útlöndum

Útlönd is an Icelandic noun meaning foreign countries or the abroad. The standard plural form is útlönd, and útlöndum is the dative plural form, used after prepositions to indicate location or direction, as in í útlöndum meaning abroad or in foreign countries. The term denotes lands outside one’s own country and is commonly used in discussions of travel, study, migration, and international affairs.

In everyday language, útlönd refers to foreign countries in a general sense rather than to any specific nation. It is often used with verbs of movement or residence, for example að búa í útlöndum (to live abroad) or að ferðast til útlanda (to travel abroad). The phrase í útlöndum is a standard way to describe activities or situations that take place outside Iceland. The term can also appear in historical or political contexts, such as discussions of Iceland’s relations with other countries or the experience of Icelanders living abroad.

Etymology and related terms: útlönd is native Icelandic for foreign lands, with útlöndum as the inflected form. The word has cognates in other Scandinavian languages, such as Norwegian utland and Danish udland, which share a related meaning. Related Icelandic terms include erlendis (abroad, in foreign countries) which functions more as an adverb or adjective, and útlanda/útlanda meaning abroad in various constructions.

Overall, útlönd is a concise, neutral term used to describe foreign countries or the abroad in Icelandic, primarily in contexts involving travel, study, work, or international relations.