Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Fyrirtækið mitt er lítið.

Because fyrirtæki is a neuter noun, and Icelandic marks definiteness with a suffixed article. Neuter nominative singular definite is -ið, so fyrirtæki (a company) becomes fyrirtækið (the company).

Why do we have both the definite ending and the possessive mitt?

When a possessive pronoun comes after the noun, Icelandic normally adds the definite suffix to the noun: fyrirtækið mitt (literally “the company my”). If you put the possessive before the noun, you do not add the suffix: mitt fyrirtæki. Both mean “my company”; postposed is the neutral default, while preposed is a bit more contrastive or emphatic. Avoid fyrirtæki mitt without -ið in this structure.

Can I say Mitt fyrirtæki er lítið instead?

Yes. That is correct and common. It’s slightly more contrastive (highlighting “my”), whereas Fyrirtækið mitt er lítið is the neutral default.

Why is the adjective lítið ending in -t?

Agreement. The adjective lítill (small) has nominative singular forms: masculine lítill, feminine lítil, neuter lítið. Because fyrirtækið is neuter singular, the predicative adjective must be lítið.

Do adjectives have to agree with the subject after er?

Yes. With the copula vera (to be), predicative adjectives agree with the subject in gender, number, and case:

Bíllinn minn er lítill. (masc.)
Bókin mín er lítil. (fem.)
Fyrirtækið mitt er lítið. (neut.)

Why is it er and not eru?

Because the subject is singular. Present tense of vera:

ég er
þú ert
hann/hún/það er
við erum
þið eruð
þeir/þær/þau eru

What case is used here?

Nominative. The subject fyrirtækið is nominative, and with vera the predicative adjective (lítið) is also nominative.

How do I form the plural and other cases of fyrirtæki?

Key forms:

Singular: nominative/accusative fyrirtæki, dative fyrirtæki, genitive fyrirtækis; definite singular: fyrirtækið
Plural: nominative/accusative fyrirtæki, dative fyrirtækjum, genitive fyrirtækja; definite plural: fyrirtækin

How do I say “My companies are small”?

Fyrirtækin mín eru lítil.

fyrirtækin = the companies (neuter definite plural)
mín = my (neuter plural nominative)
eru = are
lítil = small (neuter plural)

Can I drop the possessive and just say “The company is small”?

Yes: Fyrirtækið er lítið. That simply removes the idea of ownership.

If I want to put “small” before “company,” what changes?

Then the adjective is attributive and takes the weak ending with a definite noun:

Litla fyrirtækið mitt = the small company of mine Indefinite versions:
lítið fyrirtæki = a small company (strong ending)
mitt litla fyrirtæki = my small company (possessive before; adjective takes weak ending)

Why is it mitt and not mín?

The possessive agrees with the noun it modifies. For the nominative singular:

masculine: minn
feminine: mín
neuter: mitt Since fyrirtæki is neuter, use mitt (or fyrirtækið mitt when postposed).

Where does ekki go if I want to negate it?

After the finite verb: Fyrirtækið mitt er ekki lítið. = My company is not small.

How is this pronounced?

Approximate:

Fyrirtækið ≈ FIR-irr-tae-kið (final ð like the th in English this, soft)
mitt ≈ mitt (short i, clear double t)
er ≈ ehr (very short)
lítið ≈ LEE-tith (long í, final ð like th in this) Notes:
æ sounds like the vowel in English eye.
ð is a soft voiced th (as in this), often very light word-finally.
k before front vowels (like i/í/y/ý/ei/ey/æ) is palatalized (a fronted k, somewhat like k plus a very light y).

What’s the difference between lítill and smár?

Both mean “small,” but:

lítill is the default, most common word.
smár often suggests “tiny/compact” or appears in set phrases and more formal/literary contexts. In everyday size descriptions, prefer lítill.

Can I combine a demonstrative with the possessive here?

Yes, but then you do not add the definite suffix. For example:

þetta fyrirtæki mitt er lítið = this company of mine is small. Avoid þetta fyrirtækið mitt (no suffix after a demonstrative).

What does the accent on í indicate?

Accented vowels (á, é, í, ó, ú, ý, æ, ö) are distinct letters with specific qualities. í is a close front vowel and here is long: lítið. The accent mark does not mark stress; Icelandic stress is almost always on the first syllable of a word.

Is lítið ever an adverb?

Yes. As an adverb lítið means “little/not much”: Ég tala lítið. In our sentence it’s an adjective agreeing with fyrirtækið.

What about the reflexive possessive sinn/sín/sitt?

Use the reflexive when the possessor is the third‑person subject of the same clause (or subordinate clause):

Hann segir að fyrirtækið sitt sé lítið. = He says that his (own) company is small. Here, with a first‑person possessor, you use mitt.