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Questions & Answers about Fangelsið er stórt.
What does the ending -ið on fangelsið mean?
The ending -ið is the suffixed definite article in Icelandic. Instead of using a separate word for the, Icelandic often adds it to the end of the noun.
So:
- fangelsi = prison
- fangelsið = the prison
This is very common in Icelandic.
What is the basic dictionary form of fangelsið?
The dictionary form is fangelsi, meaning prison.
Fangelsið is the same noun with the definite article attached. So if you look it up in a dictionary, you would usually search for fangelsi, not fangelsið.
Why is there no separate word for the?
Because Icelandic usually expresses the by attaching it to the noun itself.
Compare:
- English: the prison
- Icelandic: fangelsið
This is one of the first big differences English speakers notice. Icelandic can use a separate demonstrative in some contexts, but for ordinary the, the article is typically attached to the noun.
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