Exclamations (en hvað, mikið)
En hvað þetta er fallegt! (How beautiful this is!) Mikið er gott að sjá þig! (It's so good to see you!)
How It Works
en hvað + subject + verb.
- En hvað þetta er fallegt! (How beautiful this is!)
- Hvað þú ert heppinn! (How lucky you are!) en can be left out.
mikið + verb + subject.
- Mikið er gott að sjá þig! (It's so good to see you!)
- Mikið ertu dugleg! (You are so hard-working!)
- In everyday speech: Rosalega er kalt! (It's so cold!) Svakalega er þetta gott! (This is so good!)
Short exclamations with en. en + a neuter adjective or gaman makes a quick reaction: En gaman! (How fun!) En leiðinlegt! (What a shame!) En fallegt! (How beautiful!)
What a ...! Use þvílíkur, or the more formal hvílíkur. It agrees with the noun like an adjective (see adjective agreement):
- Þvílíkur dagur! (What a day!) dagur is masculine.
- Þvílík fegurð! (What beauty!) fegurð is feminine.
- Þvílíkt veður! (What weather!) veður is neuter.
Sounds. Vá! (Wow!) and Æ! (Oh no!) also show strong feelings. Small words like bara and alveg make an exclamation stronger: Þetta var bara frábært! (That was just great!)
Examples (6)
- En hvað þetta er fallegt!
How beautiful this is!
Word by Word: But what this is beautiful!
After en hvað, the subject þetta comes before the verb er.
- Mikið er gott að sjá þig!
It's so good to see you!
Word by Word: Much is good to see you!
- Mikið ertu dugleg!
You are so hard-working!
Word by Word: Much are-you hard-working!
dugleg is feminine. To a man, say duglegur.
- Hvað þú ert heppinn!
How lucky you are!
Word by Word: What you are lucky!
- En gaman!
How fun!
Word by Word: But fun!
- Þvílíkt veður!
What weather!
Word by Word: Such weather!
veður is neuter, so þvílíkur takes the neuter form þvílíkt.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the subject before the verb after mikið.
Mikið þú ert dugleg!Mikið ertu dugleg!mikið counts as the first part of the sentence, so the verb comes next and the subject follows it.
Not making þvílíkur agree with the noun.
Þvílíkur veður!Þvílíkt veður!þvílíkur agrees with its noun. veður is neuter, so the form is þvílíkt.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Exclamations build on hvað and adjectives.
Related Patterns
- jæja / heyrðuConversation Openers (Jæja, Heyrðu)
More small words that keep a conversation lively.
Level 3 - bara / alveg / eiginlega / skoSoftening and Emphasis Words
Words that soften or stress what you say.
Level 4 - The Verb Comes Second
After mikið, the verb comes second.
Level 1 - Indirect Questions
After en hvað, the order is like an indirect question.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice Exclamations (en hvað, mikið) in Bubblegum
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