Abstract Concepts with "Hið"
In English, we can turn an adjective into a broad, abstract concept by putting "the" in front of it: "the unknown", "the impossible", or "the inevitable".
In Icelandic, you create these conceptual nouns by using the free-standing formal neuter article hið (the) followed by the weak neuter form of the adjective.
| the (formal neuter) | hið |
For most adjectives, the weak neuter singular form simply ends in -a. Because you are discussing abstract masses or concepts, these phrases are always treated as neuter and singular. As an added bonus, hið and the weak adjective share the same form in both the nominative (subject) and accusative (direct object) cases.
| People fear the unknown. | Fólk hræðist hið óþekkta. |
| The inevitable happens. | Hið óumflýjanlega gerist. |
| We discuss the ethical in the seminar. | Við fjöllum um hið siðferðislega á málstofunni. |
Adjectives Ending in "-andi"
Some adjectives naturally end in -andi (often deriving from present participles). When turning these into abstract nouns, they keep their -andi ending—they do not add an -a.
| unthinkable | óhugsandi |
| Artificial intelligence will do the unthinkable. | Gervigreindin mun gera hið óhugsandi. |
| We must prevent the imminent. | Við verðum að koma í veg fyrir hið yfirvofandi. |
Contrasting the Future
When discussing futurism, AI, or philosophy, you will often need to contrast different possibilities or describe extreme scenarios. Once you are comfortable with hið, you can easily pair these concepts up to map out different outcomes.
| On the one hand the predictable, on the other hand the unforeseen. | Annars vegar hið fyrirsjáanlega, hins vegar hið ófyrirséða. |
| The robot does the impossible. | Vélmennið gerir hið ómögulega. |