Mistökin kosta mikið.

The mistakes cost a lot.

Breakdown of Mistökin kosta mikið.

• kosta: to cost
• mikið: a lot
• mistökin: the mistakes

Questions & Answers about Mistökin kosta mikið.

Why does Mistökin have the ending -in? Does it have to be definite here?

The ending -in is the suffixed definite article, so Mistökin means the mistakes. Without the article, Mistök kosta mikið means Mistakes cost a lot in a general sense.

• Use the definite form when you mean specific, previously mentioned mistakes.
• For a general statement/gnomic truth, prefer the bare plural: Mistök kosta mikið or rephrase: Það er dýrt að gera mistök.

Is there a singular of mistök? How do I say “a mistake”?

Mistök is a plural-only neuter noun (pluralia tantum). Icelandic typically says gera mistök even when English would say “make a mistake.” Examples:

• Ég gerði mistök = I made a mistake. If you need a singular-count noun, use villa (f.): Ég gerði villu = I made an error/a mistake. (This is less idiomatic than gera mistök, but it’s the singular word.)

What exactly is the form of Mistökin here (case/number/gender)?

Mistökin is nominative definite plural neuter of mistök. Quick overview:

• Nom/Acc: mistök (definite: mistökin)
• Dative: mistökum (definite: mistökunum)
• Genitive: mistaka (definite: mistakanna)

Why is the verb kosta plural and not kostar?

Agreement with a plural subject: Mistökin is plural, so the verb is kosta (3rd person plural present).

• 3sg: kostar (e.g., Bókin kostar…)
• 3pl: kosta (e.g., Mmistökin kosta…)

Could I say kostar mikið here?

Not with Mistökin. Because the subject is plural, you must use kosta. You would use kostar with a singular subject, e.g., Þetta kostar mikið.

What is mikið here? Is it an object or an adverb? Why not mjög?

Here mikið is the neuter singular of the adjective mikill used adverbially, meaning “a lot” (a large amount). It’s not a separate object; it functions as a measure adverb with kosta.

• Use mikið with verbs to mean “a lot/much”: Þetta kostar mikið.
• Mjög means “very” and modifies adjectives/adverbs: Þetta er mjög dýrt. Saying kostar mjög is odd.

Can I say “cost a lot of money” explicitly?

Yes:

• … kosta marga peninga (“… cost a lot of money,” with the count noun “money” in plural accusative).
• Or use a mass construction: … kosta mikið af peningum (“… cost a lot of money,” with af
  • dative: peningum). All of these are natural; kosta mikið alone already implies “a lot (of money).”

How do I say “The mistakes cost me a lot”?

Mistökin kosta mig mikið. Here mig (accusative of ég) is the person affected. Icelandic allows a “double accusative” with kosta: person + amount.

How would I make this a yes/no question?

Invert verb and subject:

• Kosta mistökin mikið? You can also specify: Kosta þessi mistök mikið?

How do I say it in the past or in the negative?

• Past: Mistökin kostuðu mikið.
• Negative: Mistökin kosta ekki mikið. (or Mistökin kosta lítið = “cost little.”)

Could I use a different phrasing like “are expensive”?

Yes:

• Mistök eru dýr. (“Mistakes are expensive.”) Note: dýr also means “animals,” but the meaning is clear in context.
• Very idiomatic: Það er dýrt að gera mistök. (“It’s expensive to make mistakes.”)

Can I move mikið to the front for emphasis?

You can, but it sounds emphatic/exclamatory: Mikið kosta mistökin! In neutral statements, keep mikið after the verb: Mistökin kosta mikið.

Any useful collocations with mistök?

• gera mistök = make a mistake
• viðurkenna mistök = admit mistakes
• læra af mistökum = learn from mistakes (dative after af)
• leiðrétta mistök = correct mistakes
• forðast mistök = avoid mistakes

How do I pronounce Mistökin kosta mikið?

Approximate guide (stress on the first syllable of each word):

• Mistökin ≈ “MIS-tuh-kin” (ö is a rounded “uh,” like the vowel in “nurse” but rounded; final -in like “in”)
• kosta ≈ “KOS-ta”
• mikið ≈ “MEE-kith” (the k is fronted before i, and final ð is often like a soft voiceless th) A careful IPA approximation: [ˈmɪs.tœː.cɪn ˈkʰɔs.ta ˈmɪː.cɪθ].