útlendur

Útlendur is an Icelandic term generally meaning a person who is not Icelandic or who comes from outside Iceland. In everyday Icelandic, the more common word for a non-Icelander is útlendingur (singular) and útlendingar (plural); útlendur appears primarily as an adjective meaning "foreign" or "outsider" and can be encountered in older texts or specific expressions. The basic sense of the word derives from the idea of being from outside the country or community.

Usage and connotations: In contemporary discourse, útlendur can be neutral when describing someone’s origin, but it can also carry exclusionary or pejorative undertones depending on context, tone, and intent. In debates on immigration, integration, and discrimination, the term may be contrasted with terms that emphasize citizenship or legal status rather than cultural distance.

History and culture: The concept of outsiders has long been present in Icelandic literature and public life, where útlendur characters are used to explore questions of belonging, identity, and social cohesion. In official policy and media, more precise terms—such as immigrant, refugee, visitor, or resident with a particular legal status—are commonly used to describe individuals rather than a broad label.

See also: Immigration to Iceland, Foreign citizens of Iceland, Integration policies in Iceland.