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Questions & Answers about Kvöldsólin skín fallega.
What does kvöldsólin literally mean, and how is it formed?
kvöldsólin breaks down into two parts: kvöld (“evening”) + sól (“sun”), forming the compound kvöldsól (“evening sun”). The ending -in is the definite article attached to the noun, so kvöldsólin means “the evening sun.”
What case, number and gender is kvöldsólin in?
kvöldsólin is feminine, singular, and in the nominative case—because it’s the subject of the sentence.
Why is the definite article attached as -in instead of a separate word?
In Icelandic the definite article is a suffix on nouns, not a separate word like in English. So instead of “the sun” you say sól + -in = sólin.
What is skín, and how is it conjugated?
skín is the 3rd person singular present indicative form of the verb skína (“to shine”). Icelandic verbs agree in person and number, so skín = “it shines.”
What part of speech is fallega, and why does it end in -a?
fallega is an adverb meaning “beautifully.” Many Icelandic adjectives form adverbs by adding -lega to the adjective stem (here falleg- from fallegur, “beautiful”), so fallega modifies the verb skín.
Could fallega ever be an adjective in this sentence?
No. Since fallega stands after the verb and describes how the action is done, it must be an adverb. The adjective form (fallegur, fallegt, falleg) would only describe a noun.
Why is the verb skín placed in the second position in the sentence?
Icelandic follows the V2 word-order rule: the finite verb (here skín) normally comes second, after whichever element (subject, adverbial, etc.) is fronted. In “Kvöldsólin skín fallega,” the subject is first, so the verb is second.
How would you pronounce Kvöldsólin skín fallega?
Approximate IPA: [ˈkʰvœl̥tsoulin skiːn ˈfalːɛɣa].
English-style guide: “KVELT-soh-lin SKEEN FAHL-leh-gah.”
Remember: ö is like the “ur” in “fur” (without the r), í is like “ee” in “see,” and ll before e/i/y is a palatal sound similar to an “ly” blend.