ótrygg

ótrygg is an Icelandic adjective meaning unsafe, insecure, or unreliable. It describes something that lacks safety, stability, or trustworthiness, and can be applied to people, situations, or objects. For example, it can refer to a physical environment that is not safe, a financial arrangement that is not secure, or a person who cannot be trusted.

Etymology and forms: The word is formed by combining the negating prefix ó- with tryggur, which means safe or secure. The prefix signals a negation of safety or reliability. Like many Icelandic adjectives, ótrygg inflects for gender and number, and can appear in attributive position before a noun or as a predicate after a verb such as vera (to be).

Usage: Ótrygg is commonly used in contexts involving safety, security, or trust. It can describe structures or systems that do not meet safety standards (ótryggt kerfi, ótryggt hús), financial or contractual arrangements with inherent risk (ótryggur samningur), or people whose reliability is in doubt (ótryggur viðskiptavinur). The term carries a negative connotation and is often used in formal or evaluative writing about risk or protection.

Related terms: Tryggja and tryggur form the positive baseline meaning safe or reliable; óöryggi denotes insecurity more abstractly. The noun form ótrygging or öryggisskort may be used in discussing lack of security or confidence in systems or policies.

See also: tryggur, óöryggi, ótrygging.