Krakkinn sér hundinn.

the dog

Breakdown of Krakkinn sér hundinn.

• sjá: to see
• krakkinn: the kid

Questions & Answers about Krakkinn sér hundinn.

What does krakkinn mean, and why is it not just krakki?

Krakkinn is the definite nominative singular form of krakki (kid). Icelandic marks definiteness with a suffix rather than a separate word.

• krakki = “a kid” (indefinite)
• krakkinn = “the kid” (definite, with -inn attached)

What case and number is krakkinn in?

Krakkinn is in the nominative singular definite. In Icelandic, the nominative marks the subject of a clause, and here the suffix -inn indicates that it’s definite.

Why is the verb sér used here instead of something like sjáir?

The infinitive verb is sjá (“to see”), but it conjugates irregularly in the present tense:
• ég sé
• þú sérð
• hann sér
• við sjáum
• þið sjáið
• þau sjá
Thus, the 3rd person singular present form is sér (“he/she/it sees”), not sjáir.

What does hundinn mean, and why does it end with -inn instead of -urinn or -ur?