Breakdown of Þetta eru fimm mínútur, ekki tíu tímar.
þetta
this
vera
to be
ekki
not
fimm
five
tíu
ten
mínútan
the minute (f)
tíminn
the time / the class (m) / the hour
Questions & Answers about Þetta eru fimm mínútur, ekki tíu tímar.
Why do the plural nouns here have different endings (mínútur vs. tímar)?
They belong to different noun groups. Mínúta (minute) is a feminine noun that ends in -a in the singular, and these typically take -ur in the nominative plural. Tími (hour) is a masculine noun ending in -i, which usually takes -ar in the plural.
If the sentence means "These are", why does it start with the singular word þetta?
Do the numbers fimm (five) and tíu (ten) need to match the gender of the nouns?
No, they don't! In Icelandic, only the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 change their endings to match the gender of the noun they describe. Numbers from 5 onwards have only one form, so you just use the standard words fimm and tíu for both masculine and feminine nouns.
Can tímar also mean "times"?
Yes, the singular word tími can mean "time", "hour", or "lesson". In the context of counting durations, like "ten hours", it translates to "hours". Note that if you are reading the clock (like "It is five o'clock"), you use a completely different word (klukkan).
Learn Þetta eru fimm mínútur, ekki tíu tímar 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