Question 1

Why does the sentence use sínar for "his" instead of hans?

Accepted Answer

In Icelandic, when the third-person subject of the sentence (in this case, hann) is also the owner of the object, you must use the reflexive possessive pronoun (sinn). If the sentence used hans, it would mean he paid someone else's debts (like another man's). Because the noun for debts (skuldirnar) is feminine, plural, and in the accusative case, the pronoun takes the matching form sínar.

Question 2

Why does skuldir have the definite article attached (skuldirnar) if it's followed by a possessive pronoun?

Accepted Answer

In English, we say "his debts" using just a possessive and a base noun. In Icelandic, the most natural and common structure is to make the noun definite and put the possessive pronoun after it. You are literally saying "debts-the his own" (skuldirnar sínar).

Question 3

What case is the phrase allar skuldirnar sínar, and what dictates that case?

Accepted Answer

The entire phrase is in the accusative case. The verb borga (to pay) takes the accusative case for the thing being paid. Because the base noun skuld is feminine, its accusative plural form is skuldir. The adjective allur and the pronoun sinn must agree with it in gender, number, and case, which is why they become allar and sínar.

Question 4

Does the word skuld only refer to financial debt?

Accepted Answer

While it is most commonly used for financial debts, liabilities, or bills, it can also refer to "fault" or "blame" in certain contexts (similar to saying "it's my fault"). It is part of a word family that includes skylda, which means a moral or legal "duty" or "obligation".

Hann borgaði allar skuldirnar sínar.

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