Ég þarf leyfi.

I need permission.

Breakdown of Ég þarf leyfi.

• ég: I
• þurfa: to need
• leyfi: the permission

Questions & Answers about Ég þarf leyfi.

How do you pronounce the sentence?

• Ég ≈ yeh (long vowel; the g is often a soft, breathy sound or silent).
• þarf ≈ tharf (þ like English th in thin; a tapped/trilled r; final f like English f).
• leyfi ≈ LAY-vi (ey like ay in day; f between vowels sounds like v; final i like the vowel in bit).

Why is there no word for the English a/an?

Icelandic has no indefinite article. A bare noun is indefinite by default. So leyfi can mean a permit or permission in general. To make it definite, you attach a suffix: leyfið = the permit/permission.

What case is leyfi here, and why doesn’t it look different?

• þurfa (to need) takes a direct object in the accusative.
• leyfi is a neuter -i noun whose nominative and accusative singular look the same: leyfi.
• You can see the case on an adjective: Ég þarf nýtt leyfi (I need a new permit; neuter acc/nom singular). In the idiom þurfa á X að halda the noun is dative: Ég þarf á nýju leyfi að halda.

How do I say I need the permission/the permit?

Use the definite form: Ég þarf leyfið. (neuter definite singular ends in -ð here).

Is leyfi countable or uncountable? What are its forms?

It can be both.

• Uncountable sense: permission in general, e.g., Ég þarf leyfi.
• Countable sense: a permit/license, e.g., Ég þarf eitt leyfi; tvö leyfi (two permits).
• Key forms: singular leyfi, definite singular leyfið; plural leyfi, definite plural leyfin; genitive singular leyfis; dative plural leyfum; genitive plural leyfa.

Does leyfi mean permission or a physical license?

Both, depending on context.

• General permission: Leyfi.
• Specific permits via compounds: vinnuleyfi (work permit), byggingarleyfi (building permit), ökuleyfi (driving license, the right to drive). The physical driver’s license card is often ökuskírteini.

Can I say Ég þarf að leyfi?

No. að is used before a verb, not a noun. Say either:

• Ég þarf leyfi (I need permission/a permit), or
• Ég þarf að fá leyfi (I need to get permission).

Are there other common ways to say I need permission?

Yes:

• Mig vantar leyfi (I lack/need permission). Note mig is accusative.
• Ég þarf á leyfi að halda (I need permission, lit. need to make use of permission), slightly more emphatic/formal.
• With pronouns: Ég þarf það (I need it) vs. Ég þarf á því að halda (I need it, dative after á).

How do I negate it?

Place ekki after the finite verb:

• Ég þarf ekki leyfi.
• With a verb phrase: Ég þarf ekki að fá leyfi.

How do I ask Do I need a permit?

Invert verb–subject:

• Þarf ég leyfi?
• More specific: Þarf ég að fá leyfi?; Þarf ég leyfi til að fara?

How is þurfa conjugated?

Present:

• ég þarf, þú þarft, hann/hún/það þarf, við þurfum, þið þurfið, þeir/þær/þau þurfa. Past:
• ég þurfti, þú þurftir, hann/hún/það þurfti, við þurftum, þið þurftuð, þeir/þær/þau þurftu. Perfect: ég hef þurft.

Any useful collocations with leyfi?

• fá leyfi (get permission), gefa leyfi (grant permission), biðja um leyfi (ask for permission).
• leyfi til að + INF (permission to do something): leyfi til að fara.
• leyfi frá
  • dative (permission from): fá leyfi frá yfirmanninum (from the boss).

Is there a related verb to give permission?

Yes, leyfa = to allow/permit. For example: Má ég fara? (May I go?) or Leyfirðu mér að fara? (Will you allow me to go?).

Is Ég always capitalized like English I?

No. ég is only capitalized at the start of a sentence or in titles. Mid‑sentence it’s ég, not capitalized.