sálrænar

Sálrænar is Icelandic an adjective meaning "psychological" or "mental," and is used to describe phenomena related to the mind or mental processes. It is the feminine plural form of the adjective sálrænn/sálræn, and it agrees with feminine plural nouns, for example sálrænar aðstæður (psychological conditions) or sálrænar þarfir (psychological needs).

Origin and sense: the term derives from sál, meaning mind or soul, combined with the adjectival suffix -ræn, forming a word that denotes relation to the mind. It is related to the noun sálfræði (psychology) but is used to characterize rather than name the field.

Usage: sálrænar is common in clinical, educational, and academic contexts, where discussions concern mental health, emotional life, learning processes, or cognitive functions. It can appear in both formal and journalistic Icelandic, in phrases describing symptoms, conditions, or experiences that pertain to the psyche. It is typically contrasted with terms that refer to physical or biological aspects, or with more specific medical terminology.

Relation to related terms: while sálfræði refers to the science of psychology, sálrænar functions as a descriptive qualifier. Other related forms include sálræn (singular) and geðræn or geðrænar, used in slightly different stylistic or regional ways to express psychological or mental aspects.

Examples: sálrænar aðstæður can describe mental conditions affecting a person; sálrænar truflanir may refer to psychological disturbances in a given context.