Numbers Above Twenty
tuttugu og einn (21), þrjátíu og fimm (35). The tens: tuttugu, þrjátíu, fjörutíu, fimmtíu, sextíu, sjötíu, áttatíu, níutíu.
How It Works
The tens. tuttugu (20), þrjátíu (30), fjörutíu (40), fimmtíu (50), sextíu (60), sjötíu (70), áttatíu (80), níutíu (90). They never change form.
Tens and ones. Join them with og: tuttugu og einn (21), þrjátíu og fimm (35), níutíu og níu (99).
Agreement. If the number ends in one to four, that last part agrees with the noun in gender and case, just as on its own (numbers 1-4):
- tuttugu og tveir strákar (22 boys)
- tuttugu og tvær stelpur (22 girls)
- tuttugu og tvö börn (22 children)
A number ending in one takes a singular noun: tuttugu og eitt ár (21 years).
Hundreds and thousands. hundrað (100) and þúsund (1,000) are neuter, so the number before them is neuter: tvö hundruð (200), þrjú þúsund (3,000). og still goes only before the last part:
- hundrað og tíu (110)
- hundrað tuttugu og fimm (125)
- tvö þúsund tuttugu og sex (2026)
Years. Years before 2000 are read in hundreds: nítján hundruð níutíu og átta (1998).
Writing. Icelandic uses a period to group thousands and a comma for decimals: 3.500 (three thousand five hundred), 2,5 (two and a half).
Examples (5)
- Hún er tuttugu og eins árs.
She is twenty-one.
Word by Word: She is twenty and one year's.
Age uses the genitive, so einn becomes eins (see ég er ... ára).
- Það eru þrjátíu og fimm nemendur í bekknum.
There are thirty-five students in the class.
Word by Word: It are thirty and five students in the-class.
- Í bekknum eru tuttugu og tvær stelpur.
There are twenty-two girls in the class.
Word by Word: In the-class are twenty and two girls.
stelpur is feminine, so the last part is tvær.
- Miðinn kostar tvö þúsund krónur.
The ticket costs two thousand krónur.
Word by Word: The-ticket costs two thousand krónur.
þúsund is neuter, so two is tvö.
- Afi minn fæddist árið 1956.
My grandfather was born in 1956.
Word by Word: Grandfather my was-born the-year 1956.
Read nítján hundruð fimmtíu og sex.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out og.
Ég á tuttugu fimm bækur.Ég á tuttugu og fimm bækur.The last part of the number is joined with og.
Not matching the last part to the noun's gender.
Það eru tuttugu og tveir konur hér.Það eru tuttugu og tvær konur hér.kona is feminine, so the last part must be the feminine tvær.
Using the masculine number before hundrað.
Það kostar tveir hundruð krónur.Það kostar tvö hundruð krónur.hundrað is neuter, so two hundred is tvö hundruð.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Higher numbers build on five to twenty.
Related Patterns
- Numbers One to Four
One to four still agree with the noun at the end of a larger number.
Level 1 - Ordinal Numbers
The ordinal forms: tuttugasti, tuttugasti og fyrsti.
Level 2 - ég er ... áraSaying Your Age
Ages above twenty use these numbers.
Level 1 - Months and Dates
Reading years and dates needs these numbers.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Numbers Above Twenty in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Icelandic lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
