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Questions & Answers about Við höfum tíma.
What does each word in Við höfum tíma mean?
Við means we, höfum is the first person plural present form of að hafa (to have), and tíma means time. Together, the sentence translates as We have time.
Why is the noun rendered as tíma instead of the base form tími?
In Icelandic, masculine nouns change their ending according to their grammatical case. Tími is the nominative form, but when used as the direct object—as it is here—it takes the accusative form tíma. This case marking distinguishes it from English, where word order rather than endings indicates grammatical roles.
How is the verb höfum formed from its infinitive að hafa?
The infinitive að hafa means to have. When conjugated in the present tense for the first person plural (we), it becomes höfum. This is a typical pattern in Icelandic verb conjugation, where the verb changes form to match the subject.
What is the word order in this sentence, and how does it compare to English?
The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Object order: Við (subject), höfum (verb), and tíma (object). This structure is similar to English, though Icelandic allows for greater flexibility in word order thanks to its case system.
How should the letter ö in höfum be pronounced?
The letter ö represents a rounded vowel sound that might be unfamiliar to English speakers. It is similar to the ö in German or the sound found in the French word cœur. While there isn’t an exact English equivalent, you can approximate it by rounding your lips more than you would for an o.