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Við tölum um veðrið.

Við tölum um veðrið.
We talk about the weather.
FromLesson 14inHardcore Icelandic

Breakdown of Við tölum um veðrið.

við
we
veðrið
the weather
um
about
tala
to talk

Questions & Answers about Við tölum um veðrið.

Why is it tölum and not tala?

Because the subject is við (we). Present tense agreement adds the ending -um for 1st person plural, and u-umlaut changes a → ö before -um. Mini paradigm:

  • ég tala
  • þú talar
  • hann/hún/það talar
  • við tölum
  • þið talið
  • þeir/þær/þau tala
What does the preposition um do here, and which case does it take?
It means “about” (topic) and governs the accusative case. So you get um veðrið. Other senses of um: “around” (space/time) and “approximately,” also with accusative (e.g., um klukkan þrjú = around three o’clock).
Why is it veðrið (definite “the weather”) and not just veður?
Icelandic often uses the definite for familiar, generic topics like the weather. Um veðrið sounds most idiomatic. Um veður is possible but feels more like “about weather (in general).”
Which case is veðrið in, and how can I tell?

Accusative singular neuter, required by um. You can’t tell from the form alone (neuter nom/acc are identical); you rely on the preposition’s rule. Singular forms:

  • nom/acc: veður; definite: veðrið
  • dat: veðri; definite: veðrinu
  • gen: veðurs; definite: veðursins
How do I pronounce the sentence?
  • Við: v + short i (as in “bit”) + voiced th (as in “this”).
  • tölum: ö like German “ö” (short), stress on the first syllable: TÖ-lum; u is like German “ü”, not “oo.”
  • um: same short fronted u (German “ü”).
  • veðrið: e as in “bet”; ð = voiced th; trilled/tapped r; final -ið like “-ith” (voiced th).
Do I always need the subject pronoun við?
Yes. Icelandic generally doesn’t drop subject pronouns. Exception: the 1st person plural imperative lets you say Tölum um veðrið! (“Let’s talk about the weather!”).
How do I say “We are talking about the weather” (progressive)?
Við erum að tala um veðrið. Icelandic simple present (Við tölum…) can also mean a habitual action.
How do I put it in the past?

Við töluðum um veðrið. Past of tala:

  • ég talaði, þú talaðir, hann/hún/það talaði
  • við töluðum, þið töluðuð, þeir/þær/þau töluðu
Can I avoid um by using a different verb like “discuss”?
Yes: Við ræðum veðrið. Ræða takes a direct object (no preposition). With tala, you need um for “talk about.”
Can um move to the end, like English phrasal verbs?
No. Um is a preposition and stays before its noun phrase: tala um veðrið, not tala veðrið um.
How do I negate the sentence?
Place ekki after the verb: Við tölum ekki um veðrið.
What gender is veður, and does it have a plural?
Neuter. It’s mostly a mass noun; the plural is rare and refers to kinds of weather. Core singular: veður (nom/acc), veðri (dat), veðurs (gen). Definite: veðrið / veðrinu / veðursins.
Why does veður become veðrið in the definite?
Neuter nouns ending in -ur drop the -u- before the definite ending -ið: veður → veðr- + -ið = veðrið.
What’s the difference between ð and þ?
  • ð (eth) = voiced th (as in “this”): við, veðrið.
  • þ (thorn) = unvoiced th (as in “thing”): þú, það. They are distinct letters with different sounds.
Do diacritics matter? Is writing tolum or vedrid okay?
They matter. Icelandic diacritics are separate letters: tölum (not “tolum”), veðrið (not “vedrid”), Við (with ð). Spelling changes meaning and pronunciation.
How would I ask “What are we talking about?”
Um hvað tölum við? The preposition stays with the question word (um hvað), and the verb agrees with við.
Can I front the prepositional phrase for emphasis?
Yes: Um veðrið tölum við. Normal order is S–V–(object/PP), but fronting for emphasis/topic is common.
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