-: ICELANDIC :-

The Noun Declensions :::

Strong Masculine

m s - 1
-s/-ar; -ar [A/Gpl. -a]

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
{a}	*farm-ur*	*farm*	*farm-s*	*farm-i*	*farm-ar*	*farm-a*	*farm-a*	*förm-um*
	*söng-ur*	*söng*	*söng-s*	*söng* (†*-v-i*)	*söngv-ar*	*söngv-a*	*söngv-a*	*söngv-um*

{b}	*lækni-r*	*lækni*	*lækni-s*	*lækni*	*lækn-ar*	*lækn-a*	*lækn-a*	*lækn-um*
	*skó-r*	*skó*	*skó-s*	*skó* (-num)	*skó-r*	*skó*	*skó-a*	*skó-m*

{c}	*hrafn*	*hrafn*	*hrafn-s*	*hrafn-i*	*hrafn-ar*	*hrafn-a*	*hrafn-a*	*hröfn-um*
	*stól-l*	*stól*	*stól-s*	*stól(-i)*	*stól-ar*	*stól-a*	*stól-a*	*stól-um*

{d}	*lykil-l*	*lykil*	*lykil-s*	*lykl-i*	*lykl-ar*	*lykl-a*	*lykl-a*	*lykl-um*
	*morgun-n*	*morgun*	*morgun-s*	*morgn-i*	*morgn-ar*	*morgn-a*	*morgn-a*	*morgn-um*
	*sigur*	*sigur*	*sigur-s*	*sigr-i*	*sigr-ar*	*sigr-a*	*sigr-a*	*sigr-um*

{-AR}	*skóg-ur*	*skóg*	*skóg-ar*	*skóg-i*	*skóg-ar*	*skóg-a*	*skóg-a*	*skóg-um*
Def. Art.	-ur-inn [&c.]	-inn	-s-ins [-ar-]	-i-num	-ar-nir	-a-na	-a-nna	-unum

Nouns inflected like farmur include dagur day (irregular Dsg. degi), heimur world, peningur piece of money, coin, (in pl.) money, vettlingur glove, mitten, tölvupóstur e-mail and tilgangur purpose (sg. forms only). For traditional geminate-final stems like hrepp-ur (shire), the Definite Dsg. is -num.

Like hrafn are inflected e.g. foss (waterfall : Gsg. id.) and kufl (cowl, hooded cloak). The mixed item hver (geysir, hot-spring) can have either ms-1 or ms-2 plurals.

The paradigm of stól-l is followed by bíl-l (car), kjól-l (dress), þræl-l (slave, thrall) and þjón-n (waiter).

Other examples of the subtype {d} : akur (arable field : Dpl. ökrum), arinn (fireplace : Dsg. arni), Baldur, hamar (hammer; crag, cliff), jökull (glacier). The Gsg. of lestur (reading, perusal) can be either lestur-s or lestr-ar; other lestur-type nouns, such as á-róður (propaganda) show the same variation.

m s - 2
-s (-ar); -ir [Apl. -i]

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
{a}	*dal-ur*	*dal*	*dal-s*	*dal*	*dal-ir*	*dal-i*	*dal-a*	*döl-um*
	*leik-ur*	*leik*	*leik-s*	*leik*	*leik-ir, -ar*	*leik-i*	*leikj-a, leik-a*	*leikj-um*
	*bekk-ur*	*bekk*	*bekk-s, -jar*	*bekk* (†-i)	*bekk-ir*	*bekk-i*	*bekkj-a*	*bekkj-um*

{b}	*guð*	"	*guð-s*	*guð-i*	*guð-ir*	*guð-i*	*guð-a*	*guð-um*
	*skjár*	*skjá*	*skjá-s*	*skjá*	*skjá-ir*	*skjá-i*	*skjá-a*	*skjá-(u)m*
	*bær*	bæ	*bæj-ar*	bæ	*bæ-ir*	*bæ-i*	*bæj-a*	*bæj-um*
Def. Art.	-(ur-)inn	-inn	-s-ins, -ar-ins	-num, -i-num	-ir-nir	-i-na	-a-nna	-unum

The pattern of dalur is followed by hvalur (whale), glæpur (crime) and bók-stafur (letter of the alphabet).

Like bekkur are declined vefur (web, tissue; Internet) and veggur (interior wall). Here we can also assign drykk-ur (beverage : Gsg -jar, Gpl. -ja).

Other {b1} nouns are vin-ur (friend), lýð-ur (commonfolk) and gest-ur (guest). The Npl. -ir helps one remember not to treat these as ms-1.

Her (army, troop) retains the /-r/ as part of the stem throughout (A/Dsg. her, Gsg. hers; Npl. herir, Gpl. herja, Dpl. herjum).

m s - 3
-ar; -ir [Dsg. vowel = N/Apl. vowel]

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
{a}	*kött-ur*	*kött*	*katt-ar*	*kett-i*	*kett-ir*	*kett-i*	*katt-a*	*kött-um*
	*son(-ur)*	*son*	*son-ar*	*syn-i*	*syn-ir*	*syn-i*	*son-a*	*son-um*

{b}	*hátt-ur*	*hátt*	*hátt-ar*	*hætt-i*	*hætt-ir*	*hætt-i*	*hátt-a*	*hátt-um*
	ás (Norse god)	ás	*ás-s*	*æs-i*	*æs-ir*	*æs-i*	*ás-a*	*ás-um*

{c}	*fjörð-ur*	*fjörð*	*fjarð-ar*	*firð-i*	*firð-ir*	*firð-i*	*fjarð-a*	*fjörð-um*
	*söfnuð-ur*	*söfnuð*	*safnað-ar*	*söfnuð-i*	*söfnuð-ir*	*söfnuð-i*	*safnað-a*,	*söfnuð-um*
							*söfnuð-a*
Def. Art.	-(ur-)inn	-inn	-ar-ins [-s-]	-i-num	-ir-nir	-i-na	-a-nna	-unum

Of type köttur are göltur (boar), knörr- (merchant-ship), köstur (pile, stack), lögur (sea, water), vörður (guard < tr varða), örn- (eagle) and ávöxtur (fruit).

Despite looking like son(ur), the noun (val)kostur (choice, alternative) does not change the stem vowel in Dsg. / Npl. / Apl. Neither does stuldur (theft).

Like fjörður (which also has an Apl. variant fjörðu) are inflected skjöldur (shield) and mjöður (mead).

m s - 4
-ur/-ar (-s); -ur (-ø)

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
{a}	*fað-ir*	*föður* (-inn)	*föð-ur*	*föður* (-num)	*feð-ur*	"	*feðr-a*	*feðr-um*

{b}	*fót-ur*	*fót*	*fót-ar*	*fæt-i*	*fæt-ur*	"	*fót-a*	*fót-um*
	*vet-ur*	*vetur* (-inn)	*vetr-ar*	*vetr-i*	*vet-ur*	"	*vetr-a*	*vetr-um*

{c}	*mað-ur*	*mann*	*mann-s*	*mann-i*	*menn* (-irnir)	" (-ina)	*mann-a*	*mönn-um*
Def. Art.	-Vr-inn	-inn	-Vr-ins [-s-]	-i-num	-ur-nir	-ur-na	-a-nna	-unum

Similarly to faðir is inflected bróðir (brother) with N/Apl. bræður etc.

–— :{¤}: —–

Strong Feminine

f s - 1
-ar/-r; -ar/-r [Asg. = Dsg; Npl. = Apl.]

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
{a}	*laug*	"	*laug-ar*	*laug*	*laug-ar*	"	*laug-a*	*laug-um*
	*stöð*	"	*stöðv-ar*	*stöð*	*stöðv-ar*	"	*stöðv-a*	*stöðv-um*
	ey	"	*eyj-ar*	ey (-nni), *eyj-u*	*eyj-ar*	"	*eyj-a*	*eyj-um*

{b}	*setning*	*setning-u*	*setning-ar*	*setning-u*	*setning-ar*	"	*setning-a*	*setning-um*

{c}	*helg-i*	"	*helg-ar*	*helg-i*	*helg-ar*	"	*helg-a*	*helg-um*
	*kví*	"	*kví-ar*	*kví*	*kví-ar*	"	*kví-a*	*kví-um*

{d}	*skrá*	"	*skrá-(a)r*	*skrá* (-nni)	*skrá-r*	"	*skrá-a*	*skrá-m* (-num)
Def. Art.	-in [kvíin]	-ina [-u-na]	-ar-innar	-i-nni [-u-nni]	-(a)r-nar	-(a)r-nar	-a-nna	-unum

Like laug are inflected e.g. ár (oar), vél (machine), skeið (spoon) and skó-reim (shoelace). Angan (fragrance) has only singular forms.

All nouns that end in ..ing follow the {b} paradigm; e.g. upp-lýsingar (information : pl. only), nýting (use; = fs-2 notkun) and þýðing (translation, meaning).

To subtype {d} belong most nouns ending in ..á — such as á (river), þrá (yearning) and smá-sjá (microscope).

f s - 2
-ar; -ir [Nsg. ..un, Gsg. ..unar, N/Apl. ..anir]

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
{a}	*stund*	"	*stund-ar*	*stund*	*stund-ir*	"	*stund-a*	*stund-um*
	*höfn*	"	*hafn-ar*	*höfn*	*hafn-ir*	"	*hafn-a*	*höfn-um*

{b}	*verslun*	"	*verslun-ar*	*verslun*	*verslan-ir*	"	*verslan-a*	*verslun-um*
	*pöntun*	"	*pöntun-ar*	*pöntun*	*pantan-ir*	"	*pantan-a*	*pöntun-um*
Def. Art.	-in	-ina	-ar-innar	-inni	-ir-nar	-ir-nar	-a-nna	-unum

{a1} = No vowel gradation :   borg (city), frétt (news item), hjálp (help, aid), hurð (door), leit (search), rás (TV or radio channel), tíð (while, period; tense), til-raun (attempt)

{a2} = With vowel gradation :   vör (lip), öld (century, era), höll (palace), gjöf (gift), för (itus, cursus), um-sögn (comment), bið-röð (line, queue : Gsg. -raðar, N/Apl. -raðir)

Nouns ending in ..un belong to the {b} subtype; e.g. bötnun (improvement < intr batna), á-giskun (guess < giska [á]) and þreföldun (tripling of sth, from the verb þrefalda, -st).

f s - 3 (4)
N/Apl. -ur/-r

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
{a}	*hönd*	"	*hand-ar*	*hönd, hend-i*	*hend-ur*	"	*hand-a*	*hönd-um*

{b}	tá	"	*tá-ar*	tá (-nni)	*tæ-r*	"	*tá-a*	*tá-m* (-num)
	*brú*	"	*brú-ar*	*brú* (-nni)	*brý-r*	"	*brú-a*	*brú-m* (-num)

{c}	*mús*	"	*mús-ar*	*mús*	*mýs*	"	*mús-a*	*mús-um*

{d}	*bók*	"	*bók-ar*	*bók*	*bæk-ur*	"	*bók-a*	*bók-um*
	*nótt*	"	*næt-ur*	*nótt(-u)*	*næt-ur*	"	*nótt-a, nátt-a*	*nótt-um*

{e}	*dóttir*	*dóttur*	*dótt-ur*	*dóttur*	*dæt-ur*	"	*dætr-a*	*dætr-um*
Def. Art.	-in	-ina	-Vr-innar	-inni	-(Vr-)nar	-(Vr-)nar	-a-nna	-unum

Inflected like hönd (hand) are rönd (rim, edge; stripe), strönd (shore), tönn (tooth) and nögl (fingernail : Dsg. nögl).

Vocalically unchanged throughout are {d2} type nouns sæng (bed), tík (Hündin) and vík (cove, bay : Gsg. -ur; N/Apl. -ur).

The paradigm of dóttir is followed by móðir (mother : N/Apl. mæður) and systir (sister : stem vowel unchanged).

–— :{¤}: —–

Strong Neuter

n t
Nsg. = Asg; Npl. = Apl.

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
{a}	*nafn*	"	*nafn-s*	*nafn-i*	*nöfn*	"	*nafn-a*	*nöfn-um*
	*tré*	"	*tré-s*	*tré(-i)*	*tré*	"	*trjá-a*	*trjá-m*

{b}	*meðal*	"	*meðal-s*	*meðal-i*	*meðul*	"	*meðal-a*	*meðul-um*
	*sumar*	"	*sumar-s*	*sumr-i*	*sumur*	"	*sumr-a*	*sumr-um*

{c}	*stræti*	"	*stræti-s*	*stræti*	*stræti*	"	*stræt-a*	*stræt-um*
	*ríki*	"	*ríki-s*	*ríki*	*ríki*	"	*ríkj-a*	*ríkj-um*
Def. Art.	-(i)ð	-(i)ð	-s-ins	-(i)nu	-(i)n	-(i)n	-a-nna	-unum

Regularly umlauting {a1} nouns include á-hald (utensil), barn (child), blað (leaf; newspaper), fall (casus), far (ride, lift), fjall (mountain), hvarf (disappearance), magn (amount), (mót-)svar (reply, answer), net-fang (URL), safn (collection; museum), sím-tal (phone-call) and sjón-varp (television). Rögn (gods, powers-that-be) and kynmök (copulation) have plural forms only.

Paralleling sumar are a number of masculine-lookalikes, like the singular-only nöldur (grumbling), veður (weather), norður (north), vestur (west), austur (east) and suður (south).

Inflected like stræti are e.g. (†)fylgsni (hiding-place), klæði (piece of clothing), húsnæði (flat, apartment), and æti (food : sg. only). A good umlauting-example is altari (altar : see link), whereas the /a/-vocalic kaffi (coffee) has only singular forms. Important plurale tantums are réttindi (rights), sannindi (truth) and skæri (scissors).

Besides items like greni (spruce), veski (wallet) and herbergi (room), the subtype {c2} also includes a few consonant-final neuters like kyn (gender), nef (nose) and sker (rock, reef : Dsg. -i; N/Apl. sker, Gpl. skerja).

–— :{¤}: —–

Weak Masculine

m - w
Asg. = Gsg. = Dsg.

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
{a}	*af-i*	*af-a*	"	"	*af-ar*	*af-a*	"	*öf-um*

{b}	*einyrk-i*	*einyrkj-a*	"	"	*einyrkj-ar*	*einyrkj-a*	"	*einyrkj-um*
	*banding-i*	*bandingj-a*	"	"	*bandingj-ar*	*bandingj-a*	"	*böndingj-um*

{c}	*lesand-i*	*lesand-a*	"	"	*lesend-ur*	"	*lesend-a*	*lesend-um*
	*bónd-i*	*bónd-a*	"	"	*bænd-ur*	"	*bænd-a*	*bænd-um*
Def. Art.	-i-nn	-a-nn	-a-ns	-a-num	-Vr-nir	-V(r)-na	-a-nna	-unum

Like afi are inflected ao. tími (time), vasi (pocket), gluggi (window), gemsi (mobile phone), sam-landi (fellow countryman : Dpl. -löndum) and minnis-listi (memoranda). Historic examples include OIc. †dreki (dragon), †álfa-ljóði (= king of the elves) and the abstract nouns made with (†)-leiki. Polysyllabic non-compounds umlaut similar to kastali (castle : Dpl. köstulum), kennari (teacher : Dpl. kennurum) and líkami (body : Dpl. líkömum). The m-w items ending in ..a (herra "master, sir"), ..ji, ..gi but not ..ingi belong in the first subtype as well : mót-herji (opponent), ol(n)-bogi (elbow)

Nouns ending in -virki, -yrki all follow the {b1} paradigm. Those ending in ..ingi decline according to {b2}. {B2} ættingi (kinsman) and the {c2} type noun frændi are synonyms.

{c1} is the category of present participles (used as nouns), to which also the OIc. plural †lifendur-nir (the living folk) belongs.

Weak Feminine

f - w
Asg. = Gsg. = Dsg.

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
{a}	*gat-a*	*göt-u*	"	"	*göt-ur*	"	*gat-n-a*	*göt-um*
	*kon-a*	*kon-u*	"	"	*kon-ur*	"	*kven-n-a*	*kon-um*
	*kirkj-a*	*kirkj-u*	"	"	*kirkj-ur*	"	*kirk-n-a*	*kirkj-um*

{b}	*lyg-i*	"	"	"	*lyg-ar*	"	*lyg-a*	*lyg-um*
Def. Art.	-V-n	-V-na	-V-nnar	-V-nni	-ur-nar [-ar-]	-ur-nar [-ar-]	-a-nna	-unum

Important {a1} type nouns :   koma, †kváma arrival (Gpl. komna), tölva computer, skyrta shirt, vara : N/Apl. vörur goods, mót-taka reception, kart-afla potato (N/Apl. -öflur), fjöl-skylda family, Evrópa Europe — plus all names of languages, e.g. íslenska (Icelandic)

The Gpl. +n- often drops for /ð/-final stems, such as stað-a (position) and umræð-a (discussion); also for any {a3} nouns like gyðj-a (goddess : Gpl. -a).

Showing the same forms as lygi are some important abstract nouns (sg. only) :   elli (old age), -fræði (-logy : mál-fræði grammar), kímni (humour, satire), lagni (knack), at-hygli (attention), vel-gengni (success)

Weak Neuter

n t - w
-a [NAGD]; -u   [Gpl. with +n-]

	Nominative	Accusative	Genitive	Dative	Npl.	Apl.	Gpl.	Dpl.
	*hjart-a*	"	"	"	*hjört-u*	"	*hjart-n-a*	*hjört-um*
	*aug-a*	"	"	"	*aug-u*	"	*aug-n-a*	*aug-um*
Def. Art.	-a-ð	-a-ð	-a-ns	-a-nu	-u-n	-u-n	-a-nna	-unum

Inflected like hjarta and auga are ao. eista (testicle), eyra (ear), lunga (lung) and þema (humanistic theme).

Practical Verbs :::

acquire, 'get' útvega (+A); afla sér (+G); eignast
ask, inquire spyrja [pa. spurði; spur-t]
ask for, request biðja [pa. bað; beði-ð] um (+A); beiða
attempt, try reyna [pa. reyndi; reynt]
be vera [pa. var / voru-; veri-ð]
become, emerge as verða [pa. varð / urðu-; orði-ð] (+N); <take up being> gerast (+N)
begin, start <tr.> byrja ^R; hefja [hafi-ð]; <refl.> hefjast
born: be born fæðast
buy kaupa [pa. keypti; keypt]
carry bera [pa. bar / báru-; bori-ð]; halda á (+A/D); flytja [pa. flutti; flutt]
come koma [pa. kom / -u-; komi-ð]
continue halda e-ð áfram
dare (intr.) þora [pa. þorði; þora-ð]; dirfast
eat borða ^R; <like an animal> éta [pa. át / -u-; éti-ð]

find finna [pa. fann / fundu-; fundi-ð]

get, obtain fá [pa. fékk / fengu-; fengi-ð]

get, transport oneself komast [pa. kom-st / -ust; komist]

go fara [pa. fór / -u-; fari-ð]

help, aid hjálpa ^{R in MnIc.} (+D)

know (wissen) vita [pa. viss-i / -u-; vita-ð]

know (kennen) þekkja [pa. þekkti; þekkt]

listen to hlusta á (+A) / til (+G); hlýða á (+A)

look at líta á (+A); gá; horfa; <watch> horfa á (+A)

look for leita ^R að (+A)

love elska ^R; unna

mean, connote þýða; merkja; meina; tákna

meet (with), see hitta; <each other> hittast

must, have to hljóta [pa. hlaut / hlutu-; hloti-ð]

need, require þurfa [pa. þurfti; þurft]; krefja, -st

pay borga ^R; gjalda [pa. galt / guldu-; goldi-ð]; greiða [pa. greiddi; greitt]

put leggja [pa. lagði; lag-t]; setja [pa. setti; sett]

repair, fix gera við (+A); lagfær-a [pa. -ði; -t]

rest (intr.) hvílast [pa. hvíldist; hvílst]; hvíla sig

roam about, wander flökra ^R; ráfa ^R

sail sigla [pa. sigldi; siglt]

say segja [pa. sagði; sag-t]; kveða [pa. kvað / kváðu-; kveði-ð]

see, view sjá [pa. sá / -u-; séð]

sell selja [pa. seldi; selt]

spend the night gista [pa. gisti; gist]

succeed, manage heppnast; blessast; lánast

tolerate umbera; þola

understand skilja [pa. skildi; skili-ð]

use, employ nota ^R

wait for bíða [beði-ð; bíddu!] eftir (+D); vænta (+G); eiga von á (+A)

want, desire vilja; <'would like'> ætla

The causative ('have sb do sth') can be formed with the auxiliary láta [pa. lét / -u-; láti-ð] followed by the infinitive.

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