Just like English turns "to meet" into "a meeting" or "to register" into "registration", Icelandic frequently creates nouns from verbs to describe an action or a process.
We do this by adding suffixes to the stem of the verb. Crucially, all nouns created with these specific suffixes are grammatically feminine.
Making Nouns with "-ing"
One of the most common ways to turn a verb into a noun is by adding the suffix -ing (or -ning) to the stem of the verb.
- skrá (to register) → skráning (registration)
- mæta (to attend) → mæting (attendance)
- skipuleggja (to organize) → skipulagning (organization)
Let's see these in action, using the definite forms (e.g., skráningin - the registration):
The Suffix "-un"
Many other verbs take the suffix -un instead. You form these by dropping the infinitive -a from the verb and adding -un.
- prenta (to print) → prentun (printing)
- stjórna (to manage) → stjórnun (management)
Because this suffix contains the letter u, it triggers the U-shift! If the stem of the verb has an a, it changes to ö.
- fjármagna (to finance) → fjármögnun (financing)
Abstract Actions and Changes
These suffixes are highly productive, meaning Icelandic uses them constantly to describe abstract concepts, administrative actions, and changes in state.
Here are a few more vital administrative words you will encounter:
- greina (to analyze) → greining (analysis)
- ráða (to hire) → ráðning (hiring)
- hækka (to raise/increase) → hækkun (increase)
- lækka (to lower/reduce) → lækkun (reduction)