Breakdown of Það sem sjúklingurinn þarf er forn læknisdómur.
vera
to be
það
it / there (existential) / the one (n)
þurfa
to need
forn
ancient
sjúklingurinn
the patient
sem
who / which / that
læknisdómurinn
the remedy
Questions & Answers about Það sem sjúklingurinn þarf er forn læknisdómur.
How does the suffix -dómur change the meaning of the root word in læknisdómur?
The suffix -dómur is used to create masculine abstract nouns, similar to the English suffix "-dom" (as in "wisdom"). In this sentence, it attaches to the genitive form of læknir (doctor). While -dómur often indicates a state or condition, here læknisdómur specifically translates to "remedy" or "cure"—essentially the craft, domain, or product of a doctor.
Why does the sentence start with Það sem instead of Hvað for "What"?
English speakers often try to use hvað whenever they want to say "what". However, in Icelandic, hvað is strictly used for questions. When "what" is used in a statement to mean "the thing that" or "that which", you must use the phrase það sem.
Wait, the patient "needs" the remedy. Why isn't forn læknisdómur in the accusative case?
It is true that the verb þurfa (to need) takes an accusative object. However, the actual object of þarf in this sentence is the relative pronoun sem. The phrase forn læknisdómur belongs to the main clause and follows the verb er (is). Because the verb "to be" equates two things, both sides of the equation must be in the nominative case.
Is there another suffix at work in the word sjúklingurinn?
Yes, it is built from the adjective sjúkur (sick) combined with the suffix -lingur, which is often used to create a masculine noun for a person characterized by a certain trait. Together they make sjúklingur (patient), and in this sentence it has the attached definite article -inn to mean "the patient".
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