Learn Icelandic: Nefið er kalt úti. - The nose is cold outside.

Nefið er kalt úti.

The nose is cold outside.

Breakdown of Nefið er kalt úti.

Questions & Answers about Nefið er kalt úti.

Why does the word for nose end in -ið here?

In Icelandic, the word for 'the' is attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word before it. Nef means 'nose,' and because it is a neuter noun, you add the suffix -ið to make it nefið ('the nose').

Why is the adjective kalt instead of kaldur?

Adjectives in Icelandic must match the gender of the noun they describe. Because nef is a neuter noun, the base adjective kaldur (masculine) changes to its neuter form kalt to match it.

What is the difference between úti and út, and why is úti used in this sentence?

Icelandic uses different words for 'outside' depending on whether there is movement or not. Úti is used when something is resting or located outside, like the cold nose in this sentence. You would use út if you were talking about moving outside, such as walking out the door.