ótrygt

Ótrygt is an Icelandic adjective meaning unsafe, dangerous, or unstable. It is used to describe situations, places, conditions, or risks where safety or security cannot be guaranteed. The term can refer to physical hazards, such as weather or infrastructure, as well as to the reliability or predictability of procedures, plans, or policies.

Etymology and grammar: the word is formed with the negating prefix ó- attached to tryggt (the neuter form of the adjective meaning safe or secure). It inflects as ótryggur (masculine), ótrygg (feminine), and ótrygt (neuter). The neuter form ótrygt is commonly used before neuter nouns, e.g., ótrygt svæði (unsafe area). The base adjective is related to tryggur/tryggt, from which positive concepts of safety and security emerge.

Usage: ótrygt is widely used in safety notices, risk assessments, weather forecasts, travel advisories, journalism, and everyday speech to flag danger or insecurity. It can describe physical danger, as in weather or terrain, as well as procedural or social risks, such as unreliable systems or unstable conditions. Example sentences include: Svæðið í norðri er ótrygt fyrir gangandi vegfarendur. Ótrygt veður getur gert ferðalög erfitt.

See also: tryggur, tryggt, ótryggur, ótryggt. The term sits within a family of Icelandic words that express safety, security, and risk, and is a common descriptor in contexts that require caution or warning.