Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Konan er falleg.

In Icelandic, the definite article is often added as a suffix (attached to the noun). Konan means the woman, while Kona means (a) woman. If you want to say The woman is beautiful, you need the definite form: Konan er falleg.

How do I pronounce Konan er falleg correctly?

• Konan: roughly "KO-nan". The stress is on the first syllable.
• er: a short "ehr".
• falleg: "FAT-leg" or "FAHT-leg", depending on your accent, but try to keep the a-sound short and crisp, and note that the double l can slightly lengthen that part of the word.

Why does the adjective appear after er instead of before Konan?

In Icelandic (as in English), when you're describing a subject with a linking verb like er (is), the adjective typically follows the verb. It’s the same pattern as saying in English, The woman is beautiful, rather than The beautiful woman.

Is falleg always spelled this way?

Not necessarily. Icelandic adjectives change form depending on gender, number, and case. Falleg is the feminine singular nominative form. If you describe a masculine or neuter noun, or if the noun is in a different case or number, the adjective will change accordingly.

Is er always used this way in Icelandic?

Er in this sentence corresponds to English is, and it’s the third-person singular present tense of the verb að vera (to be). You’ll also encounter other forms like eru (they are / you are in plural contexts) or ert (you are, singular). It follows straightforward conjugation rules across different subjects.