Questions & Answers about Mataræðið er mjög óhollt.
Why does the adjective end in -t (óhollt instead of óhollur)?
It has to agree with the subject, mataræðið. Because mataræði is a neuter noun, the adjective takes the neuter singular ending, changing óhollur (unhealthy) to óhollt.
How is the word mataræði (diet) built?
It is a compound noun. The first half is matar-, which is the genitive (possessive) form of matur (food). The second half is æði, a neuter noun meaning "behavior," "manner," or "disposition." Literally, it means "food-behavior" or "manner of eating."
Since matur is a masculine noun, why is mataræðið treated as neuter?
In Icelandic compound words, the gender and the declension rules are always determined by the last part of the word. Since æði is a neuter noun, the entire compound becomes neuter. That's why it takes the neuter definite article -ð at the end.
Could I use the root word hollur to describe a healthy person?
No, hollur (and its opposite óhollur) is used to describe things that are healthy or wholesome for you, like food, habits, or advice. If you want to describe a healthy person, you would use heilbrigður or hraustur.
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