Ég spara peninga.

I save money.

Breakdown of Ég spara peninga.

• ég: I
• peningurinn: the money
• spara: to save

Questions & Answers about Ég spara peninga.

How do I pronounce the sentence?

• Ég: roughly like “yeh” with a long vowel; IPA approx. [jɛː] (many speakers have a very weak or no final [ɣ]).
• spara: stress on the first syllable; IPA approx. [ˈspaːra]. The r is tapped/trilled.
• peninga: stress on the first syllable; IPA approx. [ˈpʰɛːnɪŋka]. The cluster ng is pronounced like “ngk,” so the g sounds like a k.
• Stress is always on the first syllable of Icelandic words: SPAR-a, PEN-ing-a.

Why is it peninga and not peningar?

Because peninga is the accusative plural, used for the direct object of the verb. spara takes its object in the accusative.

• Nominative plural (subject): peningar
• Accusative plural (object): peninga
  So in Ég spara peninga, the money is the thing being saved → accusative plural.

Shouldn’t “money” be singular like in English?

In Icelandic, general “money” is usually plural: peningar.

• peningur (singular) most often means “a coin.”
• Ég spara pening would sound like “I save a coin” (odd unless that’s literally what you mean).
  Use peninga (acc. pl.) for “money” as a general object.

What’s the difference between Ég spara peninga and Ég er að spara peninga?