Questions & Answers about Barnið er þyrst núna.
Why is 'thirsty' written as þyrst instead of the dictionary form þyrstur?
Adjectives in Icelandic change to match the gender of the noun they describe. Because barn (child) is a neuter noun, the adjective must also be in the neuter form, which is þyrst. The dictionary form þyrstur is only used for masculine nouns.
Wait, don't neuter adjectives usually end in -t? Why doesn't this one?
You are exactly right that most neuter adjectives add a -t (like kalt for 'cold'). However, because the root of this word (þyrst-) already ends in a 't', Icelandic doesn't add another one. As a result, the neuter form þyrst happens to look exactly like the feminine form!
Is there a difference between nú and núna?
Yes! Both translate to 'now', but núna specifically emphasizes 'right now' at this exact moment. The shorter word nú is often used more generally, or even as a conversational filler similar to 'well' or 'so' in English.
How does the word barnið break down?
It is made of the neuter noun barn (child) and the attached definite article -ið (the). In Icelandic, you don't use a separate word for 'the' before the noun; you attach it directly to the end instead.
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