Hún er ákveðin og dugleg, svo hún heldur áfram þegar eitthvað er erfitt.

to be

Breakdown of Hún er ákveðin og dugleg, svo hún heldur áfram þegar eitthvað er erfitt.

• hún: she
• þegar: when
• og: and

Questions & Answers about Hún er ákveðin og dugleg, svo hún heldur áfram þegar eitthvað er erfitt.

What does ákveðin mean here?

Here ákveðin means determined or resolute.

That word can also mean certain or specific in other contexts, so learners often get confused by it. In this sentence, because it describes a person’s character, determined is the natural meaning.

Why is it ákveðin and not some other form?

Because it describes hún (she), the adjective has to agree with the subject in gender, number, and case.

Here hún is:

• feminine
• singular
• nominative

So the adjective appears in the feminine singular nominative form: ákveðin.

What does dugleg mean exactly?

Dugleg is a very common Icelandic adjective meaning something like:

• hardworking
• diligent
• capable
• good at getting things done

It is often used more broadly than English hardworking. It can describe someone who is energetic, useful, dependable, or good about doing what they should do.