Genitive Links in Compounds

Level 3

bókasafn (library, "collection of books") and Íslandsferð (trip to Iceland): the first part of a compound is often a genitive.

How It Works

Three ways to join the parts.

  • Genitive singular: dags + ljós → dagsljós (daylight); borgar + stjóri → borgarstjóri (mayor); vetrar + frí → vetrarfrí (winter break); hádegis + matur → hádegismatur (lunch)
  • Genitive plural: barna + skóli → barnaskóli (primary school); bóka + safn → bókasafn (library); jóla + frí → jólafrí (Christmas holidays); bíla + stæði → bílastæði (parking space)
  • Plain stem: sjón + varp → sjónvarp (television); borð + stofa → borðstofa (dining room); kaffi + hús → kaffihús (café); bíl + stjóri → bílstjóri (driver)

Weak nouns usually join with their genitive form in -u or -a: kirkja → kirkjugarður (graveyard), tölva → tölvupóstur (email), skóli → skólastjóri (head teacher).

The link is part of the word. You cannot leave it out: Íslandsferð, borgarstjóri. The same first word can join in different ways: bílstjóri but bílastæði. Similar words can differ too: sumarfrí joins the plain stem, but vetrarfrí uses the genitive vetrar. The genitive often shows how the parts relate: a borgarstjóri is the leader of the city.

The last part rules. As with all compound nouns, the whole word takes its gender and endings from the last part: barnaskóli is masculine like skóli (í barnaskólanum), and bókasafn is neuter like safn (á bókasafninu). The stress stays on the first syllable (stress on the first syllable).

Examples (6)

  1. Ég fer á bókasafnið eftir vinnu.

    I'm going to the library after work.

    Word by Word: I go on the book-collection after work.

    bóka is the genitive plural of bók (book).

  2. Börnin eru í jólafríi.

    The children are on their Christmas holidays.

    Word by Word: The children are in Christmas-holiday.

  3. Borgarstjórinn opnaði nýja kaffihúsið.

    The mayor opened the new café.

    Word by Word: The city's-leader opened the new coffee-house.

    borgar is the genitive of borg (city); kaffihús joins the plain stem kaffi.

  4. Við fórum í Íslandsferð í fyrra.

    We went on a trip to Iceland last year.

    Word by Word: We went in Iceland's-trip in former.

  5. Hann er bílstjóri og vinnur á nóttunni.

    He is a driver and works at night.

    Word by Word: He is car-steerer and works on the night.

  6. Sendu mér tölvupóst.

    Send me an email.

    Word by Word: Send me computer-mail.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the genitive -s.

    Við fórum í Íslandferð.
    Við fórum í Íslandsferð.

    This compound joins with the genitive Íslands. The -s is part of the word.

  • Joining the plain stem where the word uses a genitive.

    Borgstjórinn talaði á fundinum.
    Borgarstjórinn talaði á fundinum.

    The first part is the genitive of borg, which is borgar.

How It Connects

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

Genitive Links in CompoundsLevel 3

Learn This First

Genitive links build on compounds and the genitive.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.