Læknirinn kemur strax.

The doctor comes immediately.

Breakdown of Læknirinn kemur strax.

• koma: to come
• læknirinn: the doctor
• strax: immediately

Questions & Answers about Læknirinn kemur strax.

Why is læknirinn used instead of læknir?

In Icelandic the definite article is not a separate word but a suffix on the noun. You form the definite masculine singular by adding -inn to læknir (doctor):
• læknir = “a doctor” (indefinite)
• læknirinn = “the doctor” (definite)

What does kemur mean and how is it formed?

kemur is the present-tense form of the verb koma (to come), used for both 2nd and 3rd person singular. In context, tied to læknirinn, it means “he/she/it comes” or simply “comes.” Conjugation in present tense:
• ég kem (I come)
• þú kemur (you come)
• hann/hún kemur (he/she comes)
…and so on, with kemur matching 2nd and 3rd person singular.

Why is kemur placed before strax?

Icelandic follows a V2 (verb-second) word order in main clauses: the finite verb comes in the second position. Here’s the breakdown:

1. læknirinn (subject)
2. kemur (finite verb)
3. strax (adverb)

That S-V-Adv order is the normal unmarked pattern for statements.

What does strax mean, and can I use other words for “immediately”?

strax is an adverb meaning immediately or right away. Other options include:
• beint – literally “straight,” sometimes used for “directly”
• samstundis – more formal for “instantly”
But strax is the most common everyday word for immediately.

Could I say “the doctor is coming” using a continuous construction like er að koma?

Yes. To stress that the action is in progress, you can use the periphrastic construction vera að + infinitive:
• læknirinn er að koma = “the doctor is coming (right now, in the process).”
However, for near-future events Icelandic often prefers the simple present (kemur) rather than a continuous form.

How do I turn this into a question like “Will the doctor come soon?”

For a yes/no question in Icelandic, invert the finite verb and subject:
• Kemur læknirinn fljótlega? = “Will the doctor come soon?”
If you want to emphasize the future, you can also use the auxiliary mun (will):
• Mun læknirinn koma fljótlega?