Genitive Before the Noun

Level 6

Njáls saga (the saga of Njáll), Guðs orð (God's word). Everyday order: bók Jóns (Jón's book).

How It Works

The normal order. In modern Icelandic, the owner in the genitive comes after the thing owned:

  • bók Jóns (Jón's book)
  • höfuðborg Íslands (the capital of Iceland)

The older order. Old Icelandic could also put the genitive first. That order lives on in a few places:

  • Saga titles: Njáls saga, Egils saga, Grettis saga. Only saga changes case in a sentence: Ég er að lesa Egils sögu. The name keeps its genitive form, because it belongs to saga. See how names decline.
  • Religious phrases: Guðs orð (God's word), Guðs blessun (God's blessing), and the everyday exclamation í guðs bænum (for God's sake).
  • Poetry and anthems: the national anthem sings of Íslands þúsund ár (Iceland's thousand years). Poetic kennings often use a genitive, too.

No article on the noun. The noun after a front genitive has no attached article: Njáls saga, not Njáls sagan. The genitive already makes it definite.

Close relative: compounds. Many compounds began as a genitive in front: Guðs hús sits beside guðshús (house of God). See genitive in compounds.

For your own sentences, keep the modern order: bíll Jóns or bíllinn hans Jóns (Jón's car).

Examples (5)

  1. Njáls saga er ein af frægustu Íslendingasögunum.

    Njáls saga is one of the most famous Sagas of Icelanders.

    Word by Word: Njáll's saga is one of the-most-famous Icelander-sagas.

  2. Ég er að lesa Egils sögu.

    I am reading Egil's saga.

    Word by Word: I am to read Egill's saga.

    Only saga changes case (sögu). Egils stays in the genitive.

  3. Presturinn boðar Guðs orð.

    The priest preaches God's word.

    Word by Word: The-priest proclaims God's word.

  4. Í guðs bænum, farðu varlega!

    For God's sake, be careful!

    Word by Word: In God's prayers, go carefully!

    A fixed exclamation that is common in everyday speech.

  5. Í þjóðsöngnum er sungið um Íslands þúsund ár.

    The national anthem sings of Iceland's thousand years.

    Word by Word: In the-national-anthem is sung about Iceland's thousand years.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding the article to the noun after a front genitive.

    Ég er að lesa Njáls söguna.
    Ég er að lesa Njáls sögu.

    The genitive in front already makes the noun definite, so the noun takes no article.

  • Leaving the name in the nominative.

    Egill saga er löng.
    Egils saga er löng.

    The name is a genitive, so it needs the genitive ending: Egill becomes Egils.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Genitive Before the NounLevel 6

Learn This First

Genitive before the noun builds on genitive links.