Faroese strongly conjugated neuter indefinite nouns

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We'll choose the words orð, (word) barn (child), and gil (gully) as conjugation patterns:

Eintal
Hvørfallorðbarngil
Hvønnfallorðbarngil
Hvørjumfallorðibarnigili
Hvørsfallorðsbarnsgils
Fleirtal
Hvørfallorðbørngil
Hvønnfallorðbørngil
Hvørjumfallorðumbørnumgiljum
Hvørsfallorðabarnagilja

Examples of words conjugated like orð:

amboð = tool
bál = fire
borð = table
fólk = people
forrit = program
kvøld = evening
mál = goal/language
pappír = paper
sekund = second
skáp = closet
vápn = weapon
ævintýr = fairytale

These words are only conjugated in singular:

bik = pitch
blekk = ink
drasl = junk
grót = rock
gull = gold
kol = coal
regn = rain
rím (frost) = hoar frost, white frost, rime
tin = tin
øl = beer

And these only appear in plural:

avroð = certain parts of an animal, e.g. sheep and cattle
hjún = married couple
høsn = chickens
jól = Christmas

Examples of words that are conjugated like barn:

agn = bait
band = rope (note: bond in nominative and accusative plural)
fjall = mountain
flagg = flag
flogfar = airplane
hav = sea
ílat = something that you put things in, like boxes and buckets
lamb = lamb (note: lomb in nominative and accusative plural)
mark = mark, sign
skjal = document
tjald = tent
vatn = water/lake

Examples of words that are conjugated like gil:

ben = lethal wound
ber = berry
egg = egg
fyl = foal
ker = cup
kyn = gender
nes = headland, foreland, cape
net = net
nev = beak/bill
riv = rib or reef
sev = rush
skegg = beard
sker = rock, skerry
stev = dance step
vil (plural) = small intenstine

Not all have j in dative plural anymore.

The words kvæði (chant) and merki (mark) are conjugated so:

Eintal
Hvørfallkvæðimerki
Hvønnfallkvæðimerki
Hvørjumfallkvæðimerki
Hvørsfallkvæðismerkis
Fleirtal
Hvørfallkvæði(r)merki(r)
Hvønnfallkvæði(r)merki(r)
Hvørjumfallkvæðummerkjum
Hvørsfallkvæðamerkja

Examples of words conjugated like kvæði:

arbeiði = work
býti = exchange
dýpi = deep, depth
dømi = example
epli = potato
frælsi = freedom
góðgæti = candy
høli = room, hall
knetti = Faroese food made of fish
lyfti = promise
stýri = rule, government
ørindi = verse, though most often only in plural, and then it means: errand

Only in singular:

ágrýtni = persistence
djúphugsni = deep thinking
eyðkvæmi = AIDS
kaffi = coffee
lyndi = mind
lýsi = train oil, whale oil
silki = silk
sinni = mind
tólmenni = robot
tykni = touchyness
æti = organism in the water, that feed e.g. whales, like plankton
ørviti = deliriousness

Only in plural:

eirindi = mercy, leniency
kyrrindi = when the sea current changes
líkindi = probability, likelihood
mýkindi = mercy, leniency
rættindi = rights
tíðindi = news
vísindi = science

All words that end with -ilsi, f.ex:

piprilsi = trembling
rokilsi = ruccus
roykilsi = incense
skapilsi = form, shape
skepilsi = form, shape
ørilsi = dizziness, giddiness, faintness

All words that end with -loysi, e.g.:

arbeiðsloysi = unemployment
maktarloysi = exhaustion, fatigue
máttloysi = powerlessness
siðloysi = immorality, loose morals

Examples of words conjugated like merki:

byrgi = a fenced in space
fylgi = flock, company
fylki = the Norwegian fylke
húski = family
meingi = amount, crowd
ótýggi = mischief, scoundrel
ríki = empire
stykki = piece
ynski = wish
yrki = job
virki = work, activity
vittuggi = scoundrel, simpleton

>> Languages >> Faroese >> Faroese grammar >> Faroese nouns

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