The Suffix -ari
In English, we often add "-er" or "-or" to a verb to describe a person who performs that action, like "runner" or "creator". In Icelandic, you do this by adding the suffix -ari to the stem of a verb.
Agent nouns ending in -ari are always masculine.
| He is a good dancer. | Hann er góður dansari. |
| I am not a cyclist. | Ég er ekki hjólari. |
The Definite Article
To say "the" dancer or "the" painter, you add the masculine definite article. Because these nouns already end in a vowel, you simply attach -nn to the end, making the suffix -arinn.
Notice how the examples below use both the agent noun and its related verb:
| The dancer dances well. | Dansarinn dansar vel. |
| The painter paints the house. | Málarinn málar húsið. |
Making it Plural
When talking about more than one person, the nominative plural ending for -ari nouns is -arar.
| We are illustrators. | Við erum teiknarar. |
A Versatile Suffix
Just like in English, this pattern is highly productive in Icelandic. You will see it used to form words for athletes, artists, and active participants in any situation, from a casual game to organizing an event.
| Nobody wants to be a loser. | Enginn vill vera tapari. |
| The spy hides the money. | Njósnarinn felur peninginn. |
| The organizer organizes the party. | Skipuleggjarinn skipuleggur partíið. |