stígur

Stígur is the Icelandic noun for a footpath or trail, typically a narrow route through natural terrain used for walking or hiking. It denotes a worn path that may run across fields, hills, lava fields, or coastal areas and is often less formal than a marked hiking track. In everyday language, stígur refers to a route for movement on foot and appears in many place names and signs.

Etymology and forms: The word derives from the verb stíga, meaning to step or tread. Stígur thus conveys a path formed by stepping. The plural is stígar, and it can combine with other words to form compound terms such as göngustígur (pedestrian path) or fjallstígur (mountain path).

Usage and context: In rural Iceland, stígar can be simple footpaths through grass or rocky terrain and may be marked or unmarked. They are distinguished from more formal, signposted trails, though many are part of popular trekking routes. Conservation-minded communities emphasize staying on stígar to protect fragile ecosystems, particularly in mossy, lichen-rich areas.

See also: leið (route), göngustígur (footpath), fjallstígur (mountain path).