þetta er
This Is (Þetta Er)
Þetta er means this is or that is: Þetta er Jón. For more than one, say Þetta eru: Þetta eru foreldrar mínir.
How It Works
Introducing and pointing. Þetta er works for anything:
- People: Þetta er Jón. Þetta er konan mín.
- Things: Þetta er bókin mín. Þetta er bók. (This is a book.)
Icelandic has no word for a, so Þetta er bók means This is a book. See no indefinite article.
This and that. Þetta covers both this and that. To point further away, add þarna: Hvað er þetta þarna? (What is that over there?)
One or more. The verb agrees with what comes after it: Þetta er for one, Þetta eru for more than one. þetta itself does not change: Þetta eru börnin mín. (These are my children.)
Questions. Put the verb first for a yes/no question: Er þetta kaffið þitt? Use Hvað er þetta? (What is this?) for things and Hver er þetta? (Who is this?) for people.
þetta or þessi? þetta is the neuter form of þessi. When þessi stands before a noun, it agrees with it: þessi kona, þetta hús. On its own it means this one and agrees with the thing meant: Þessi er betri. (This one is better.) When you introduce or point with is/are, use þetta for every gender. For it is and there is, see það er/það eru.
Examples (6)
- Þetta er Jón.
This is Jón.
Word by Word: This is Jón.
- Þetta er konan mín, Sigga.
This is my wife, Sigga.
Word by Word: This is wife-the my, Sigga.
kona is feminine, but þetta does not change.
- Þetta er bókin mín.
This is my book.
Word by Word: This is book-the my.
- Þetta eru foreldrar mínir.
These are my parents.
Word by Word: This are parents my.
The verb is eru because foreldrar is plural.
- Hvað er þetta?
What is this?
Word by Word: What is this?
- Er þetta kaffið þitt?
Is this your coffee?
Word by Word: Is this coffee-the your?
Common Mistakes
Introducing your wife with þessi, as if the word had to match her gender.
Þessi er konan mín.Þetta er konan mín.A plain introduction uses þetta for every gender: Þetta er konan mín. Þessi er konan mín means "This one is my wife", picking her out from a group, so it is not the usual way to introduce someone.
Keeping er when you introduce more than one.
Þetta er foreldrar mínir.Þetta eru foreldrar mínir.The verb agrees with the plural noun after it, so use eru.
How It Connects
Learn This First
þetta er builds on vera.
Related Patterns
- þessiThis and These in All Cases (Þessi)
The full word for this, which agrees with its noun.
Level 2 - það er / það eruThere Is and There Are
Another pattern with er and eru, for it is and there is.
Level 2 - No Word for A
Þetta er bók means This is a book.
Level 1 - hvaðWhat (Hvað)
Hvað er þetta? asks what something is.
Level 1 - hverWho (Hver)
Hver er þetta? asks who someone is.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice þetta er in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Icelandic lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
