Læknirinn skoðar tunguna mína.

The doctor examines my tongue.

Breakdown of Læknirinn skoðar tunguna mína.

• læknirinn: the doctor
• mín: my
• skoða: to examine
• tungan: the tongue

Questions & Answers about Læknirinn skoðar tunguna mína.

Why is læknirinn one word, and what does -inn mean?

In Icelandic, the definite article the is usually attached to the end of the noun instead of written as a separate word.

So:

• læknir = doctor
• læknirinn = the doctor

Here, -inn is the masculine singular definite ending in the nominative.

Why is it tunguna and not just tunga?

Because tungan is the object of the verb, and Icelandic marks that with case.

The noun tunga is feminine. Its basic form is:

• tunga = nominative singular

But after a verb like skoða, the direct object normally goes in the accusative:

• tungu = accusative singular

Then the definite article is added:

• tunguna = the tongue in the accusative singular

So tunguna is not just a random change; it shows both:

• accusative case
• definite meaning (the tongue)

Why is mína after the noun instead of before it?