Breakdown of Makinn minn er þrjátíu ára.
vera
to be
minn
my (m, f, n: minn, mín, mitt)
árið
the year
þrjátíu
thirty
makinn
the spouse
Questions & Answers about Makinn minn er þrjátíu ára.
Why is the word for "years" (ára) in the genitive case here?
Why do we say makinn minn (the spouse my) instead of just maki minn?
When using possessive pronouns like minn (my), Icelandic usually requires the noun to have the definite article attached to it. So the weak masculine noun maki (spouse) becomes makinn (the spouse) before adding minn.
Is maki only used for a legally married spouse?
While it directly translates to "spouse," maki is widely used in modern Icelandic to refer to a serious, long-term romantic partner or significant other, whether you are legally married or not.
Does the word þrjátíu change its ending depending on the case?
No, the number þrjátíu (thirty) is indeclinable, meaning its form never changes regardless of gender or case. In Icelandic, only the numbers 1 through 4 change their endings to match the noun they describe.
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