Neuter Nouns in -a (auga)
auga (eye) → augu (eyes). These neuter nouns keep -a through the singular and take -u in the plural.
How It Works
The forms.
- Singular: auga, auga, auga, auga. With the article: augað, augað, auganu, augans.
- Plural: augu, augu, augum, augna. With the article: augun, augun, augunum, augnanna.
The words. auga (eye), eyra (ear), hjarta (heart), lunga (lung) and nýra (kidney) all work this way. gleraugu (glasses) is the plural of the same pattern.
The a-to-ö change. The plural ending -u changes a stressed a to ö (the a-to-ö change): hjarta → hjörtu, hjörtum. The genitive plural -na has no u, so it keeps the a: hjartna.
The genitive plural in -na. This ending is unusual, and it shows up in many compounds (genitive links in compounds): augnlæknir (eye doctor), eyrnalokkar (earrings), augnablik (moment).
Compare the other -a nouns. Feminine nouns in -a, like kona, change to -u in the singular (konu). Neuter nouns in -a keep -a in the whole singular and use -u only in the plural.
Examples (6)
- Hún er með blá augu.
She has blue eyes.
Word by Word: She is with blue eyes.
augu is the accusative plural after með.
- Lokaðu augunum.
Close your eyes.
Word by Word: Close the eyes.
loka takes the dative: augunum is the dative plural with the article.
- Ég er með verk í eyranu.
I have a pain in my ear.
Word by Word: I am with pain in the ear.
- Hjartað slær mjög hratt.
The heart is beating very fast.
Word by Word: The heart beats very fast.
- Reykingar skemma lungun.
Smoking damages the lungs.
Word by Word: Smokings damage the lungs.
- Ég fór til augnlæknis í gær.
I went to the eye doctor yesterday.
Word by Word: I went to eye-doctor's yesterday.
augn- in augnlæknir comes from the genitive plural augna.
Common Mistakes
Giving the plural a masculine -ar ending.
Hún er með blá augar.Hún er með blá augu.auga is neuter. Its plural ends in -u: augu.
Treating lunga as a feminine noun in the plural.
Reykingar skemma lungurnar.Reykingar skemma lungun.lunga is neuter, so its plural with the article is lungun, not the feminine -urnar.
Forgetting the a-to-ö change in the plural.
Þau eru með góð hjartu.Þau eru með góð hjörtu.The plural ending -u changes the a in hjarta to ö: hjörtu.
How It Connects
Learn This First
auga nouns build on hús nouns.
Related Patterns
- Feminine Nouns in -a
Feminine nouns in -a, which change to -u in the singular: kona, konu.
Level 2 - Masculine Nouns in -i
Masculine nouns in -i, the other nouns with a vowel ending in the nominative: tími, tíma.
Level 2 - Vowel Change: a → öThe A-to-Ö Change
Explains hjarta → hjörtu.
Level 3 - Your Own Body (þvo sér um hendurnar)
How to talk about your own eyes, ears and hands: Ég þvoði mér um augun.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice Neuter Nouns in -a (auga) in Bubblegum
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