Level A1

Lesson 6: Noun Gender

In this lesson, you’ll learn that Icelandic nouns have gender. In Icelandic, nouns are divided into three grammatical genders.

Every noun in Icelandic is either:

  • karlkyn – masculine (kk)

  • kvenkyn – feminine (kvk)

  • hvorugkyn – neuter (hk)

This is called kyn orða (word gender). These grammatical genders do not always match biological gender.

Even objects have gender. For example:

  • “house” has gender

  • “tree” has gender

  • “sun” has gender

You must learn the noun with its gender.

Why is gender important in Icelandic? 

Gender Changes Other Words

In Icelandic, words change form depending on gender.

Later, you will see this with:

  • The word “the”

  • Adjectives (like big, small, good)

  • Some numbers

So gender helps Icelandic words “agree” with each other.

New Vocabulary

Icelandic

gluggi

bíll

tré

hús

gata

rós

Þetta er…

Gender

kk

kk

hk

hk

kvk

kvk

English

a window

a car

a tree

a house

a street

a rose

This is…

 

   🔊

Let’s Practice!

✏️ Practice 1 – Match the Gender

Write kk, kvk, or hk next to each word:

  1. rós → ______

  2. hús → ______

  3. gata → ______

  4. gluggi → ______

  5. tré → ______

  6. bíll → ______

 

✏️ Practice 2 – Translate the Sentences

Translate the sentences.

  1. Ég bý í húsi.
  2. Þetta er gluggi.
  3. Þetta er tré.
  4. Þau eiga bíl.
  5.  Þetta er gata.
  6. Þið eigið rós.

🗣️ Speaking Practice

Say aloud:

  • Þetta er tré og þetta er gata.
  • Hann býr í húsi.
  • Þetta er gluggi á húsi.
  • Þú átt rós.
  • Við eigum bíl.

🔊 Listening Practice

Write what you hear:

  1. ___________
  2. ___________
  3. ___________
  4. ___________
  5. ___________

Good job! Vel gert!

Here you can find the answers to the written practices.

Answers

Practice 1 – Match the Gender

  1. kvk, 2. hk, 3. kvk, 4. kk, 5. hk, 6. kk

Practice 2 – Translate the Sentences

  1. I live in a house. 2. This is a window. 3. This is a tree. 4. They have/own a car. 5. This is a street. 6. You (pl) have/own a rose.

Listening Practice

  1. Þetta er rós. 2. Þú býrð í húsi. 3. Við eigum bíl. 4. Þetta er gata. 5. Hún á hús og bíl.
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