Þetta orð er sérstakt.

to be

Breakdown of Þetta orð er sérstakt.

• þetta: this
• orð: the word
• sérstakt: special

Questions & Answers about Þetta orð er sérstakt.

What does þetta mean exactly, and how is it different from það or þessi?

Þetta is a demonstrative pronoun meaning roughly this or that (neuter singular). It is used for something you are pointing to, referring to in the immediate context, or just introducing.

• þetta = this / that (thing), neuter singular
• það = also it / that, but more neutral and often used for things already known, or as an expletive subject (as in Það er kalt – It is cold).
• þessi is the base form that declines by gender and number:
  
  • masculine singular: þessi
  • feminine singular: þessi
  • neuter singular: þetta
  • neuter plural: þessi (e.g. þessi orð – these words)

In Þetta orð er sérstakt, þetta matches orð, which is neuter singular.

Why is there no separate word for the in þetta orð?

Icelandic normally does not use a separate article like English the. Instead, definiteness is usually shown by a suffix on the noun.

• orð = a word / word (indefinite)
• orðið = the word (definite)

Here, þetta orð literally means this word. The this already makes the noun specific, so you normally do not add the definite suffix as well in this structure.

So:

• Þetta orð er sérstakt. = This word is special.
• Orðið er sérstakt. = The word is special.

What gender is orð, and how can I tell?

Orð is a neuter noun. Unfortunately, gender is largely something you must learn with each noun. A dictionary entry will mark it, for example:

• orð n. = orð, neuter

Clues in this sentence that it is neuter:

• The demonstrative is þetta (the neuter form).
• The adjective is sérstakt, which is the neuter singular form of sérstakur.

So all the agreeing words (pronoun and adjective) signal that orð is neuter singular.

How do I know that orð is singular here, since the plural form looks the same?

The noun orð is one of those Icelandic neuter nouns where the singular and plural nominative look the same:

• singular nominative: orð – word
• plural nominative: orð – words

You can tell it is singular here because:

• The verb is er (is), which is third person singular.
• The adjective is sérstakt, neuter singular.

If it were plural, you would have:

• orð eru sérstök – words are special (verb eru, adjective sérstök in neuter plural).

Why does sérstakt end in -t?

The base adjective is sérstakur (special). Icelandic adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case.

For the nominative singular, indefinite forms you get:

• masculine: sérstakur (e.g. bíllinn er sérstakur – the car is special)
• feminine: sérstök (e.g. bókin er sérstök – the book is special)
• neuter: sérstakt (e.g. orð er sérstakt – a word is special)

Because orð is neuter singular nominative, the adjective must also be neuter singular nominative → sérstakt.

How would the meaning change if I said Orðið er sérstakt instead of Þetta orð er sérstakt?

• Þetta orð er sérstakt. = This word is special.

  • You are pointing out or selecting a particular word in the situation (for example, on a page or in a sentence).

• Orðið er sérstakt. = The word is special.

  • You refer to a word that is already understood from context (for example, one you just mentioned).

So þetta orð explicitly highlights this particular word right here, while orðið just says the word that both speaker and listener already know about.

Can I say Þetta er sérstakt orð instead, and does that change the meaning?

Yes, Þetta er sérstakt orð is also correct, but the focus shifts slightly.

• Þetta orð er sérstakt.

  • Structure: this word (subject) is special (complement).
  • Emphasis on the property: you’re saying that this specific word is special.

• Þetta er sérstakt orð.

  • Structure: this (subject pronoun) is a special word (predicate noun phrase).
  • More like This is a special word, often used when introducing or identifying a word.

In many contexts they can both translate as This word is special, but the second one feels a bit more like pointing at something and labeling it a special word.

How would I say These words are special using the same words?

You need the plural forms for the pronoun, verb, and adjective:

• Þessi orð eru sérstök.

Breakdown:

• Þessi = these (neuter plural of þessi)
• orð = words (neuter plural nominative, same form as singular)
• eru = are (3rd person plural of vera)
• sérstök = special (neuter plural form of sérstakur)

How do I pronounce the letters þ and ð in this sentence?

In Þetta orð er sérstakt you have þ in Þetta and ð in orð.

• þ is pronounced like the th in English thing: a voiceless dental fricative [θ].

  • Þetta ≈ THET-ta (with soft th, not like this).

• ð is usually like the th in this: a voiced dental fricative [ð].

  • orð roughly ≈ orth, with a rolled or tapped r and a voiced th sound at the end (in careful pronunciation; it often weakens in fast speech).

So:

• Þetta → [ˈθɛhta]
• orð → [ɔrð] (r rolled, final ð like th in this).

Where is the stress in Þetta orð er sérstakt?

In Icelandic, stress is almost always on the first syllable of each word. So you get:

• ÞEtta
• ORð
• er (only one syllable)
• SÉRstakt

If you mark primary stress in the sentence:

• ÞEtta ORð er SÉRstakt.

Within sérstakt, the stress is on sér; the rest is unstressed and follows quickly.

Does sérstakt always mean special, or can it also mean strange?

Sérstakur / sérstök / sérstakt primarily means special or particular, but context can shade it toward odd / unusual.

Common nuances:

• special / particular / distinctive:

  • Hann hefur sérstakan stíl. – He has a special / distinctive style.
  • Þetta orð er sérstakt. – This word is special / distinctive.

• unusual / a bit strange (mildly):

  • Hann er dálítið sérstakur. – He is a bit peculiar / a bit unusual.

So sérstakt does not automatically mean weird, but depending on tone and context, it can imply unusual in either a positive or a slightly odd way.