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Questions & Answers about Kvöldmatur er heitur.
What does Kvöldmatur mean in this sentence?
Kvöldmatur is a compound word formed from kvöld (meaning evening) and matur (meaning food). It refers to the evening meal or dinner.
What role does er play in the sentence?
Er is the third-person singular present form of the verb vera (to be). It acts as a linking verb that connects the subject (Kvöldmatur) with the predicate adjective (heitur).
Why is the adjective heitur in that specific form?
Heitur means hot and is in the masculine singular indefinite form. In Icelandic, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and definiteness with the noun they describe. Since Kvöldmatur is a masculine singular indefinite noun, heitur is correctly inflected to match.
Is the word order in "Kvöldmatur er heitur" similar to English?
Yes, the sentence follows a Subject–Verb–Predicate structure, much like English. In both languages, the sentence expresses the idea that the subject (dinner) has the quality described by the predicate (being hot).
Are there any notable aspects regarding compound nouns in Icelandic, as seen with Kvöldmatur?
Absolutely. Compound nouns are very common in Icelandic. In this case, Kvöldmatur combines kvöld and matur to form a single concept (the evening meal). Recognizing and understanding these compound formations is key to grasping Icelandic vocabulary and how descriptive terms are built.