Hundurinn er stór.

to be

Breakdown of Hundurinn er stór.

• hundurinn: the dog
• stór: big

Questions & Answers about Hundurinn er stór.

Why does the word hundurinn have the suffix -inn at the end?

In Icelandic, nouns form the definite article by adding a suffix rather than using a separate word like “the.” The noun hundur (dog) in its definite form becomes hundurinn (the dog).

Does the gender of the noun hundur affect how it is declined?

Yes. Hundur is a masculine noun, and masculine nouns typically add -inn for the definite singular. Feminine and neuter nouns have different rules for forming the definite article.

Why is the verb er used here?

Er is the present tense of the verb “to be” in Icelandic. It corresponds to “is” in English, so Hundurinn er stór means “The dog is big.”

How is stór pronounced?

Stór generally sounds like “storr” (with a slightly rolled r). The ó is pronounced as a long o sound (similar to the “o” in “more”), but slightly rounded.

Could I say Hundur er stór without the definite article?

Yes, that would simply mean “A dog is big.” In Icelandic, whether you choose the indefinite or definite form affects the meaning. Hundurinn er stór specifically refers to “The dog is big.”