The Prefix jafn- (Equality)
To express that things are "equally" a certain way or "of the same" degree, Icelandic uses the highly productive prefix jafn-.
Attach jafn- directly to an adjective to create an equative compound. For example, jafn- + gamall (old) becomes jafngamall (of the same age).
These new adjectives decline exactly like their base forms, matching the noun or pronoun they describe in gender, number, and case. Notice how jafngamall becomes jafngömul for a mixed-gender subject (requiring the neuter plural):
| My son and his daughter are of the same age. | Sonurinn minn og dóttirin hans eru jafngömul. |
| The generation gap makes these conversations equally difficult. | Kynslóðabilið gerir þessi samtöl jafnerfið. |
Finding the Balance
The prefix jafn- means even, equal, or level. You will also see this root in nouns like jafnvægið (the balance), which literally translates to "equal weight".
| the balance | jafnvægið |
When discussing the pressures of daily life or bridging generational gaps, you can attach jafn- to almost any descriptive word. Notice how the ending of the adjective always adapts to match what it describes:
| Are these commitments equally important? | Eru þessar skuldbindingar jafnmikilvægar? |
| The pressure is great, but we are equally strong. | Álagið er mikið en við erum jafnsterk. |
| We have shared the burden and the result is equally good. | Við höfum deilt byrðinni og árangurinn er jafngóður. |