Word
Þau borða saman.
Meaning
They eat together.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
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Questions & Answers about Þau borða saman.
How do you pronounce the letters in Þau borða saman?
- Þ is like the unvoiced th in English thin.
- ð (in borða) is like the voiced th in this.
- au (in Þau) is a diphthong roughly like the oy in boy, but with rounded lips.
- Stress is on the first syllable of each word: ÞAU bór-ða sá-man (Icelandic generally stresses the first syllable).
What exactly does þau mean, and how is it different from þeir and þær?
- þeir = they (all male)
- þær = they (all female)
- þau = they (mixed genders or when the group corresponds to a neuter plural noun like börn “children” or hjón “a married couple”) Modern speakers often prefer þau for mixed/unspecified groups for inclusivity. If it’s definitely all men, use þeir; all women, þær.
Can þau refer to just two people, like a couple?
Yes. þau is plural and can refer to any group of two or more. It’s very common for couples, especially because the word hjón (married couple) is neuter plural: þau hjónin “the couple.” Even without a noun, þau can stand for “they (that couple).”