trygg

Trygg is an adjective used in Norwegian and Swedish to describe safety, security, and reliability. In Norwegian Bokmål and Nynorsk, trygg translates as safe or secure, appearing in everyday phrases such as en trygg bil (a safe car) or trygghet (safety, sense of security). In Swedish, trygg carries a similar meaning. Danish uses a closely related form, tryg, and Icelandic employs tryggur for secure or faithful. The term also figures in discussions of trust, risk, and protection across these languages.

Etymology and linguistic relations: Trygg derives from Old Norse trygr or tryggr, meaning faithful or trustworthy, and belongs to a family of Germanic words associated with trust and truth. The modern forms in the Scandinavian languages reflect this heritage, with related nouns such as trygghet (Norwegian, Swedish) or tryggleik (older Norwegian/Nynorsk variants) signifying safety and security.

Usage and scope: The stem is common in compounds and everyday language to express protection, assurance, and confidence. It can describe personal safety, the reliability of products or services, and the overall sense of security in a situation. In branding and corporate language, trygg often conveys dependability and trustworthiness.

Other notes: Trygg also appears as a surname or part of personal names in Nordic regions and can appear in place names. A related, widely known contemporary term is Tryg, the name of a major Danish-Nordic insurance company, which uses a similar root in branding.