Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Hækkandi hitastig bræðir snjóinn.

Hækkandi is the present-participle (verbal adjective) form of the verb hækka (“to rise” or “to increase”). Here it modifies the noun hitastig, effectively meaning “rising” as in “rising temperature.”

Why is hitastig not marked for definiteness (no “the”)?

In Icelandic, a noun is definite only if the speaker has a specific instance in mind or if it’s been previously introduced. Hitastig here is indefinite because we’re talking about “temperature” in general, not a particular (defined) temperature.

What case and number is hitastig in?

Hitastig is neuter singular in the nominative case. It’s the subject of the sentence, so it takes the nominative.

Why does snjóinn end with -inn?

The suffix -inn is the definite article for masculine singular nouns in Icelandic. By saying snjóinn, the speaker refers to “the snow” (a specific or known snow), which is the direct object being melted.

What case is snjóinn in, and why does it look the same as the nominative?

Snjóinn is in the accusative case (direct object). For strong masculine nouns like snjór, the accusative form is identical to the nominative, so you only see the article suffix change to mark definiteness.

Why is the verb bræðir used instead of an intransitive form like “bráðnar”?

Bræða is transitive (“to melt something”), so bræðir takes a direct object (snjóinn). If you used bráðna (intransitive “to melt” or “to thaw”), you’d say something like Snjórinn bráðnar (“The snow is melting”) with no direct object.

Where does the stress fall in Hækkandi hitastig bræðir snjóinn?

Icelandic always stresses the first syllable of the root word. So you stress HÆK-kandi, HÍ-tastig, and BRÆ-ðir, SNJÓ-inn.

How would you express “the rising temperature is melting the snow” if you want both nouns definite?

You would add the article suffix to hitastig, giving Hækkandi hitastigið bræðir snjóinn. Now both “the rising temperature” and “the snow” are marked as definite.