Cases: Declension patterns

The bad news: There is no way to predict how a noun will be declined. The group to which a noun belongs is defined by the declension endings in genitive singular and nominative plural. This is why these endings are always written down in the dictionaries for every noun. So, it’s a paradox – in order to know how to decline a noun, you should already know its declension.

Once you know the patterns, you can make some assumptions, based on the gender and the nominative singular ending, but there are just no rules, based on these characteristics. You will be sure only when you check in the dictionary.

More bad news: There is no easy way to learn the declensions. Especially when you are not in Iceland and you are not surrounded by the language, which would make the process much easier.

In such a case the advice that I have for you is:

1. Learn the declension endings by groups and try to remember them as patterns.
2. Write down in your notebook/make your own flashcards for one noun per group and try to remember it by heart so you can use it for the other nouns in the group, which follow the same pattern.
3. Consider the variations in a group not as a new pattern to remember, but as the same pattern with slight variations.
4. The dative and genitive plural are almost the same for all categories (-um and -a). This makes the number of endings your brain has to remember fewer! Hurray!
5. Go to this site: https://islenzka.is/aefingar/noun_table.html. The interactive tables are a good way to memorize the patterns and to make your own predictions and then see if they were true or not. After you become good at it, you can take the noun declension quiz from the list with exercises and begin practicing the declensions.

These tables are also good to memorize the gender of some nouns and the plural endings. The site is the most useful one I have found so far when it comes to grammar.

Before starting with the paradigms, check out this post, where all of the grammatical terms and abbreviations are explained.

Declension paradigms

A noun is declined as an ending is added to its stem.

There is no official classification of the noun classes. One noun can belong to one class in some classification and to another in other classification, depending on how they are organized. All classifications of the noun classes are however defined by the genitive singular and nominative plural endings.

The nouns are divided into strong and weak nouns and undergo strong and weak declension (sterk beyging og veik beyging).

WEAK NOUNS

Kk.,genitive singular -a/-ja, nominative plural -ar/-ur

Noun: tími (time) and nemandi (student)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	tím-i	-i	tím-ar	-ar
þf.	tím-a	-a	tím-a	-a
þgf.	tím-a	-a	tím-um	-um
ef.	tím-a	-a	tím-a	-a

• I-hljóðvarp

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	nemand-i	-i	nemend-ur	-ur
þf.	nemand-a	-a	nemend-ur	-ur
þgf.	nemand-a	-a	nemend-um	-um
ef.	nemand-a	-a	nemend-a	-a

Kvk.,genitive singular -u, nominative plural -ur/ genitive singular -i (-is), nominative plural without ending or -ar/-ir.

Noun: blússa (blouse) and lygi (lie)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	blúss-a	-a	blúss-ur	-ur
þf.	blúss-u	-u	blúss-ur	-ur
þgf.	blúss-u	-u	blúss-um	-um
ef.	blúss-u	-u	blúss-a	-a

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	lyg-i	-i	lyg-ar	-ar
þf.	lyg-i	-i	lyg-ar	-ar
þgf.	lyg-i	-i	lyg-um	-um
ef.	lyg-i	-i	lyg-a	-a

Hk., genitive singular -a, nominative plural -u, genitive plural -na (exception: hjarta)

Noun: lunga (lung)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	lung-a	-a	lung-u	-u
þf.	lung-a	-a	lung-u	-u
þgf.	lung-a	-a	lung-um	-um
ef.	lung-a	-a	lung-na	-na

STRONG NOUNS

A-category, kk., genitive singular -s /-ar, nominative plural -ar

Noun: hestur (horse)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	hest-ur	-ur	hest-ar	-ar
þf.	hest	–	hest-a	-a
þgf.	hest-i	-i (-)	hest-um	-um
ef.	hest-s	-s	hest-a	-a

A-category, kvk. – genitive singular -r /-ar, nominative plural -ar

Noun: vél (machine)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	vél	–	vél-ar	-ar
þf.	vél	–	vél-ar	-ar
þgf.	vél	–	vél-um	-um
ef.	vél-ar	-ar	vél-a	-a

A-category, kvk. variations

• nouns, ending in ing –a u is added to the accusative and dative singulars

Noun: kenning (kenning)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	kenning	–	kenning-ar	-ar
þf.	kenning-u	–u	kenning-ar	-ar
þgf.	kenning-u	–u	kenning-um	-um
ef.	kenning-ar	-ar	kenning-a	-a

• V-innskot

Noun: stöð (station)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	stöð	–	stöð-v-ar	v-ar
þf.	stöð	–	stöð-v-ar	v-ar
þgf.	stöð	–	stöð-v-um	v-um
ef.	stöð-v-ar	v-ar	stöð-v-a	v-a

• J-innskot

Noun: ey (island)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	ey	–	ey-j-ar	j-ar
þf.	ey	–	ey-j-ar	j-ar
þgf.	ey	–	ey-j-um	j-um
ef.	ey-j-ar	j-ar	ey-j-a	j-a

A-category, hk. – genitive singular -s, nominative plural without ending

In some classifications, the neutral strong nouns do not belong to a certain group and they are rather a separate class on their own.

Noun: orð (word)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	orð	–	orð	–
þf.	orð	–	orð	–
þgf.	orð-i	-i	orð-um	-um
ef.	orð-s	-s	orð-a	-a

A-category, hk. variations

• U-hljóðvarp

Noun: fat (garment)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	fat	–	föt	–
þf.	fat	–	föt	–
þgf.	fat-i	-i	föt-um	-um
ef.	fat-s	-s	fat-a	-a

• brottfall

Noun: veður (weather)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	veður	–	veður	–
þf.	veður	–	veður	–
þgf.	veðr-i	-i	veðr-um	-um
ef.	veður-s	-s	veðr-a	-a

• J-innskot

Noun: kyn (gender)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	kyn	–	kyn	–
þf.	kyn	–	kyn	–
þgf.	kyn-i	-i	kyn-j-um	j-um
ef.	kyn-s	-s	kyn-j-a	j-a

• samdráttur

Noun: tré (tree)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	tré	–	tré	–
þf.	tré	–	tré	–
þgf.	tré	–	trjá-m	-m
ef.	tré-s	-s	trjá-a	-a

I-category, kk. – genitive singular -s /-ar/-jar, nominative plural -ir

Noun: smiður (smith)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	smið-ur	-ur	smið-ir	-ir
þf.	smið	–	smið-i	-i
þgf.	smið	-(i)	smið-um	-um
ef.	smið-s	-s (ar)	smið-a	-a

I-category, kk. variations

• J-innskot

Noun: bær (town, city)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	bæ-r	-r	bæ-ir	-ir
þf.	bæ	–	bæ-i	-i
þgf.	bæ-i	-i	bæ-j-um	j-um
ef.	bæ-j-ar	j-ar	bæ-j-а	j-a

• What is seems like I-hljóðvarp: о→y, but it is originally A-hljóðvarp, since the original vowel was u changed to o

Noun: sonur (son)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	son-ur	-ur	syn-ir	-ir
þf.	son	–	syn-i	-i
þgf.	syn-i	-i	son-um	-um
ef.	son-ar	-ar	son-а	-a

• I-hljóðvarp
  ö→ e → a → e→ ö → a

Noun: völlur (field)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	völl-ur	-ur	vell-ir	-ir
þf.	völl	–	vell-i	-i
þgf.	vell-i	-i	völl-um	-um
ef.	vall-ar	-ar	vall-а	-a

I-category, kvk. – genitive singular -ar, nominative plural -ir

Noun: mynd (picture)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	mynd	–	mynd-ir	-ir
þf.	mynd	–	mynd-ir	-ir
þgf.	mynd	–	mynd-um	-um
ef.	mynd-ar	-ar	mynd-а	-a

I-category, kvk. variations:

• U-hljóðvarp

Noun: gjöf (present)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	gjöf	–	gjaf-ir	-ir
þf.	gjöf	–	gjaf-ir	-ir
þgf.	gjöf	–	gjöf-um	-um
ef.	gjaf-ar	-ar	gjaf-а	-a

• U-hljóðvarp

Noun: verslun (store, shop)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	verslun	–	verslan-ir	-ir
þf.	verslun	–	verslan-ir	-ir
þgf.	verslun	–	verslun-um	-um
ef.	verslun-ar	-ar	verslan-а	-a

R-category, kk. – nominative plural -ur

• brottfall

Nouns: fingur (finger) and vetur (winter)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	fingur	–	fingur	–
þf.	fingur	–	fingur	–
þgf.	fingr-i	-i	fingr-um	-um
ef.	fingur-s	-s	fingr-а	-a

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	vetur	–	vetur	–
þf.	vetur	–	vetur	–
þgf.	vetr-i	-i	vetr-um	-um
ef.	vetr-ar	-ar	vetr-а	-a

• I-hljóðvarp and U-hljóðvarp

Nouns: fótur (foot) and maður (man)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	fótur	-ur	fæt-ur	-ur
þf.	fót	–	fæt-ur	-ur
þgf.	fæt-i	-i	fót-um	-um
ef.	fót-ar	-ar	fót-а	-a

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	maður	–	menn	–
þf.	mann	–	menn	–
þgf.	mann-i	-i	mönn-um	-um
ef.	mann-s	-s	mann-а	-a

R-category, kvk. – genitive singular -ar /-ur,/-r, nominative plural -ur /-r

• I-hljóðvarp

Noun: bók (book)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	bók	–	bæk-ur	-ur
þf.	bók	–	bæk-ur	-ur
þgf.	bók	–	bók-um	-um
ef.	bók-ar	-ar	bók-а	-a

• I-hljóðvarp and U-hljóðvarp

Noun: tönn (tooth)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	tönn	–	tenn-ur	-ur
þf.	tönn	–	tenn-ur	-ur
þgf.	tönn	–	tönn-um	-um
ef.	tann-ar	-ar	tann-а	-a

• I-hljóðvarp, semdráttur

Noun: tá (toe)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	tá	–	tæ-r	-r
þf.	tá	–	tæ-r	-r
þgf.	tá	–	tá-m	-m
ef.	tá-ar	-ar	tá-а	-a

• I-hljóðvarp

Noun: nótt (night)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	nótt	–	næt-ur	-ur
þf.	nótt	–	næt-ur	-ur
þgf.	nótt	–	nótt-um	-um
ef.	næt-ur	-ur	nótt-а	-a

• I-hljóðvarp, semdráttur

Noun: kýr (cow)

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	kýr	–	ký-r	-r
þf.	kú	–	ký-r	-r
þgf.	kú	–	kú-m	-m
ef.	ký-r	-r	kú-а	-a

R-category, family names

• brottfall

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	systir	–	systur	–
þf.	systur	–	systur	–
þgf.	systur	–	systr-um	-um
ef.	systur	–	systr-a	-a

• brottfall, I-hljóðvarp

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	móðir	–	mæður	–
þf.	móður	–	mæður	–
þgf.	móður	–	mæðr-um	-um
ef.	móður	–	mæðr-a	-a

• brottfall, I-hljóðvarp and U-hljóðvarp

	eintala		fleirtala
nf.	faðir	–	feður	–
þf.	föður	–	feður	–
þgf.	föður	–	feðr-um	-um
ef.	föður	–	feðr-a	-a

The last, but the most important thing: the declensions are hard and there are many irregularities, but do not despair and do not give up! It will all make sense someday (or at least I hope so).

P.S. If you wonder what a unicorn has in common with the grammatical cases, the answer is: not many things. I just decided to put a colorful and cheerful picture, because there are just too many tables in this post.

Cases: Introduction

If your native language doesn’t have grammatical cases, you may find the idea hard to understand at first, but it will make sense soon. Declensions will still be a nightmare for some time though.

First of all, what purpose do the cases serve? They represent the role of the words in a sentence. English is an analytic language, which means that the relationship between the words in a sentence is primarily conveyed by word order and helper words rather than inflections (changing the form of the words in order to indicate a different role). Icelandic, on the other hand, depends heavily on inflections and has 4 grammatical cases – nominative, accusative, dative and genitive (nefnifall, þolfall, þágufall og eignarfall). Nouns, pronouns, adjectives and some numerals are declined according to the gender, number and grammatical case.

The English language still has remnants of the Old English case system, which has also depended on inflections. The pronouns are often pointed out as remnants of this system. The pronouns cases are three – subjective, objective and possessive (corresponding to the nominative, accusative and genitive cases in Old English).

If you think of I, me and my like three forms of the same word (I), which represent different roles of the words in the sentence – subject, object and ownership, then you already have a good idea what the cases are. It’s just that in English these are exceptions and don’t apply to most of the nouns as opposed to Icelandic, where every noun is declined in the four cases.

Let’s take for example sentences in English and compare it with their Icelandic equivalents so you can see the difference:

• The dog is hungry.                    Hundurinn er svangur.
• I think about the dog.              Ég hugsa um hundinn.
• I gave food to the dog.             Ég gaf hundinum mat.
• This is the dog‘s owner.           Þetta er eigandi hundsins.

The declension of hundur is as it follows:

As you can see, the role of the dog in these sentences is as it follows: subject, direct object, indirect object, noun–main-noun relationship (in this case possession). In English, although the role is different, the form of the word remains the same. In Icelandic, on the other hand, the form changes in order to indicate the role of the word in these sentences. The definite article is being added to the declined form at the end of the word, but this is a topic for another post.

Now that you know what the function of the cases is, let’s take a look at how they are being used and what are the functions of each one of them.

Cases – main functions:

• Nefnifall (Nominative case )

It indicates the subject of the sentence – the person or thing, doing the action. If the verb is passive, it is the noun receiving the action. All nouns appear in the dictionary in the nominative case.

• Þolfall (Accusative case)

The accusative case is used for direct objects – nouns that are having something done to them. In order to find this noun in the sentence, you must ask the question “What?”

• Þágufall (Dative case)

The indirect object of a sentence is the recipient of the direct object. To find the indirect object, ask who the recipient of the direct object is.

• Eignarfall (Genitive case)

The genitive case usually indicates the relationship, which a noun has to the main noun in a sentence. This relationship could include possession, origin, compound words, reference, description, substance, elements. In English, these are usually conveyed by adding “’s” to the word or by preceding it with of.

You would think that knowing these functions is all you need. I will disappoint you – it is a good start, but some verbs and prepositions require specific cases and many times they are contradictory to the main functions of each of the cases.

So, to be able to use nouns in a sentence properly, you should know two things: which case to use and how to put the noun in the right form (to decline it).

Well, let’s talk about these monstrous declensions!