skilið

Skilið is an Icelandic word derived from the verb skilja, meaning to understand or to separate. As the neuter singular past participle, skilið functions primarily as an adjective and appears in predicate position or fixed phrases rather than as a plain verb form in everyday speech.

In usage, skilið carries two main senses. First, it can relate to understanding or clarity, appearing in more formal or literary contexts to indicate that something has been understood or made clear. In everyday speech, speakers typically use the present tense form skilja (Ég skil það) rather than relying on the participle. Second, skilið occurs in expressions meaning deserved, most notably in the idiom vel skilið, meaning “well deserved,” as in praise or reward.

Morphology and agreement: skilið is the base participle form and can occur with adjectives and nouns it modifies, agreeing in gender and number as part of the sentence structure.

Etymology: the word comes from Old Norse skilja, with cognates in other Nordic languages, reflecting the core idea of separating or distinguishing as a basis for comprehension.

See also: skilja (the verb), understanding, Icelandic grammar of participles.