þessi

Þessi is an Icelandic demonstrative determiner meaning “this” when placed before a noun to indicate proximity. It is used with masculine and feminine singular nouns, as in þessi bók (this book) or þessi maður (this man). For neuter nouns the corresponding form is þetta, as in þetta hús (this house). The word inflects for gender and case, like an adjective, and the exact form changes with the noun it modifies.

In addition to modifying nouns, þessi can be used pronominally to mean “this one.” For example, Þetta er góður? Wait, the correct usage for pronouns is typically with the demonstrative in place of a noun, as in Þessi er góður (This one is good). This pronoun use highlights proximity and specificity without repeating a noun.

Etymology and related forms: Þessi comes from Old Norse and belongs to the North Germanic demonstrative family. Modern Icelandic shares this lineage with related forms in other Scandinavian languages, though the exact spellings and inflections differ (for example, Danish denne/denne, Swedish denna, Norwegian denne/denne). In Icelandic, the neuter form of this demonstrative is mjög commonly seen as þetta, while the masculine and feminine form is þessi. The word is a fundamental part of everyday grammar for signaling proximity and definiteness.

See also: Icelandic grammar, demonstratives, pronouns.