Ábyrgð

Ábyrgð is the Icelandic noun for responsibility, accountability, or liability. It denotes the state or quality of being answerable for one’s actions, duties, or outcomes, and the capacity to act with care and reliability. The term is used across moral, social, professional, and legal contexts. In everyday language, common expressions include taka ábyrgð (to take responsibility) and bera ábyrgð (to bear responsibility).

In everyday use, ábyrgð covers personal conduct and obligations within families, workplaces, and communities. It also appears in legal and organizational discourse, where it can refer to liability for damages, contractual obligations, or compliance with rules and standards. Philosophically, it is connected to questions of moral agency, justification, and control — what a person deservedly must answer for, given their intentions and actions.

Etymology and related forms: the word is of Icelandic origin, linked to Old Norse and related to the idea of bearing a burden. Related compounds include ábyrgðarmaður, the person responsible, and phrases such as sameiginleg ábyrgð, meaning shared or collective responsibility. The term can likewise describe institutions and groups that are answerable for outcomes, not just individuals.

See also concepts of duty, liability, and ethics as they intersect with responsibility in law, governance, and personal life. Ábyrgð remains a central notion in discussions of accountability, trust, and the expectations placed on individuals and organizations to act reliably and answer for their actions.