Breakdown of Fólk hræðist hið óþekkta.
hræðast
to fear
fólkið
the people
óþekktur
unknown
hið
the (formal neuter)
Questions & Answers about Fólk hræðist hið óþekkta.
Why do we use the separate word hið here instead of adding a definite article to the end of a noun?
Hið is the free-standing neuter definite article. When you want to talk about a broad abstract concept using an adjective—like "the unknown", "the good" (hið góða), or "the beautiful" (hið fagra)—you use hið followed by the adjective. This is how you turn an adjective into an abstract noun in Icelandic.
Why is the adjective óþekkta in its weak form?
Whenever you use a free-standing definite article like hið (or hinn / hin), the adjective that follows must be in the weak declension. For a neuter singular adjective, the weak accusative ending is -a.
Why does the verb end in -st (hræðist)?
This is the middle voice form of the verb. The standard active verb hræða means "to frighten" or "to scare" someone. When you use the middle voice form hræðast, it shifts the meaning to experiencing the fear—"to be scared of" or "to fear".
What case is hið óþekkta in, and what causes it?
It is in the accusative case. Even though hræðast is a middle-voice verb, it still takes an object (the thing you fear). The verb hræðast governs the accusative case. For the free-standing neuter article, the accusative form (hið) happens to look exactly like the nominative.