Learn Icelandic: Þessi kynslóð er mjög virk. - This generation is very active.

Þessi kynslóð er mjög virk.

This generation is very active.

Breakdown of Þessi kynslóð er mjög virk.

Questions & Answers about Þessi kynslóð er mjög virk.

Why is the word for 'this' written as þessi instead of þetta?

In Icelandic, words for 'this' must match the gender of the noun they point to. The word kynslóð (generation) is feminine, so we use the feminine form þessi instead of the neuter þetta. Notice that the masculine form is also þessi, but here it is functioning as a feminine pronoun!

Why does the sentence use virk instead of virkur for 'active'?

Adjectives always change to match the gender of the noun they describe. Because kynslóð is feminine, the adjective takes the feminine form virk. If we were talking about a masculine word like strákur (boy), it would be virkur.

How can I tell that kynslóð is a feminine noun?

Nouns ending in -óð (like þjóð meaning 'nation', or slóð meaning 'trail') are almost always feminine in Icelandic. Recognizing these common ending patterns helps you guess the gender of new words without having to look them up.

How does this sentence relate to the lesson about expressing age?

While this specific sentence doesn't use the vera + numeral + ára structure to give an exact age, the word kynslóð (generation) is a key vocabulary word when discussing different age groups in Icelandic. You will often use it in conversations right alongside the age expressions you are currently practicing!