Kílómetramælirinn virkar.

to work

Breakdown of Kílómetramælirinn virkar.

• kílómetramælirinn: the odometer

Questions & Answers about Kílómetramælirinn virkar.

Does kílómetramælirinn mean speedometer or odometer?

Usually it means odometer or mileage counter. Literally, it is a kilometer-measuring device. For speedometer, Icelandic normally uses hraðamælir.

Why is kílómetramælirinn written as one word?

Because Icelandic forms compounds very easily. This word is built from kílómetra + mælir + -inn. English often uses separate words, but Icelandic commonly combines them into one noun.

What does the ending -inn mean?

It is the definite article, equivalent to English the. Icelandic usually adds the to the end of the noun instead of putting a separate word before it.

So:

• kílómetramælir = odometer / kilometer counter
• kílómetramælirinn = the odometer

Why is it kílómetra- and not kílómetri-?

In compounds, the first part of a noun often appears in a combining form rather than its basic dictionary form. Here, that form is kílómetra-. You do not need to translate that piece separately every time; it is simply the normal form used in this compound.

What does mælir mean by itself?