Spilliefnið er hættulegt.

The hazardous waste is dangerous.

Breakdown of Spilliefnið er hættulegt.

• vera: to be
• hættulegur: dangerous
• spilliefnið: the hazardous waste

Questions & Answers about Spilliefnið er hættulegt.

Why is there no separate word for the in Spilliefnið?

Because Icelandic often puts the definite article on the end of the noun instead of using a separate word.

• spilliefni = hazardous substance / pollutant / harmful material
• spilliefnið = the hazardous substance / the pollutant

Here, -ið is the definite article attached to a neuter singular noun.

How do I know that spilliefni is a neuter noun?

The sentence gives you two clues:

• the definite ending -ið
• the adjective form hættulegt

Both point to neuter singular.

Also, many Icelandic nouns ending in -efni are neuter. So the dictionary form is spilliefni and its gender is neuter.

Why does the adjective end in -t: hættulegt?