þrír
[ˈθriːr]masculine
The Icelandic word for 'three' is þrír. Wiktionary also lists þrjár and þrjú.
Meaning: cardinal number 3 (num)
Ways to say it
| Icelandic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| þrír | [ˈθriːr] (narrow) | masculine |
| þrjár | feminine | |
| þrjú | [ˈθrjuː] (narrow) | neuter |
The word is used to represent the cardinal number 3.
Which one should you use?
Unlike English, the word for 'three' must change its ending to match the grammatical gender of the noun it describes.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form þrír is used when counting masculine nouns or when the number stands alone as a masculine subject. The feminine form þrjár is used when the number modifies a feminine noun. The neuter form þrjú is used when the number modifies a neuter noun.
Did you know?
- In Icelandic folklore, the number þrír often appears in the 'rule of three', where magical events or supernatural encounters happen in threes to signify completion or fate.
- Ancient Icelanders wrote the word for 'three' using the rune ᚦ for the first sound, which is the ancestor of the modern letter þ.
- The word þrír is part of a counting system where the numbers one to four follow a strict gender-matching rule, but numbers five and above typically do not.
Examples in context
- Get ég fengið þrjú?Can I have three?This sentence is useful for asking for a quantity using the neuter form þrjú.Tatoeba #5005287 by Rafeind, translation #3327404 by CK
- Tom tók þrjár svefntöflur.Tom took three sleeping pills.This sentence shows how to use the feminine form þrjár to modify a noun.Tatoeba #4007204 by Bergthor, translation #3956104 by CK
- Ég hef verið ein á þessari eyju í þrjú ár.I've been alone on this island for three years.This sentence demonstrates the use of the neuter form þrjú when modifying a noun.Tatoeba #5251823 by snjovera, translation #2208757 by CK
- Fjórir og þrjú eru sjö.Four and three make seven.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sigurður and Katrín are organizing books on a shelf.
- SigurðurHversu margir bækur eru hér?How many books are here?
- KatrínÉg sé þrír bækur hérna.I see three books here.
- SigurðurÞarfum við fleiri?Do we need more?
- KatrínNei, þrír eru nóg.No, three are enough.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “three” translations and entries þrír, þrjár, þrjú, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries þrír, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
