Using "sami" (The Same)
To say that something is "the same", Icelandic uses the determiner sami. A unique quirk of this word is that it almost always pairs with a definite noun, meaning the noun that follows it must have the definite article attached (literally: "the same the-taste").
| We have the same taste, right? | Við höfum sama smekkinn, er það ekki? |
Case and Gender: sama and sömu
Like an adjective, sami changes its ending based on the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies. When expressing identical preferences or habits, it is usually the object of the sentence (accusative case) or a location following a preposition (dative case).
In these oblique cases:
- Masculine and neuter nouns take sama.
- Feminine and all plural nouns take sömu.
| They always order the same main course. | Þeir panta alltaf sama aðalréttinn. |
| I use the same scent and the same brand. | Ég nota sama ilminn og sama vörumerkið. |
Notice in the next example how sama is used for both the accusative direct object and the dative location, since both nouns are masculine:
| She always buys the same drink at the same bar. | Hún kaupir alltaf sama drykkinn á sama barnum. |
For feminine nouns, the form changes to sömu:
| They always choose the same hairstyle. | Þær velja alltaf sömu hárgreiðsluna. |
| Where are they going? Are they going in the same direction? | Hvert fara þau? Fara þau í sömu áttina? |
Finally, for plural nouns of any gender, always use sömu:
| We often do the same things together. | Við gerum oft sömu hlutina saman. |