smávægilega

smávægilega is an Icelandic adverb that translates to "slightly," "a little," or "modestly" in English. It is used to describe an action or a quality in a mild or understated manner. For instance, one might say that a person is smávægilega successful, implying their success is not overwhelming but rather modest. Similarly, it can be used to soften a statement, indicating that something is only slightly the case. The word is a combination of "smár" meaning "small" and "vægur" meaning "mild" or "gentle," with the adverbial ending "-lega." This etymology directly reflects its meaning of being small in degree or intensity. It is a common word in everyday Icelandic conversation and writing.