Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Snjallsíminn minn virkar ekki í dag.

It’s the definite article attached to the noun, meaning the smartphone. Without it, snjallsími means “a smartphone.” So Snjallsíminn = “the smartphone.”

Why is the possessive minn after the noun, and could I put it before?

Icelandic commonly places short possessives after the noun: snjallsíminn minn (“my smartphone”). You can also put it before for emphasis or contrast: minn snjallsími (“my smartphone” rather than someone else’s). Both are grammatical; postposed is the neutral everyday choice.

Do I always keep the definite ending when the possessive follows (like snjallsíminn minn)?

Very often, yes—especially with specific personal belongings (phone, car, husband, etc.). You will frequently hear síminn minn, bíllinn minn, maðurinn minn. With some nouns, the article may be omitted (e.g., vinur minn “my friend”). For this sentence, Snjallsíminn minn is the most natural.

Why is it minn and not mín or mitt?

The possessive agrees with the noun’s gender, number, and case. Sími/snjallsími is masculine, nominative singular here, so you use minn. Quick reference for nominative singular:

Masculine: minn (e.g., síminn minn)
Feminine: mín (e.g., bókin mín “my book”)
Neuter: mitt (e.g., húsið mitt “my house”)

What form is virkar, and why not virka?

Virka is the infinitive “to work/function.” Virkar is 3rd person singular present (“works”), matching the subject Snjallsíminn (he/it). Mini-paradigm:

ég virka, þú virkar, hann/hún/það virkar
við virkum, þið virkið, þeir/þær/þau virka

Is virka the right “work,” or should I use vinna?

Use virka for devices functioning (“to work” = to function). Vinna is for people working at a job. So síminn vinnur is wrong; síminn virkar is right.

Why is ekki placed where it is? Can it come earlier?

In main clauses, the finite verb is in second position (V2), and ekki normally comes right after that verb: … virkar ekki …. You shouldn’t put ekki before the verb in a neutral statement.

Can I move í dag to the front? What changes?

Yes. If you front a time phrase, the finite verb stays in second position:

Neutral: Snjallsíminn minn virkar ekki í dag.
Fronted time: Í dag virkar snjallsíminn minn ekki. Both mean the same; the second emphasizes “today.”

What case is dag here, and why not dagur?

It’s accusative singular. Dagur is the nominative (“day”), but time expressions with í typically take the accusative: í dag (“today”).

Is í dag literally “in day”? Why í here but á morgun for “tomorrow”?

Yes, it’s literally “in day,” but it’s a fixed time expression meaning “today.” Icelandic uses different prepositions in time phrases:

í dag = today
í morgun = this morning
í kvöld = this evening
á morgun = tomorrow (set phrase with á)

Could I say Síminn minn instead of Snjallsíminn minn?

Yes. Síminn minn = “my phone” (general, could be mobile or landline). Snjallsíminn minn specifically means “my smartphone.” Another common word is farsími (“mobile phone”).

Could I say er ekki að virka to mean “isn’t working”?

You can: Síminn minn er ekki að virka is used in speech for an ongoing issue. However, the simple present virkar ekki is the default and often sounds better and more idiomatic for devices.

How would I say this in the past, or with the perfect?

Simple past: Snjallsíminn minn virkaði ekki í gær. (“My smartphone didn’t work yesterday.”)
Present perfect (today up to now): Snjallsíminn minn hefur ekki virkað í dag. (“…hasn’t worked today.”)

What is snjallsími made of? How do compounds like this work?

It’s a compound: snjall (“smart”) + linking s + sími (“phone”) → snjallsími. Icelandic often inserts an -s- between the parts of a compound (e.g., bíla+s+tæði “car park”).

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

Snjall-: the ll is like a quick “t-l” sound; think “snya-tl…”
sí: long “ee” sound: sími ≈ “SEE-mi”; síminn ≈ “SEE-min”
virkar: roll or tap the r
ekki: the kk is like a hard “kh” sound: “EH-khi”
í dag: “ee dahg” (the g is a soft, voiced fricative)

Where does ekki go relative to time words like í dag or núna?

In neutral order: subject – verb – ekki – time phrase.

Snjallsíminn minn virkar ekki í dag/núna. If you front the time phrase, keep the verb second and place ekki after it:
Í dag virkar snjallsíminn minn ekki.

How could I strengthen the negation (“doesn’t work at all”) or say “is broken”?

Stronger negation: … virkar ekki neitt. (“… doesn’t work at all.”)
“Is broken”: Snjallsíminn minn er bilaður. (Use biluð/bilað for feminine/neuter nouns.)