Læknirinn vinnur á sjúkrahúsi.

The doctor works at a hospital.

Breakdown of Læknirinn vinnur á sjúkrahúsi.

• vinna: to work
• læknirinn: the doctor
• á: at
• sjúkrahúsið: the hospital

Questions & Answers about Læknirinn vinnur á sjúkrahúsi.

What does the suffix -inn do in læknirinn?

It’s the definite article “the” attached to the noun. In Icelandic you don’t put a separate word for “the” – instead you add a suffix.

• læknir = “doctor” (indefinite)
• læknirinn = “the doctor” (definite)

How can I say “a doctor works at a hospital” (indefinite) in Icelandic?

Icelandic has no separate indefinite article. You simply leave the noun bare:
Læknir vinnur á sjúkrahúsi.

Why is sjúkrahúsi in the dative case?

The preposition á when used to indicate a static location (“at/on”) governs the dative. The base noun sjúkrahús (neuter) takes an -i ending in the singular dative, giving sjúkrahúsi.

When do I use á + dative versus á + accusative with á?

• á + dative = location (where something is stationary):
  “Hann vinnur á sjúkrahúsi.” (“He works at the hospital.”)
• á + accusative = motion toward (where something is going):
  “Hann fer á sjúkrahús.” (“He goes to the hospital.”)

What does vinnur mean and how is it formed?

Vinur is the 3rd person singular present of að vinna, which here means “to work.”
Formation: take the present stem vinn- and add -ur → vinnur (“he/she works”).

Why do we use á instead of í to say “at a hospital”?

Different Icelandic prepositions pair with different types of locations:

• á is used with institutions and public places (hospitals, schools, hotels): á sjúkrahúsi, á skólann
• í is used for being inside a physical space (rooms, boxes): í stofunni (“in the living room”)

How is the word order determined? Why is vinnur in the second position?

Icelandic main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb must be the second element. If the subject (læknirinn) is first, the verb (vinnur) comes second, and any other phrases follow.

How do I pronounce Læknirinn vinnur á sjúkrahúsi?

Approximate guide:
• Læknirinn = [ˈlaiːknɪrɪn], “LIE-k-ni-rin”
• vinnur = [ˈvɪnːʏr], “VIN-noor” (the y like German ü)
• á = [auː], “ow” in cow
• sjúkrahúsi = [ˈʃjʏːkrahúsi], “SHYU-kra-hoo-see”