Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Hún er alveg tilbúin.

It’s an intensifier. In many contexts it means “completely/entirely,” but in everyday speech it can also sound like “really/quite.” So it ranges from strong emphasis to a casual booster, depending on tone and context.

Can I use “mjög” instead of “alveg”? What’s the difference?

Yes: Hún er mjög tilbúin.

mjög = “very,” neutral and straightforward.
alveg = “completely/totally” or colloquial “really/quite.” It can feel stronger or just conversational, depending on delivery.

Where does “alveg” go in the sentence? Can it come last?

Place it before the adjective: Hún er alveg tilbúin. Don’t put it at the end; Hún er tilbúin alveg is unnatural.

How do I turn this into a yes/no question?

Invert the verb and subject:

Statement: Hún er alveg tilbúin.
Question: Er hún alveg tilbúin?

How do I negate it?

Insert ekki after the verb:

Hún er ekki alveg tilbúin. = She isn’t quite/completely ready.

Is “alveg ekki” a good way to say “not at all”?

You’ll hear alveg ekki, but the idiomatic “absolutely not” is alls ekki. For readiness: Hún er alls ekki tilbúin.

What’s the difference between “tilbúin” and “búin”?

tilbúin = ready (prepared to start).
búin is part of the construction vera búinn að + infinitive = “to have done/finished (doing)”:
Hún er búin að klára. = She has finished.
Colloquially Hún er búin can mean “She’s done/finished,” but it’s not the same as “ready.”

Can I say “klár” instead of “tilbúin”?

Yes, but nuance shifts:

tilbúin = prepared/ready (emphasis on having everything set).
klár (fem. klár, masc. klár, neut. klárt) = ready/quick/clever; in speech, Hún er alveg klár can mean “She’s totally ready,” often more casual.

How do I say it for different speakers and groups?

I (male): Ég er alveg tilbúinn.
I (female): Ég er alveg tilbúin.
He: Hann er alveg tilbúinn.
It (neuter thing): Það er alveg tilbúið.
We (all women): Við erum alveg tilbúnar.
We (all men or mixed): Við erum alveg tilbúnir.
Children/things (neuter plural): Börnin/hlutin eru alveg tilbúin.

How is the verb “vera” (to be) conjugated in the present?

ég er
þú ert
hann/hún/það er
við erum
þið eruð
þeir/þær/þau eru

Does the adjective take a special case here?

No. Predicative adjectives after “to be” agree with the subject in gender and number and are in the nominative: Hún (nom.) er tilbúin (nom. fem. sg.). With other structures, adjectives can change case to match their nouns.

How do I say “ready to do something”?

Use tilbúinn/tilbúin/tilbúið plus an infinitive (often with til að if “ready to” implies purpose):

Hún er tilbúin að fara. = She’s ready to go.
Hún er tilbúin til að byrja. = She’s ready to start.

Any pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?

Hún ≈ “hoon” (long u).
er ≈ short “ehr.”
alveg ≈ “AL-vehg,” final g is a soft, voiced fricative (like a gentle “gh”).
tilbúin ≈ “TIL-boo-in,” with main stress on the first syllable of the word. In connected speech, “er alveg” flows together.

Why is there only one n in “tilbúin” here but two in the masculine?

Masculine nominative singular ends in -nn: tilbúinn. Feminine nominative singular is tilbúin (one n). Neuter is tilbúið. The double n is a masculine marker in this adjective pattern.

Is there any risk of confusion with “til”?

Yes: til by itself can mean “up for (it)/willing.” Hún er til = “She’s up for it.” That’s different from Hún er (alveg) tilbúin = “She’s (completely) ready.”

Is this sentence formal or casual? Any register notes?

It’s neutral and fits both everyday and semi-formal contexts. alveg is very common in speech; for more formal writing, mjög or algjörlega may sound more neutral/precise.

What are stronger or alternative intensifiers I could use?

Stronger/absolute: algjörlega, fullkomlega, gjörsamlega (She’s utterly/completely ready).
Colloquial strong: rosalega (really, super).
Milder: frekar (rather/pretty): Hún er frekar tilbúin.