Adjectives

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Strong Adjectives

Used when no article or pronoun is present.

Ríkur (rich, strong, powerful)


	M		F		N

N	ríkur		rík		ríkt
A	ríkan		ríka		ríkt
D	ríkum		ríkri		ríku
G	ríks		ríkrar		ríks


		Plural

	M		F		N

N	ríkir		ríkar		rík
A	ríka		ríkar		rík
D	ríkum		ríkum		ríkum
G	ríkra		ríkra		ríkra

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Boginn (bent, curved)


		Singular

	M		F		N

N	boginn		bogin		bogið
A	boginn		bogna		bogið
D	bognum		boginni		bognu
G	bogins		boginnar	bogins


		Plural

	M		F		N

N	bognir		bognar		bogin
A	bogna		bognar		bogin
D	bognum		bognum		bognum
G	boginna		boginna		boginna

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Weak Adjectives

Used when there is an article or pronoun present.

		Singular

	M		F		N

N	ríki		ríka		ríka
A	ríka		ríku		ríka
D	ríka		ríku		ríka
G	ríka		ríku		ríka


		Plural

	M		F		N

N	ríku		ríku		riku
A	ríku		ríku		riku
D	ríku		ríku		riku
G	ríku		ríku		riku

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Comparison of Adjectives


The Comparative Form

Regular comparison takes the stem of the adjective and adds "-ari". There are two main variations:
  1. Stem + "-ri", e.g. nýr - nýrri (new - newer);
  2. Stem + "-ri" + root vowel change, e.g. stór - stærri (big - bigger).
It is declinable in the weak form only.

		Singular

	M		F		N

N	ríkari		ríkari		ríkara
A	ríkari		ríkari		ríkara
D	ríkari		ríkari		ríkara
G	ríkari		ríkari		ríkara


		Plural

	M		F		N

N	ríkari		ríkari		ríkari
A	ríkari		ríkari		ríkari
D	ríkari		ríkari		ríkari
G	ríkari		ríkari		ríkari

Note: The Comparative governs the Dative case, e.g.

Bjarni er flestum mönnum froðrari. (Bjarni is more learned than most men.)

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The Superlative Form

Regular superlative takes the stem of the adjective and adds "-astur". There is one main variation:
  1. Stem + "-stur" + root vowel change, e.g. stör - stærstur (big - biggest); ungur - yngstur (young - youngest).
It is declinable in both strong and weak forms.

		Strong

	M		F		N

	ríkastur	ríkust		ríkast


		Weak

	M		F		N

	ríkasti		ríkasta		ríkasta

Note: The Superlative governs the Genitive case, e.g.

Hún er fegurst allra kvenna. (She is the most beautiful of all women.)

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Irregular Comparison


Adjectives with Irregular Comparisons


Normal		Comparative	Superlative

gamall		eldri		elstur	(old)
göður		betri		bestur	(good)
lítill		minni		minnstur(little)
margur		fleiri		flestur	(many)
mikill		meiri		mestur	(great, large)
illur		verri		verstur	(bad)
slæmur		verri		verstur	(bad)
vondur		verri		verstur	(bad)

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Adjectives with no Normal Forms

Certain adjectives exist only in the Comparative and Superlative Forms. Non-existent Normal forms are given in brackets.

Normal		Comparative	Superlative

(norður)	nyðri		nyrstur		(North)	
(suður)		syðri		syðstur		(South)
(austur)	eystri		austastur	(East)
(vestur)	vestri		vestastur	(West)

(aftur)		aftari		aftastur	(back)
(fram)		fremri		fremstur	(front)
(fjarri)	firri		firstur		(far)
(nær)		nærri		næstur		(near)

(for,fyrir)	fyrri		fyrstur		(for/former/first)
(síð)		síðari		síðastur	(latest)
(síð)		síðri		sístur		(worst)

(handan)	handari		handastur	(far off)
(heim)		heimari		heimastur	(near home)
(heldur)	heldri		helstur		(good)

(hægur)		hægri		   -		(right)
(  -  )		vinstri		   -		(left)

(inn)		innri		innstur		(inner/innermost)
(út)		ytri		ystur		(outer/outermost)
(niður)		neðri		neðstur		(low)
(of)		efri		efstur		(up)

(sjaldan)	sjaldnari	sjaldnastur	(rare)

		hindri		histur		(late)
		skárri		skástur		(bearable)
		æðri		æðtur		(superior/supreme)


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Non-Declinable Adjectives

A small number of adjectives are not declinable, most end in "-a": Back to the Irregular Comparison Menu.
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