Breakdown of Þau eru í sambúð en ekki gift.
vera
to be
en
but
ekki
not
þau
they (n)
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
giftur
married
sambúðin
cohabitation (registered partnership)
Questions & Answers about Þau eru í sambúð en ekki gift.
Why is the neuter pronoun Þau used here for "they"?
Why is the word for married gift and not giftir?
Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the subject they describe. Because the subject þau is neuter plural, the adjective giftur (married) must take its neuter plural form, which is gift. If the subject were an all-male couple (þeir), it would be giftir.
How does the word sambúð break down?
It is a compound word made of the prefix sam-, meaning "together," and búð, which is related to the verb að búa (to live or reside). So it literally translates to "living together."
Is í sambúð just a casual way of saying they live together?
Not exactly. Culturally and legally in Iceland, being í sambúð (registered cohabitation) is a very common official status. It carries many of the same rights as being married, which is why it is often specifically contrasted with being gift (married) in conversation.
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