ótryggir

Ótryggir is the masculine plural nominative form of the Icelandic adjective ótryggur, meaning insecure, unsafe, or unreliable. The term can describe people who feel insecure, situations that lack security, or objects that are not secured. In some contexts it can also function as a substantive meaning “the insecure ones.” The word is part of a broader set of inflected forms that Icelandic adjectives take to agree with gender, number, and case; the singular forms include ótryggur (masculine), ótrygg (feminine), and ótrygt (neuter), while ótryggir appears in the masculine plural.

Etymology and nuance: Ótryggur is formed with the negating prefix ó- attached to tryggur, itself related to tryggur/tryga meaning secure or trustworthy. Thus, ótryggur denotes not secure, not safe, or not trustworthy. The sense can cover physical security (a building or bridge), emotional or psychological security (a person’s sense of self‑confidence), or financial and institutional security (markets, contracts, or guarantees).

Usage: Ótryggir is common in everyday Icelandic as well as in journalism and analysis when describing insecure conditions or unreliable actors. Examples include phrases like ótryggar aðstæður (insecure conditions) or, contextually, referring to groups as ótryggir in a discussion about confidence or stability. The term carries a neutral to negative connotation, depending on context.

See also: tryggja, tryggur, trygging. The concept aligns with discussions of safety, reliability, and risk in Icelandic.