Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Barnið elskar sig sjálft.

The ending -ið is the neuter singular definite article attached to the noun. So barn = “child” and barnið = “the child.” Here it’s in the nominative case as the subject of the sentence.

Why is it sig and not hann/hana/það?

sig is the third‑person reflexive object pronoun. It always refers back to the subject of the same clause (“the child loves itself”). To refer to someone/something else, you use the ordinary third‑person pronouns:

hann = him (masc)
hana = her (fem)
það = it (neuter, some other thing, not the subject)

What does sjálft add? Can I just say “Barnið elskar sig”?

sjálft (from the adjective sjálfur) is an emphatic “self,” roughly like adding emphasis to “itself.”

Barnið elskar sig = “The child loves itself.” (perfectly correct)
Barnið elskar sig sjálft adds emphasis: “The child loves itself (itself).”

Why is it sjálft and not sjálfan or sjálfa?

Because sjálfur agrees with the referent in gender and number. Barn is a neuter noun, so you use the neuter form sjálft (accusative here, though neuter nom/acc look the same).

Masc subject: Drengurinn elskar sjálfan sig.
Fem subject: Stúlkan elskar sjálfa sig.
Neuter subject: Barnið elskar sjálft sig / Barnið elskar sig sjálft.

Which case is sig here, and why?

sig is accusative, because elska “to love” takes an accusative object. The reflexive forms are:

Accusative: sig
Dative: sér
Genitive: sín Example with another case: Hún hjálpar sér (“She helps herself,” dative because hjálpa governs dative). Another: Hún skammast sín (“She is ashamed of herself,” genitive).

Is the word order fixed? Can I say “sjálft sig” instead of “sig sjálft”?

Both orders occur: sjálfan/sjálfa/sjálft sig and sig sjálfan/sjálfa/sjálft. Many learners are taught the pattern with sjálf- before sig (e.g., að elska sjálfan/sjálfa/sjálft sig), but your sentence’s order (… sig sjálft) is also natural.

Can I drop sig and just say “Barnið elskar sjálft” to mean “The child loves itself”?

No. sjálft on its own emphasizes the subject (“the child itself”), not reflexivity.

“The child loves itself” requires sig: Barnið elskar sig (sjálft).
To emphasize the subject in another context: Barnið sjálft elskar köttinn (“The child itself loves the cat”).

How do I say “The children love themselves”?

Without extra emphasis: Börnin elska sig.
With emphasis: Börnin elska sig sjálf or Börnin elska sjálf sig (note plural neuter sjálf to match börnin).

How do I say “The child loves him/her/it (someone/something else)”?

Barnið elskar hann = the child loves him (a male).
Barnið elskar hana = the child loves her (a female).
Barnið elskar það = the child loves it (some other neuter thing). These are non‑reflexive and do not refer back to the subject.

What’s the difference between sig and sinn (own)?

sig = reflexive object pronoun (himself/herself/itself/themselves).
sinn/sín/sitt = reflexive possessive “own,” agreeing with the possessed noun. Examples:
Barnið elskar hundinn sinn = “The child loves its own dog.”
Barnið elskar hundinn hans/hennar = “The child loves his/her (someone else’s) dog.”

Who does sig refer to in subordinate clauses?

sig refers to the subject of its own clause.

Mamman sagði að barnið elskaði sig. → sig = the child (subject of the embedded clause).
Barnið sagði að mamman elskaði sig. → sig = the mother (subject of the embedded clause).

What form is elskar, and how is elska conjugated?

elskar is present tense, 3rd person singular of að elska (“to love”).

Present: ég elska, þú elskar, hann/hún/það elskar, við elskum, þið elskið, þeir/þær/þau elska
Past (sg.): elskaði (e.g., Barnið elskaði sig = “The child loved itself”)

How do I say “I love myself” or “You love yourself” in Icelandic?

Use the regular object pronouns (reflexive is only for 3rd person):

Ég elska mig (optionally add emphasis: Ég elska sjálfan/sjálfa mig, depending on your gender).
Þú elskar þig (optionally: Þú elskar sjálfan/sjálfa þig).

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

ð in barnið is like the “th” in “this.”
sj in sjálft sounds like English “sh.”
á in sjálft sounds like the “ow” in “cow.”
Final g in sig is a soft, fricative sound (not a hard “g”).
The cluster -lft in sjálft is fully pronounced; the l is voiceless.