utrygg

Utrygg is a Norwegian adjective meaning unsafe or insecure, indicating a lack of safety, stability, or certainty. It describes conditions that involve risk or discomfort, including physical danger, unstable environments, insecure employment, precarious living conditions, or emotional insecurity. The related noun utrygghet denotes insecurity or precariousness in general.

Etymology: The word is formed by adding the negating prefix u- to trygg, meaning safe or secure. The combination yields the sense of "not safe" or "not secure."

Usage: Utrygg is used in both formal and everyday Norwegian. It can describe places, situations, or feelings where safety or security is uncertain or threatened. It is common in news reporting, policy discussions, and everyday speech when discussing risk, safety, or welfare. It stands in contrast to trygg/trygghet, which denote safety, security, and trust.

Notes: The term can apply to physical risk (for example hazardous environments), as well as to economic or social precariousness, or to emotions such as insecurity. The noun form utrygghet expresses insecurity or precariousness.