Breakdown of Ferningurinn er rauður en hringurinn er blár.
vera
to be
en
but
hringurinn
the ring
rauður
red
blár
blue
ferningurinn
the square (shape)
Questions & Answers about Ferningurinn er rauður en hringurinn er blár.
Why do the colors end in -ur (rauður) and -r (blár) instead of just being rauð and blá?
Adjectives in Icelandic must agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. Both ferningur (square) and hringur (circle) are masculine singular nouns in the nominative case. Therefore, the adjectives take the masculine nominative singular endings: -ur for rauður and -r for blár.
Why is the definite article attached as -urinn (ferningurinn) instead of just -inn (ferninginn)?
This is a common point of confusion for learners. Both ferningur and hringur are strong masculine nouns in the nominative (subject) case, so they keep their -ur ending when the definite article -inn is added. You would only drop the -ur and see ferninginn or hringinn if the words were in the accusative case (for example, if you were looking at them as the direct object of a verb).
Does en mean 'but' or 'and' here?
The word en means 'but,' though it is frequently used in Icelandic to introduce a contrast where English speakers might naturally say 'and' or 'while.' Because it sets up a direct comparison between the two shapes here, translating it as either 'but' or 'and' is perfectly fine.
Does hringur only mean 'circle' as a geometric shape?
It means 'circle,' but it is also the everyday word for a 'ring' (such as a wedding ring or a ring you wear on your finger). The context usually makes it very obvious which one is meant.
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