Kötturinn er þar.

to be

Breakdown of Kötturinn er þar.

• kötturinn: the cat
• þar: there

Questions & Answers about Kötturinn er þar.

Why does the sentence use the word kötturinn instead of köttur?

Kötturinn is the definite form of köttur, so it means the cat rather than a cat. In Icelandic, nouns generally take a definite suffix (like -inn) rather than using a separate word (like the in English).

How do I pronounce kötturinn correctly?

The ö in Icelandic is pronounced somewhat like the sound in the English word hurt, but shorter and possibly a bit more rounded. The u after tt is closer to the u in put, and the final -inn sounds like -it with a very soft t in some dialects.

What is the function of er in this sentence?

Er is the present tense form of the verb vera (to be). It directly translates to is in English.

Does þar only mean 'there' as a location, or can it imply something else?

Þar usually indicates a place or location, equivalent to there in English. It doesn’t have the same demonstrative connotation as English there can sometimes have (like pointing something out). If you want to say something like over there, you might use þarna instead.

Why does kötturinn er þar sound like it's missing words compared to English?

Icelandic often relies on suffixes and relatively straightforward sentence structures, so it doesn't require a separate the, and the present tense of to be doesn’t change for different pronouns or nouns. Consequently, the phrase can feel more concise compared to English.