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Questions & Answers about Snjórinn er hvítur.
What does the suffix -inn in snjórinn indicate?
It’s the definite article, meaning the snow. In Icelandic, definiteness is shown by adding a suffix to the noun instead of using a separate word. For masculine nouns in the nominative singular, the suffix is -inn.
What is the gender of snjór and how can I recognize it?
Snjór is masculine. Many Icelandic nouns ending in a consonant are masculine, but you usually learn each noun’s gender individually. Here, the form snjórinn (with -inn) also tells you it’s masculine nominative singular definite.
Why is the adjective hvítur ending in -ur?
Hvítur is in the strong (indefinite) declension for masculine nominative singular. Predicative adjectives—those linked to the subject by a copula like er—always use the strong form, regardless of the noun’s definiteness.
Why doesn’t hvítur change to a weak (definite) form even though snjórinn is definite?
Adjectives used predicatively (after er) do not reflect definiteness. They remain in the strong declension. Only attributive adjectives (those placed directly before a definite noun) take the weak declension when the noun is definite.