Breakdown of Þín góða prinsessa heitir Anna.
góður
good
heita
to be called
þinn
your (m, f, n: þinn, þín, þitt)
Anna
Anna
prinsessan
the princess
Questions & Answers about Þín góða prinsessa heitir Anna.
Why is the adjective góða instead of the basic feminine form góð?
The possessive pronoun þín (your) acts as a trigger for the weak adjective form. In the nominative singular, the weak ending for feminine adjectives is -a, so góð becomes góða.
Why does þín come before the noun here? Doesn't it usually go after, like in prinsessan þín?
Yes, possessive pronouns normally go after the noun. However, when you add an adjective to the mix, the possessive pronoun usually moves to the very front of the phrase: þín góða prinsessa.
Why is it just prinsessa and not the definite form prinsessan?
When a possessive pronoun is placed in front of the adjective and noun, the noun drops its attached definite article (the -n). So we use the base form prinsessa instead of prinsessan.
Why use heitir for "is called"?
The verb heita is the standard way to express what someone or something is named in Icelandic. Here, heitir is the form for "he/she/it", translating perfectly to "is called" or "is named".
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