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Questions & Answers about Þetta er snilld.
What does þetta mean here?
Þetta means this or this thing.
In this sentence, it is a demonstrative pronoun, pointing to something nearby in the conversation or situation. English often just says this, but Icelandic uses a form that also shows grammatical gender and number.
Here, þetta is the neuter singular form.
Why is it þetta and not just a word like þessi?
Icelandic has related forms that depend on how the word is being used.
- þetta = this as a standalone pronoun, often meaning this thing / this situation / this
- þessi is often used more like this before a noun, depending on the noun phrase
So:
- Þetta er snilld. = This is brilliant / This is genius.
- Þessi bók = this book
A learner will often notice that Icelandic demonstratives change form more than English ones do.
What does er mean?
Er means is.
It is the present tense of the verb að vera, which means to be.
So:
- ég er = I am
- þú ert = you are
- það/þetta er = it/this is
In Þetta er snilld, er simply links þetta and snilld, just like English is.