Borðinu

Borðinu is the definite dative singular form of the Icelandic noun borð, which means table. In Icelandic, nouns decline by case and number, and the definite article is expressed as a suffix. The definite nominative/accusative form is borðið, while the definite dative singular form is borðinu. The genitive singular is borðs. This form, borðinu, is used after prepositions that govern the dative or when indicating the location of something relative to the table.

The noun borð is used for a variety of senses related to a table or a board, including the dining surface and, more broadly, a flat surface. In everyday Icelandic, borðinu appears in phrases describing position or placement on or at the table. For example, maturinn liggur á borðinu means “the food lies on the table,” and ég setti bókina á borðinu means “I placed the book on the table.” These examples illustrate how borðinu marks the definite table in a dative context.

Etymology traces borð to Old Norse borð, with related meanings tied to a flat surface or dining table. The form borðinu, like other Icelandic dative singular forms, shows how the language marks the noun for location or direction in relation to a preposition or verb.

See also: borð.