Questions & Answers about Þetta er hundur.
Why do we use þetta (which is neuter) when hundur is a masculine word?
When you introduce something with the phrase "This is...", Icelandic always uses the fixed neuter word þetta. Think of it as meaning "This general thing here is...". The gender of the noun that follows doesn't change it!
Where is the word for "a" in this sentence?
Icelandic does not have a separate word for "a" or "an". You just use the bare noun. Because of this, hundur translates to either "dog" or "a dog" depending on what sounds natural in English.
How would I change this to say "This is the dog"?
Is the -ur at the end of hundur a special ending?
Yes, -ur is a very common ending for masculine nouns in their basic dictionary form. When you add the "the" suffix, it just tacks right onto it: hundur + inn = hundurinn.
Learn Þetta er hundur and more in Icelandic
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free