Við notum aðgangskóðann frekar en að hringja.

A word-by-word breakdown is:

• Við = we
• notum = use
  This is the 1st person plural form of nota = to use
• aðgangskóðann = the access code
• frekar en = rather than
• að hringja = to call / calling

So the structure is basically:

• Við notum X frekar en að Y
• We use X rather than Y-ing / rather than to Y

Because aðgangskóðann is the definite accusative singular form of aðgangskóði.

Here is the pattern:

• aðgangskóði = an access code / access code (nominative singular)
• aðgangskóða = access code in the accusative, indefinite
• aðgangskóðann = the access code in the accusative, definite

It appears in the accusative here because nota normally takes a direct object, and that object is commonly in the accusative case.

So:

• Við notum aðgangskóða = We use an access code
• Við notum aðgangskóðann = We use the access code

In Icelandic, many verbs require a specific case for their object. The verb nota usually takes the accusative.

So:

• nota eitthvað = to use something

That is why the object appears as:

• aðgangskóðann rather than nominative aðgangskóði

This is something learners often just have to memorize verb by verb, because Icelandic case government is not always predictable from English.

Frekar en means rather than.

It is used to show preference or choice between two options:

• frekar en X = rather than X
• gera A frekar en B = do A rather than B

In your sentence:

• Við notum aðgangskóðann frekar en að hringja
• We use the access code rather than calling

So the speaker is saying that using the access code is preferred over calling.

Because hringja is being used in the infinitive, and the normal infinitive marker in Icelandic is að, similar to English to.

So:

• að hringja = to call

After expressions like frekar en, Icelandic often uses an infinitive phrase:

• frekar en að hringja = rather than calling / rather than to call

Even though English often prefers calling, Icelandic keeps the infinitive form with að.

Yes, hringja can mean both to ring and to call, depending on context.

Common uses include:

• hringja í bjöllu = ring a bell
• hringja í einhvern = call someone

In modern everyday Icelandic, hringja is a very common verb for to phone / to call.

So in this sentence, að hringja is naturally understood as calling, especially in a context where using an access code is an alternative to making a phone call.

Icelandic often includes the subject pronoun, especially in normal, clear statement style.

• Við notum = We use

Because Icelandic verb endings do show person and number, sometimes the pronoun can be omitted in certain styles or contexts, but in ordinary sentences it is very common to include it.

So Við notum is the most straightforward and natural way to say We use.

The infinitive is nota = to use.

Present tense:

• ég nota = I use
• þú notar = you use
• hann / hún / það notar = he / she / it uses
• við notum = we use
• þið notið = you all use
• þeir / þær / þau nota = they use

So notum is simply the we form.

No, Icelandic has other ways to express a similar idea.

A very common alternative is:

• í stað þess að hringja = instead of calling

So you could also say:

• Við notum aðgangskóðann í stað þess að hringja

The difference is small:

• frekar en often emphasizes preference
• í stað þess að often emphasizes replacement or instead of

In many everyday contexts, both work.

Yes, Icelandic word order is somewhat flexible, but not every rearrangement sounds equally natural.

The given sentence is very natural:

• Við notum aðgangskóðann frekar en að hringja

It puts the main action first, then the alternative being rejected.

You might also see topicalized versions in other contexts, but for a learner, the safest pattern is:

• Subject + verb + object + frekar en + að + infinitive

That is a good model to copy.

The base form is aðgangskóði.

It is a compound noun:

• aðgangur = access
• kóði = code

Together:

• aðgangskóði = access code

This kind of compounding is extremely common in Icelandic. Very often, several ideas are packed into one noun.

Then the ending changes depending on case and definiteness:

• aðgangskóði = nominative singular
• aðgangskóða = accusative singular, indefinite
• aðgangskóðann = accusative singular, definite

That is just a difference between natural English and natural Icelandic.

In Icelandic, the infinitive with að is normal:

• að hringja

But in English, after rather than, we usually prefer:

• calling
• or sometimes a bare infinitive in some structures

So although the Icelandic literally contains to call, the most natural English translation is usually:

• rather than calling

This is a good reminder that you should not always translate að + infinitive word for word into English.