Ökumaður

ökumaður is a masculine Icelandic noun meaning "driver" or "motorist." It refers to a person who operates a motor vehicle, such as a car, motorcycle, truck, bus, or taxi. The term is widely used in everyday language as well as in official or media contexts when describing someone who drives.

The word is formed from the root "öku," relating to driving or operation, and "maður," meaning man, so it literally translates to "driving man." In practice, ökumaður denotes the person actively driving a vehicle rather than the occupation of driving as a job.

In usage, ökumaður is a general term for drivers of various vehicle types. For professional drivers, other terms such as bílstjóri can be more common, depending on the context. Ökumaður emphasizes the act of driving and responsibility while behind the wheel, rather than a specific employment role. A driver is required to hold a valid driving license, referred to as ökuskírteini, and to obey traffic laws.

Linguistically, ökumaður reflects the traditional Icelandic practice of forming compound nouns that identify the operator of a device or vehicle. The term is part of everyday speech and is commonly found in road safety materials, reports, and discussions about driving behavior.