Word
Dýralæknirinn athugar örmerkið rétt áður en hann skráir örmerkjarnúmerið.
Meaning
The veterinarian checks the microchip right before he registers the microchip number.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Dýralæknirinn athugar örmerkið rétt áður en hann skráir örmerkjarnúmerið.
hann
he
dýralæknirinn
the veterinarian
athuga
to check
skrá
to register
Questions & Answers about Dýralæknirinn athugar örmerkið rétt áður en hann skráir örmerkjarnúmerið.
Why do dýralæknirinn, örmerkið, and örmerkjarnúmerið all have endings like -inn or -ið?
Those endings are the suffixed definite article in Icelandic. Instead of a separate word like the, Icelandic usually attaches the article to the noun.
- dýralæknirinn = the vet / the veterinarian
- örmerkið = the microchip
- örmerkjarnúmerið = the microchip number
Very roughly:
- masculine singular nominative often has -inn
- neuter singular nominative/accusative often has -ið
So these endings are doing the job that the does in English.
Does Icelandic have a word for a/an? What would happen if I removed the article?
Icelandic normally does not use an indefinite article like English a/an.
So:
- dýralæknir = a vet / vet
- dýralæknirinn = the vet
Likewise:
- örmerki = a microchip / microchip
- örmerkið = the microchip
If you removed the article in this sentence, it would become less specific, more like A vet checks a microchip...
Why is hann used here? Is it necessary?