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Questions & Answers about Okkur vantar vatn.
What does each word in the sentence mean?
- Okkur = us (1st person plural, accusative/dative form of við “we”)
- vantar = is lacking / needs (3rd person singular present of vanta)
- vatn = water (neuter singular; nominative and accusative look the same)
Why is it okkur and not við?
Because vanta is used impersonally in this meaning. The “experiencer” (the one who lacks/needs) is put in an object case, not nominative. So you cannot say Við vantar vatn. Correct is Okkur vantar vatn. If you want a normal nominative subject, use a different verb: Við þurfum vatn (“We need water”).
Which case is okkur here—accusative or dative?
In standard grammar with vanta, the experiencer is accusative. With 1st plural, that form happens to be identical to dative (okkur), so you can’t see the difference. With other persons you can: standard is Mig vantar vatn, Þig vantar vatn, Hana vantar vatn, etc. You will hear some speakers say dative (e.g., Mér vantar), but the accusative (e.g., Mig vantar) is the recommended form in careful usage.
Why is the verb form vantar (3rd person singular) even though the meaning is “we need”?
Impersonal clauses in Icelandic have no nominative subject, so the verb stays in 3rd person singular by default: Mig vantar…, Þig vantar…, Okkur vantar…—the verb does not agree with the experiencer.
What case is vatn in?
Accusative, as the thing that is lacking/needed is the direct object of vanta. You can’t see it here because neuter nominative and accusative singular are identical (vatn). With other nouns the accusative shows: Mig vantar peninga (“I need money”), Mig vantar bolla (“I need a cup”).
Can I change the word order?
Yes, Icelandic main clauses are generally verb‑second (V2):
- Neutral: Okkur vantar vatn.
- Front the object for emphasis: Vatn vantar okkur.
- Expletive subject: Það vantar vatn.
- Yes/no question: Vantar okkur vatn?
How do I ask politely for water instead of just stating the need?
Useful polite requests:
- Gætum við fengið vatn? (“Could we get some water?”)
- Má ég fá vatn? (“May I have water?”)
- Má ég fá glas af vatni? (“May I have a glass of water?”)
- Gætirðu gefið okkur vatn? (“Could you give us water?”)
What’s the difference between vanta and þurfa (“need”)?
- vanta = “to be lacking/missing; to be out of,” often about supplies: Okkur vantar vatn (“We’re lacking water/We need water”).
- þurfa = “to need, have to,” and it’s the normal choice with actions: Við þurfum vatn (“We need water”), Við þurfum að drekka vatn (“We need to drink water”). Avoid using vanta with a bare infinitive; say þurfa að for “need to do (something).”
Can I say “We need to drink water” with vanta?
Not idiomatically. Say Við þurfum að drekka vatn. If you want to keep vanta, make it a noun phrase: Okkur vantar vatn til að drekka (“We need water to drink”).
How do I use definiteness here? When would it be vatn vs. vatnið?
- Okkur vantar vatn = we need some water (non‑specific, typical request).
- Okkur vantar vatnið = we need the water (a specific water already known in context, e.g., “the water we brought”). You can also say Okkur vantar meira vatn (“We need more water”).
How do I say it in the past or future?
- Past: Okkur vantaði vatn.
- Perfect: Okkur hefur vantað vatn.
- Future (periphrastic): Okkur mun vanta vatn.
How do I negate it or ask a negative question?
- Negation: Okkur vantar ekki vatn. / Okkur vantar ekki meira vatn.
- Negative question: Vantar okkur ekki vatn? (“Don’t we need water?”)
Can I omit the experiencer and just say that water is lacking?
Yes: Vantar vatn or Það vantar vatn means “There’s a lack of water.” That’s a general statement. If you specifically mean “we,” keep okkur.
How do I pronounce the sentence?
- okkur roughly “OHK‑kur” (the kk is pronounced with a little breath before the k: [hk]).
- vantar roughly “VAHN‑tar” (n+t is a tight cluster).
- vatn roughly “VAHTN” (there’s often an audible breath before the t, and the final n may be devoiced).