ómögulegt

Ómögulegt is Icelandic adjective meaning "impossible" or "not able to be done." It describes conditions, outcomes, or tasks that cannot be achieved under the given circumstances or constraints. The term is used in everyday speech as well as in formal writing, science, and philosophy to mark infeasibility or a lack of practicable options.

Etymology and form: Ómögulegt is formed from the negating prefix ó- attached to mögulegt, the neuter singular form of mögulegur, meaning "possible." The base mögulegt comes from möguleiki, meaning "possibility." In Icelandic, adjectives decline for gender, number, and case, so ómögulegt has variants such as masculine, feminine, and other inflected forms appropriate to the sentence.

Usage and nuance: The word is used for physical impossibilities, logical or methodological constraints, or situations deemed infeasible within a particular framework. For example, it can describe a task that cannot be completed given current technology, resources, or rules. It is also employed in theoretical contexts, such as mathematics or philosophy, to denote propositions that cannot be proven true under specified axioms or in a given system. The tone is neutral when describing objective limits, although in rhetoric it can emphasize the severity or extremity of a constraint.

Related terms: mögulegur (possible) and möguleiki (possibility). See also terms referring to feasibility and practicality in Icelandic vocabulary.