Questions & Answers about Afinn er í stofunni.
What does Afinn mean, and why does it end in -inn?
Afinn means the grandfather/Grandpa. The base noun is afi (grandfather). Icelandic forms the definite article by attaching it to the end of the noun. For masculine singular nominative, the article is -inn, so afi + -inn → afinn (written with just one i): Afinn.
Why is the article attached to the noun instead of being a separate word?
Icelandic uses a suffixed definite article. Instead of a separate word like English “the,” you add an ending:
- Masculine nominative singular: -inn (e.g., drengurinn = the boy)
- Feminine nominative singular: -in (e.g., bókin = the book)
- Neuter nominative/accusative singular: -ið (e.g., húsið = the house)
Other cases also attach their own definite endings (e.g., feminine dative singular: -inni).
Why is it er? How is “to be” conjugated?
Er is the 3rd person singular present of vera (to be). Present tense:
- ég er
- þú ert
- hann/hún/það er
- við erum
- þið eruð
- þeir/þær/þau eru