When you want to say "both" in Icelandic, use the dual pronoun báðir. In the nominative and accusative, it changes to match the gender of the noun. However, in the dative and genitive cases, it offers a shortcut: the forms are identical for all three genders.
| Case | All Genders |
|---|---|
| Dative | báðum |
| Genitive | beggja |
The Genitive: Possession and "Between"
The genitive form beggja is frequently used to show possession ("of both") or after prepositions like á milli (between).
When paired with the third-person pronoun þeirra (their / of them), it becomes þeirra beggja (of both of them).
| The ties between both of them are very close. | Tengslin á milli þeirra beggja eru mjög náin. |
| The opinion of both of them is very similar. | Skoðun þeirra beggja er mjög svipuð. |
The Dative: Objects and Subjects
The dative form báðum is used when the pronoun is the object of a dative-governing verb or preposition. Verbs like hjálpa (to help) and rugla saman (to confuse) require the dative case. Pair it with the dative pronoun þeim to make þeim báðum (both of them).
| The twins are inseparable and I sometimes help both of them. | Tvíburarnir eru óaðskiljanlegir og ég hjálpa þeim báðum stundum. |
| I often confuse both of them because they are similar. | Ég rugla þeim báðum oft saman af því að þeir eru svipaðir. |
Báðum can also act as a dative subject with impersonal verbs like líða vel (to feel well):
| Both feel well today. | Báðum líður vel í dag. |
"Both of You"
You can easily swap third-person pronouns for second-person pronouns to talk directly to a pair of people. Use the genitive ykkar (of you) or the dative ykkur (to you) alongside these unchanging forms:
- ykkar beggja (both of you - genitive)
- ykkur báðum (both of you - dative)
| Is it easy to distinguish between both of you? | Er auðvelt að greina á milli ykkar beggja? |
| I know that the trust between both of you is great. | Ég veit að traustið á milli ykkar beggja er mikið. |