lögregla
[ˈlœɣ.rɛkla]feminine
In Icelandic, 'police' is translated as lögregla. If unsure, use lögregla. Wiktionary also lists lögga.
Meaning: local or general law enforcement agency (noun)
Ways to say it
| Icelandic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| lögregla | [ˈlœɣ.rɛkla] (narrow) | feminine |
| lögga | [ˈlœk(ː)a] (narrow) | clipping, colloquial, feminine |
The term refers to a local or general law enforcement agency.
What does it mean word for word?
The word lögregla is a compound of lög (law) and regla (rule, regulation or order), meaning 'law-rule' or 'law-order'.
Which one should you use?
lögregla is the standard, full form of the word, while lögga is a shortened, clipped version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
lögregla is the standard formal term used in official contexts. In contrast, lögga is a colloquial term, similar to saying 'the cops' in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the definite version 'the police', add the suffix -an to the end of the word to get lögreglan.
Did you know?
- In Iceland, the lögregla is not a militarized force and officers typically do not carry firearms while on patrol in residential areas.
- The root regla in lögregla is a cognate of the English word 'rule', sharing a common ancestor in the Latin word 'regula'.
- Icelandic police officers are often known for their community-focused approach, where a single officer might be the sole lögregla presence for an entire remote village.
Examples in context
- Lögreglan sagði að þau fundu fingraförin hans Tom hérna.The police said they found Tom's fingerprints there.This sentence demonstrates the use of lögregla when discussing fingerprints.Tatoeba #10969538 by Leppur, translation #3819978 by CK
- Lögreglan er hér.The police are here.This sentence shows how to state that lögregla is present.Tatoeba #11639704 by nipbud, translation #3434460 by CK
- Lögreglan vakir yfir borginni á næturna.The police watch over the city during the night.This sentence describes lögregla watching over a city at night.Tatoeba #874189 by Swift, translation #873943 by papabear
- Þú átt að hringja í lögregluna.You should call the police.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are talking about a recent car accident.
- GuðrúnHefur lögreglan komið?Has the police arrived?
- ÓlafurJá, þeir eru komnir núna.Yes, they have arrived now.
- GuðrúnHvað segir lögreglan um málið?What does the police say about the matter?
- ÓlafurHún er að skoða skemmdirnar.She is inspecting the damage.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “police” translations and entries lögregla, lögga, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
