Adjectives Agree With Nouns
Icelandic adjectives match the noun: Hann er góður, Hún er góð, Það er gott. The neuter often ends in -t: stórt, nýtt, kalt.
How It Works
The six basic forms. These are the forms used after vera and before a noun without the article:
- Masculine: Hann er góður / Þeir eru góðir
- Feminine: Hún er góð / Þær eru góðar
- Neuter: Það er gott / Þau eru góð
The neuter -t. The neuter singular usually ends in -t: stór → stórt, nýr → nýtt, heitur → heitt, gamall → gamalt. The stem can change a little: kaldur → kalt, góður → gott.
The a-to-ö change. In the feminine singular, an a in the stem often becomes ö: kaldur → köld, gamall → gömul. The feminine singular and the neuter plural share the same form: Mjólkin er köld, Börnin eru köld. See u-umlaut.
Mixed groups. Use the neuter plural for a group of men and women: Þau eru ánægð (They are happy). Weather and general statements use the neuter singular: Það er kalt (It is cold).
Before a noun. The same forms go before a noun without the article: góður maður, góð kona, gott barn. As an object the adjective also changes with case (nýjan bíl); see strong adjective declension. With the attached article the adjective takes different endings (góði maðurinn); see weak adjective declension.
Examples (6)
- Maturinn er góður.
The food is good.
Word by Word: Food-the is good.
matur is masculine, so the form is góður.
- Hún er þreytt.
She is tired.
Word by Word: She is tired.
- Kaffið er heitt.
The coffee is hot.
Word by Word: Coffee-the is hot.
kaffi is neuter: heitur becomes heitt.
- Húsið er stórt og gamalt.
The house is big and old.
Word by Word: House-the is big and old.
- Þau eru mjög ánægð.
They are very happy.
Word by Word: They are very pleased.
þau is a mixed group, so the adjective is neuter plural.
- Þetta er góð bók.
This is a good book.
Word by Word: This is good book.
Common Mistakes
Leaving off the neuter -t.
Húsið er stór.Húsið er stórt.hús is neuter, so the adjective needs its neuter form stórt.
Using the masculine form for a woman.
Hún er góður.Hún er góð.The adjective follows the subject. hún is feminine, so the form is góð.
Using the masculine plural for a mixed group.
Mamma og pabbi eru þreyttir.Mamma og pabbi eru þreytt.A group of a man and a woman takes the neuter plural, like the pronoun þau.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Adjective agreement is first shown after vera.
Related Patterns
- Noun Gender
The gender of the noun decides the adjective ending.
Level 1 - mjögVery (Mjög)
mjög makes an adjective stronger: mjög gott.
Level 1 - Adjectives Without the Article
All the case forms of adjectives without the article.
Level 3 - Adjectives Before a Definite Noun
The endings adjectives take before a noun with the article.
Level 3 - Adjectives Like lítill and gamall
Adjectives whose stem changes, like gamall and gömul.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- sæll / sælGreetings That Agree (Sæll, Sæl)Level 1
- Comparing: -ari and -riLevel 2
- enginn / ekkertNo, Nobody and NothingLevel 2
- hvað margir / hvað mikiðHow Many and How MuchLevel 2
- hversu / hveHow + Adjective (Hversu)Level 2
- mér er kaltBeing Cold or Warm (Mér Er Kalt)Level 2
- Ordinal NumbersLevel 2
- vera búinn aðHaving Done (Vera Búinn Að)Level 2
And 5 more in the full list.
Practice Adjectives Agree With Nouns in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Icelandic lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
