Faroese strongly conjugated masculine indefinite nouns
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We'll choose the conjugation patterns úlvur and vinur. They are our conjugation patterns, ie. all masculine nouns that have the same endings as úlvur and vinur, are conjugated like them.
| Singular | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | úlv ur | vin ur |
| Accusative | úlv | vin |
| Dative | úlv i | vin i |
| Genitive | úlv s | vin ar |
| Plural | ||
| Nominative | úlv ar | vin ir |
| Accusative | úlv ar | vin ir |
| Dative | úlv um | vin um |
| Genitive | úlv a | vin a |
The genitive ending -s usually gives the plural ending -ar.
The genitive ending -ar virtually always give the plural ending -ir.
Examples of words conjugated like úlvur:
bátur = boat
bilur = car
dómur = judgement
dreymur = dream
fiskur = fish
fuglur = bird
heimur = world
høvundur = author
knívur = knife
køkur = kitchen
peningur = money
steinur = rock
Only in singular:
dámur = hue, complexion
dentur = diligence, assiduity
deymur = reek
eyrur = rough sand
grátur = cry (not yell)
hýrur = frame of mind, mood
lyngur = heather
toyur = thaw
Many words with a in their stem have the same endings as úlvur (armur = arm - kambur = comb; also a special kind of mountain):
| Singular | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | armur | kambur |
| Accusative | arm | kamb |
| Dative | armi | kambi |
| Genitive | arms | kambs |
| Plural | ||
| Nominative | armar | kambar |
| Accusative | armar | kambar |
| Dative | ørmum | kombum |
| Genitive | arma | kamba |
As you may have noticed, the a by u-umlaut becomes o or ø in plural dativ.
Examples of words conjugated like armur:
barmur = bosom
garður = fence, farm
hjallur = storehouse, also barn where the sheep are in the spring, when the ewes lamb
karmur = (durakarmur) door-casing, (vindeygakarmur) window frame; also set of wet clothes
knappur = button
maðkur = worm; also maggot
partur = part, portion, share, party
skarvur = shag (the bird)
And like kambur:
brandur = burning piece of peat
drangur = sharp pointing rock, especially one standing in the ocean
sandur = sand
Note, that the a when having an m or n behind it in the stem, becomes by u-umlaut an o in plural dativ.
Many words are conjugated like vinur, where the genitive ending is -ar and the plural ending is -ir. Some examples:
burður = load
býur = town, city
friður = peace (only singular)
fyrimunur = advantage
fundur = assembly, appointment, conference, sitting
liður = joint
litur = liter
rættur = right (not the direction)
seyður = sheep
siður = custom, manners
skurður = cut
stættur = class of the community (older: foot of a cup or lamp)
All male nouns, which end with -aður in nominative singular are conjugated like vinur:
búnaður = outfit, equipment
fagnaður = enthusiasm, hilarity, pleasure
fenaður = cattle, also domestic birds
hernaður = war
javnaður = equality
kostnaður = expense, cost, expenditure
lesnaður = reading, perusal
marknaður = market
mánaður = month
skilnaður = separation, distinction, segregation
trúnaður = 1) fidelity, faithfulness, loyalty 2) confidence
vevnaður = weaving
A few words end with -s in singular genitive and -ir in plural nominative and accusative (gestur = guest):
| Nominative | |
|---|---|
| Nominative | gestur |
| Accusative | gest |
| Dative | gesti |
| Genitive | gests |
| Plural | |
| Nominative | gestir |
| Accusative | gestir |
| Dative | gestum |
| Genitive | gesta |
Words conjugated like gestur:
blettur = stain, spot
hvalur = whale
leikur = game, also move in chess
løkur = little river, brook, brooklet
minuttur = minute
missur = loss, want, lack
salur = hall
seiður = coalfish
skelkur = fright, fear, terror
smiður = smith
stavur = staff, stick
svanur = swan
In singular nominative masculine nouns often have the ending -ur (ein vinur, ein úlvur), and in plural nominative and accusative -ar or -ir but of the masculine nouns, only these four have -ur in plural nominative and accusative: brøður, bøndur, frændur, føtur (The 1st and 4th are strongly conjugated, the 2nd and 3rd weakly) (brother, farmer, kinsman, foot). They are conjugated as follows:
| Plural | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | bróðir | bóndi | frændi | fótur |
| Accusative | bróður | bónda | frænda | fót |
| Dative | bróður | bónda | frænda | fóti/føti |
| Genitive | bróður | bónda | frænda | fótar/fóts |
| Plural | ||||
| Nominative | brøður | bøndur | frændur | føtur |
| Accusative | brøður | bøndur | frændur | føtur |
| Dative | brøðrum | bóndum | frændum | fótum |
| Genitive | brøðra | bónda | frænda | fóta |
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