Learn Icelandic: Þriggja mánaða reynslutími er of langur. - A three-month probationary period is too long.

Þriggja mánaða reynslutími er of langur.

A three-month probationary period is too long.

Breakdown of Þriggja mánaða reynslutími er of langur.

Questions & Answers about Þriggja mánaða reynslutími er of langur.

Why are both þriggja and mánaða in the genitive case?

In Icelandic, measure phrases that describe age, time, distance, or size use the genitive case. To say 'a three-month period', both the number þriggja (three) and the noun mánaða (months) must take the genitive plural form to act as a modifier for the main noun, reynslutími.

Is þriggja the standard word for 'three' here?

The base word for 'three' is þrír. However, the numbers 1 through 4 change their form to match the case and gender of the noun they count. Because this measure phrase requires the genitive plural to describe the months, þrír changes to its genitive plural form, þriggja.

How is the compound word reynslutími formed?

It combines reynsla (experience or trial) and tími (time). When forming compound words in Icelandic, the first noun is often put into its genitive (possessive) form. The genitive of reynsla is reynslu, which attaches directly to tími to create reynslutími (probationary period).

Why is the adjective langur used instead of the default langt?