To express that someone achieved something "despite" a challenge, Icelandic uses the preposition þrátt fyrir. It always takes the accusative case.
Neuter Nouns
Neuter nouns like meiðslin (the injuries) generally have the exact same form in both the nominative and accusative cases.
| He finished the marathon despite the injuries. | Hann kláraði maraþonið þrátt fyrir meiðslin. |
If you add an adjective to the obstacle, it must also match in the accusative.
| He won the competition despite little stamina. | Hann vann keppnina þrátt fyrir lítið þrek. |
Masculine Nouns
Masculine nouns change form. For example, the definite masculine noun mótvindurinn (the headwind) changes to mótvindinn in the accusative.
| We reached the peak despite the headwind. | Við náðum tindinum þrátt fyrir mótvindinn. |
Feminine Nouns
Feminine nouns with the definite article also change. Words like hæðarveikin (the altitude sickness) and ofreynslan (the overexertion) take the accusative -na suffix (hæðarveikina, ofreynsluna).
| The girl I talked to did not stop despite the altitude sickness. | Stelpan sem ég talaði við stoppaði ekki þrátt fyrir hæðarveikina. |
| He finished the marathon despite the overexertion. | Hann kláraði maraþonið þrátt fyrir ofreynsluna. |
When using an indefinite feminine noun, any accompanying adjectives must match. The feminine adjective öfgafull (extreme) becomes öfgafulla to match the accusative noun ofreynslu (overexertion).
| She reaches the peak despite extreme overexertion. | Hún nær tindinum þrátt fyrir öfgafulla ofreynslu. |