Numbers One to Four
The numbers 1-4 match the noun's gender: tveir menn (two men), tvær konur (two women), tvö börn (two children).
How It Works
The forms.
- 1: einn (masculine), ein (feminine), eitt (neuter)
- 2: tveir, tvær, tvö
- 3: þrír, þrjár, þrjú
- 4: fjórir, fjórar, fjögur
Examples. einn maður (one man), ein kona (one woman), eitt barn (one child); þrír menn, þrjár konur, þrjú börn.
Counting. When you count without a noun, use the masculine: einn, tveir, þrír, fjórir, fimm. Telling the time uses the neuter: klukkan eitt, tvö, þrjú, fjögur; see klukkan.
Mixed groups. For a group of men and women, use the neuter: Við erum fjögur (There are four of us).
Case. These numbers also change with case, like adjectives. As an object, masculine tveir, þrír and fjórir become tvo, þrjá and fjóra: Ég á tvo bræður (I have two brothers). Feminine ein becomes eina, but the other feminine and neuter forms stay the same as objects. See numbers 1-4 in all cases.
Not an article. einn means "one", not "a". Icelandic has no word for "a": Ég á bíl (I have a car).
Examples (6)
- Einn, tveir, þrír, fjórir!
One, two, three, four!
When you just count, use the masculine forms.
- Tveir menn bíða úti.
Two men are waiting outside.
Word by Word: Two men wait outside.
- Ég á tvær systur.
I have two sisters.
Word by Word: I own two sisters.
systir is feminine, so two is tvær.
- Hún á þrjú börn.
She has three children.
Word by Word: She owns three children.
barn is neuter, so three is þrjú.
- Eitt kaffi, takk.
One coffee, please.
Word by Word: One coffee, thanks.
- Við erum fjögur.
There are four of us.
Word by Word: We are four.
A mixed group of men and women takes the neuter form.
Common Mistakes
Using the masculine form with a feminine noun.
Tveir konur búa hér.Tvær konur búa hér.kona is feminine, so two is tvær. Check the gender of the noun before you choose the number.
Using the neuter form with a masculine noun.
Það eru þrjú menn hér.Það eru þrír menn hér.maður is masculine, so three is þrír. þrjú is only for neuter nouns such as börn.
Keeping tveir as an object.
Ég á tveir bræður.Ég á tvo bræður.bræður is the object of á, so the masculine number changes to its accusative form tvo.
How It Connects
Learn This First
One to four build on noun gender.
Related Patterns
- Numbers Five to Twenty
From five to twenty the numbers never change.
Level 1 - One to Four in All Cases
All the case forms, such as tvo and tveimur.
Level 3 - No Word for A
einn means "one"; Icelandic has no word for "a".
Level 1 - Telling the Time
The time uses the neuter forms: klukkan tvö.
Level 2 - ég er ... áraSaying Your Age
Ages use special forms of one to four: tveggja ára.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Numbers One to Four in Bubblegum
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