The indefinite pronoun allur means "all," "everything," or "everyone." Like an adjective, it changes form to match the gender, number, and case of the noun it describes. When paired with a noun, Icelandic typically uses the definite form of that noun (e.g., "all the...").
Neuter Singular and "Everything" (Allt)
For neuter singular nouns, the form is allt. This form stays exactly the same in both the nominative (subject) and accusative (object) cases. When used entirely on its own without a noun, allt translates to "everything."
| All the people shop here. | Allt fólkið verslar hérna. |
| We shop and buy all the meat. | Við verslum og kaupum allt kjötið. |
Masculine Plural and "Everyone" (Allir)
The nominative masculine plural form is allir. While it can be paired with masculine plural nouns, it is most commonly used on its own to mean "everyone." Icelandic defaults to this masculine plural form when talking about a mixed group of people.
| Everyone eats the meat and the meal is good. | Allir borða kjötið og máltíðin er góð. |
| Was everyone full earlier? | Voru allir mettir áðan? |
Accusative Forms: Allan and Alla
When acting as the direct object of a sentence (like the food being eaten or bought), the pronoun takes the accusative case. The form depends on the noun's gender and number:
| Gender & Number | Accusative Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | allan | allan matinn (all the food) |
| Feminine Singular | alla | alla sósuna (all the sauce) |
| Masculine Plural | alla | alla ávextina (all the fruit) |
Notice that the feminine singular and masculine plural share the exact same form (alla).
| He finishes all the food in the bowl. | Hann klárar allan matinn í skálinni. |
| They want all the sauce. | Þau vilja alla sósuna. |
| Everyone wants to buy all the fruit here. | Allir vilja kaupa alla ávextina hér. |
