Icelandic often builds new words by sticking smaller words together to form compound nouns (samsett orð). The golden rule: the last word determines the gender, plural form, and declension of the whole compound.
Let's look at how Icelandic names hotel amenities by connecting nouns.
Bare Stem Compounds
The simplest way to form a compound is by joining the words directly using the bare stem of the first word. For example, hótel (hotel) + herbergi (room) = hótelherbergi.
| The hotel room is both large and bright. | Hótelherbergið er bæði stórt og bjart. |
| The hotel manager cleans the hotel room. | Hótelstjórinn þrífur hótelherbergið. |
Similarly, kaffi (coffee) + bolli (cup) = kaffibolli.
| Is the coffee cup inside the hotel room? | Er kaffibollinn inni í hótelherberginu? |
The Genitive Link: Adding an "-s"
Often, Icelandic links nouns by putting the first one into the genitive (possessive) case. The most common genitive ending is -s. Think of it like "the room's service" or "the desk's lamp".
- herbergi (room) → herbergis
- þjónusta (service) = herbergisþjónusta
- skrifborð (desk) → skrifborðs
- lampi (lamp) = skrifborðslampi
| Room service will arrive in two hours. | Herbergisþjónustan kemur eftir tvo klukkutíma. |
| The desk lamp is broken. | Skrifborðslampinn er bilaður. |
You will also see this linking -s with words like sjónvarp (television) and farangur (luggage):
| He turns on the desk lamp and looks at the TV screen. | Hann kveikir á skrifborðslampanum og horfir á sjónvarpsskjáinn. |
| You can leave the bag in the luggage room. | Þú getur skilið töskuna eftir í farangursgeymslunni. |
The Genitive Link: Adding an "-ar"
Some nouns take -ar in the genitive instead of -s. This is especially common for feminine nouns (like sundlaug - swimming pool) and some masculine nouns (like morgunmatur - breakfast).
- morgunmatur (breakfast) → morgunmatar
- tími (time) = morgunmatartími
- sundlaug (pool) → sundlaugar
- handklæði (towel) = sundlaugarhandklæði
| Breakfast time is in five minutes. | Morgunmatartíminn er eftir fimm mínútur. |
| Do you have the pool towel? | Ert þú með sundlaugarhandklæðið? |
| Is the pool attendant by the reception? | Er sundlaugarvörðurinn hjá móttökunni? |