexts but can also appear in general descriptions of health status.

Etymology and forms: The word is formed from the adjective sjúkur, meaning ill or sick, with the agent noun suffix -lingur. The standard form is sjúklingur (masculine). The plural is sjúklingar, and the genitive singular is sjúklings. While Icelandic grammar marks gender in many nouns, sjúklingur is widely used to refer to patients of any gender in practice.

Usage and notes: A person may be described as a sjúklingur when they are under medical care, such as being admitted to hospital. The term appears in clinical records, health journalism, and everyday speech, functioning as a straightforward, neutral descriptor of a patient or someone who is ill. It is related to broader health vocabulary, including terms like sjúkdómur (disease) and heilsa (health).