Questions & Answers about Sjúklingurinn er í dái.
What does Sjúklingurinn break down into?
Sjúklingurinn = sjúklingur + -inn
- sjúklingur = patient
- -inn = the definite article, meaning the
So Sjúklingurinn means the patient.
This is very common in Icelandic: instead of a separate word like English the, Icelandic often adds the definite article to the end of the noun.
Why is it sjúklingurinn and not just sjúklingur?
Because sjúklingurinn is definite: it means the patient, not just a patient or patient in a general sense.
Compare:
- sjúklingur = a patient / patient
- sjúklingurinn = the patient
The ending changes because the noun is carrying the definite article.
Why does the sentence use er?