Questions & Answers about Skyrtan hans er hrein.
What does the ending in the word skyrtan mean?
The -n at the end is the definite article attached to the noun. The base word is skyrta (shirt, feminine). With the suffixed definite article it becomes skyrtan = the shirt. Icelandic typically attaches “the” to the end of nouns rather than using a separate word.
Why does hans come after the noun (skyrtan hans) instead of before it?
In Icelandic, possessives usually follow the noun: skyrtan hans, bíllinn minn (my car), húsið þeirra (their house). The third-person possessive forms hans/hennar/þeirra are genitives that come after the noun in normal, neutral style.
Do I have to use the definite article with hans? What’s the difference between skyrtan hans and skyrta hans?
- skyrtan hans = his (specific/known) shirt — the one we have in mind.
- skyrta hans = a shirt of his (non-specific, one of his shirts).
So the article marks specificity/definiteness, not possession itself.
Can I say hans skyrta?
It’s possible but marked: fronting hans before the noun is literary/archaic or for special emphasis. In everyday Icelandic, stick with skyrtan hans.