Persónufornafna

Persónufornafna is an Icelandic term that translates to "personal pronoun" in English. It refers to words that are used to replace nouns that refer to people or things. In Icelandic, like in many other languages, personal pronouns are essential for grammatical correctness and for avoiding repetition.

The most common personal pronouns in Icelandic are: ég (I), þú (you, singular informal), hann (he), hún (she), það (it), við (we), þið (you, plural informal/formal), þeir (they, masculine), þær (they, feminine), and þau (they, neuter). These pronouns change their form depending on their grammatical case, which includes nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive. For example, the pronoun "ég" (I) becomes "mig" in the accusative and dative cases, and "mín" in the genitive case.

The use of personal pronouns in Icelandic is governed by agreement with the noun they replace, particularly in terms of gender and number. Icelandic also has a distinction between informal and formal "you," although the informal singular "þú" and plural "þið" are far more common in modern usage. The formal "þér" (singular) and "yðar" (plural) are rarely encountered outside of historical texts or very specific, archaic contexts. Understanding these variations is crucial for mastering Icelandic grammar.