Timbrið er blautt.

The timber is wet.

Breakdown of Timbrið er blautt.

• vera: to be
• blautt: wet
• timbrið: the timber

Questions & Answers about Timbrið er blautt.

Why does timbur become timbrið here?

Because -ið is the definite article for a neuter singular noun in Icelandic.

So:

• timbur = timber / wood in a general or indefinite sense
• timbrið = the timber / the wood

Unlike English, Icelandic usually attaches the to the end of the noun instead of writing it as a separate word.

What gender is timbur, and why does that matter?

Timbur is a neuter noun. Gender matters because Icelandic adjectives often have to agree with the noun they describe.

Here, blauttur changes form to match timbrið:

• masculine: blautur
• feminine: blaut
• neuter: blautt

Since timbrið is neuter singular, the adjective must be blautt.

Why is it blautt and not blautur?