The Formal Article "hið"
In everyday Icelandic, the definite article usually attaches to the end of a noun. However, in formal, poetic, or philosophical contexts, Icelandic often uses an independent, free-standing article. The neuter form of this independent article is hið.
Creating Abstract Nouns
To talk about sweeping, abstract concepts like "the good," "the evil," or "the beautiful," you pair the independent neuter article hið with an adjective.
When used this way, the adjective takes its weak declension. For a neuter singular adjective, this is incredibly simple: it ends in -a in all grammatical cases.
| Philosophy investigates the concept of the good. | Heimspekin rannsakar hugtakið um hið góða. |
| Our conduct reflects the evil in the world. | Breytnin okkar endurspeglar hið illa í heiminum. |
Declining Abstract Concepts
Like all noun phrases, these abstract concepts change case depending on their role in the sentence, or the verbs and prepositions that govern them.
While the weak adjective conveniently stays locked as an -a, the article hið declines as follows:
- Nominative / Accusative: hið
- Dative: hinu
- Genitive: hins
Notice how the article shifts to hinu when a verb or preposition requires the dative case, while the adjective remains completely unchanged:
| Philosophy seeks the eternal. | Heimspekin leitar að hinu eilífa. |
| Vice is often a part of the evil. | Lösturinn er oft partur af hinu illa. |
Discussing Morality and Philosophy
This structure is the backbone of ethical and philosophical discussions, allowing you to turn almost any descriptive adjective into a broad, universal concept.
| On the one hand we can choose the good, and on the other hand the evil. | Annars vegar getum við valið hið góða, en hins vegar hið illa. |
| I am afraid of the unknown. | Ég er hræddur við hið óþekkta. |
| The philosopher tries to define the human. | Heimspekingurinn reynir að skilgreina hið mannlega. |