Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Ég elska vin.

Icelandic nouns have different forms depending on case and number. In this sentence, vin is the accusative singular form of the masculine noun vinur, meaning friend. Since it is the direct object of the verb elska, it takes the accusative. The dative form, for example, would be vini, used after certain prepositions or in other grammatical contexts.

How is the verb elska conjugated for different subjects?

Elska is a regular verb in Icelandic. In the present tense, it goes like this:
• Ég elska (I love)
• Þú elskar (you love)
• Hann/Hún/Það elskar (he/she/it loves)
• Við elskum (we love)
• Þið elskið (you [plural] love)
• Þeir/Þær/Þau elska (they love)

Why is there no separate word for a or the before vin?

Icelandic does not have an indefinite article like a in English. For definiteness, Icelandic usually attaches an article as a suffix to the noun instead, for example vinurinn (the friend). But in this sentence, the indefinite sense is simply provided by using the bare noun vin.

Could this sentence mean I love my friend?

Potentially, yes, if the context implies that the friend belongs to the speaker. Icelandic often relies on context rather than possessive pronouns or articles. If you need to be explicit, you might say Ég elska vin minn or Ég elska minn vin (though the former is more common).

How do I pronounce Ég elska vin naturally?

• Ég is pronounced roughly like yeh with a short /ɛ/ vowel.
• elska is pronounced with an /ɛ/ vowel in the first syllable, so EL-ska.
• vin is pronounced with a short /ɪ/ vowel.

So together, Ég elska vin sounds a bit like yeh EL-ska vin in Icelandic.