Questions & Answers about Þau tala íslensku heima.
What exactly does Þau mean, and how is it different from other Icelandic words for “they”?
Þau is the neuter plural pronoun meaning “they.”
Icelandic has three different “they” forms:
- þeir – “they” for a group that is all male (masculine plural)
- þær – “they” for a group that is all female (feminine plural)
- þau – “they” for a mixed group or a group of things / neutrals (neuter plural)
So Þau tala íslensku heima usually suggests either:
- a mixed‑gender group of people, or
- a group where gender is not being specified or is irrelevant.
How do you pronounce Þau?
Þ represents the unvoiced th sound as in think.
Approximate pronunciation of Þau:
- Þ – like th in thing
- au – a diphthong, roughly like English oi in boil, but with Icelandic flavour
So Þau sounds somewhat like “thoi”, but with a shorter, tighter vowel.
Why is the verb tala and not talar or some other form?