Old Norse/Adjective Declension

In this chapter, the following concepts are explained:

• strong declension
• weak declension
• present participle and comparative declension
• comparative and superlative formation

Labial mutation (aka. u-umlaut) is marked by an L before the ending.

Front mutation (aka. i-umlaut) is marked by an F before the ending.

Just like nouns, some adjectives inject a -j- or -v- between the stem and the ending, depending on the stems of their Proto-Germanic ancestors (a-, ō-, ja-, jō-, wa- and wō-stems). The distinction between the adjectives which make either or none of the injections is not made in this page.

Strong declension

Masculine declension

Strong masculine adjective declension

case	singular	plural
nominative	-r	-ir
genitive	-s, -ar	-ra
dative	L -um	L -um
accusative	-an	-a

Feminine declension

Strong feminine adjective declension

case	singular	plural
nominative	L -∅	-ar
genitive	-rar	-ra
dative	-ri	L -um
accusative	-a	-ar

Neuter declension

Strong neuter adjective declension

case	singular	plural
nominative	-t	L -∅
genitive	-s	-ra
dative	L -u	L -um
accusative	-t	L -∅

Weak declension

Masculine declension

Weak masculine adjective declension

case	singular	plural
nominative	-i	L -u
genitive	-a	L -u
dative	-a	L -um
accusative	-a	L -u

Feminine declension

Weak feminine adjective declension

case	singular	plural
nominative	-a	L -u
genitive	-u	L -u
dative	-u	L -um
accusative	-u	L -u

Neuter declension

Weak neuter adjective declension

case	singular	plural
nominative	-a	L -u
genitive	-a	L -u
dative	-a	L -um
accusative	-a	L -u

Present participle and comparative declension

Masculine declension

Masculine present participle and comparative declension

case	singular	plural
nominative	-i	-i
genitive	-a	-i
dative	-a	L -um
accusative	-a	-i

Feminine declension

Feminine present participle and comparative declension

case	singular	plural
nominative	-i	-i
genitive	-i	-i
dative	-i	L -um
accusative	-i	-i

Neuter declension

Neuter present participle and comparative declension

case	singular	plural
nominative	-a	-i
genitive	-a	-i
dative	-a	L -um
accusative	-a	-i

Comparative and superlative formation

-ari, -astr

Comparative and superlative formation with -ari, --astr

positive	comparative	superlative
-r	-ari	-astr

-ri, -str with front mutation

Comparative and superlative formation with -ri, -str and front mutation

positive	comparative	superlative
-r	F -ri	F -str

Irregularities

Some adjectives had their comparative and superlative forms based on different stems than those of their positive forms.

Comparative and superlative formed from different stems

positive	comparative	superlative
gamall	ellri	ellztr
góðr	betri	beztr
illr, vandr	verri	verstr
lítill	minni	minnstr
margr	fleiri	flestr
mikill	meiri	mestr

Some comparative and superlative forms developed by analogy from positive forms that were adverbs. These positive forms are indicated in parentheses, and do not exist as adjectives, but rather as adverbs.

Comparative and superlative formed from adverb positives by analogy

positive	comparative	superlative
(aptr)	eptri	epztr, aptastr
(fyrir)	fyrri	fyrstr
(of)	øfri, efri	øfstr, efstr
(út)	ýtri	ýztr
(austr)	eystri	austastr
(vestr)	vestri	vestastr
(norðr)	norðarri	norðastr
(suðr)	sunnar	sunnastr