Question 1

Why does maginn have an -nn at the end?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, the definite article ("the") is attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word. The base word is the masculine noun magi (stomach). To say "the stomach", you attach the definite article suffix, which makes it maginn.

Question 2

Why is the adjective fullur used here instead of fullt?

Accepted Answer

Adjectives in Icelandic must match the gender, number, and case of the noun they describe. Because maginn is a masculine singular noun in the nominative case, the adjective takes the matching masculine form fullur (rather than the neuter fullt or feminine full).

Question 3

Does matur translate to "food" or "meal"?

Accepted Answer

It means both! While matur is the standard general word for "food", Icelanders very frequently use it to mean "a meal" (especially the main meal of the day, like dinner). Because of this, eftir matinn translates perfectly to "after the meal".

Question 4

Wait, doesn't eftir (after) usually take the dative case for time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, strictly speaking, grammar rules state that eftir governs the dative case for time (which would be eftir matnum). However, matinn is in the accusative case! In everyday spoken Icelandic, it is incredibly common to hear the accusative used here. This happens because speakers subconsciously mirror its opposite, fyrir (before), which always requires the accusative (fyrir matinn).

Question 5

Could I use the phrase á eftir in this sentence instead?

Accepted Answer

No, and this is a very common learner mix-up! Eftir is a preposition used directly before a noun (like eftir matinn = after the meal). Á eftir is an adverb used on its own to mean "later" or "afterwards" (for example, Ég borða á eftir = I will eat later).

Maginn er fullur eftir matinn.

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