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Questions & Answers about Hafið er kalt.
What does hafið mean and why does it have the suffix -ið?
hafið is the definite form of the neuter noun haf, meaning the sea. In Icelandic, the definite article is not a separate word but a suffix attached to the noun. For neuter singular nouns like haf, the suffix is -ið (so haf + -ið = hafið).
What case, gender and number is hafið in, and how do I know?
hafið is nominative singular neuter.
- It’s the subject of the sentence, so it takes the nominative case.
- haf is a neuter noun, and the -ið ending marks it as definite, singular, and neuter.
What is er in this sentence and how is it used?
er is the third-person singular present tense of the verb vera (to be). You need this copula to link subject and adjective, just as in English:
Hafið er kalt. (“The sea is cold.”)
Why is the adjective kalt used here instead of kaldur?
Adjectives in Icelandic inflect for gender, number and case. The dictionary form kaldur is masculine nominative singular. For a neuter noun like haf, the corresponding nominative singular form is (kaldur → kalt).