Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Ég myndi panta vatn ef kaffið væri kalt. - I would order water if the coffee were cold.

It is myndi + infinitive, the periphrastic conditional meaning would + verb. Here myndi panta = would order. It signals a hypothetical action, typically paired with ef + past subjunctive in the if-clause.

Why is "væri" used in the if-clause?

Because væri is the past subjunctive of vera (to be), used in hypothetical/unreal conditions. Compare:

Real/likely: ef kaffið er kalt = if the coffee is cold
Hypothetical/less likely: ef kaffið væri kalt = if the coffee were cold

Can I put the if-clause first? What happens to word order?

Yes: Ef kaffið væri kalt, myndi ég panta vatn. Icelandic main clauses are V2: after a fronted element (the ef‑clause), the finite verb (myndi) comes before the subject (ég).

Where does negation go?

Place ekki right after the finite verb in each clause:

Ég myndi ekki panta vatn ef kaffið væri kalt.
Ef kaffið væri ekki kalt, myndi ég panta kaffi.

Why is it "kalt" and not "kaldur" or "köld"?

Adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. Kaffi(ð) is neuter singular, so the predicative adjective is the strong neuter form kalt (masc kaldur, fem köld).

Why is it "kaffið" with a definite ending?

Icelandic marks definiteness with a suffix. Kaffið = the coffee (a specific cup/pot already in context). Kaffi without the ending is indefinite/mass coffee in general. In this scenario you are talking about the specific coffee you have, hence the definite form.

What case is "vatn," and why doesn’t it change form?

As the direct object of panta, vatn is in the accusative. Neuter singular nominative and accusative look the same, so you just see vatn. Some related forms:

dative singular: vatni (e.g., í vatni = in water)
genitive singular: vatns Note: the plural vötn usually means “lakes,” not “waters.”

Is "panta" how people actually order drinks?

It’s fine in a general statement, but at a café you’d more often hear:

Má ég fá vatn? (May I have water?)
Ég ætla að fá mér vatn. (I’ll have/get myself some water.)
Ég tek vatn. (I’ll take water.) Panta is common for reservations or deliveries (e.g., panta borð, book a table).

Can I drop the subject pronoun "Ég"?

No. Icelandic is not a pro‑drop language; you keep the subject. For a generic “one would,” use maður: Maður myndi panta vatn ef...

Could I say "Ég pantaði vatn ef..." instead of using "myndi"?

Avoid that here. With weak verbs like panta, the past subjunctive looks the same as the past indicative (pantaði), so it sounds like plain past (“I ordered water if…”). Using myndi + infinitive makes the hypothetical meaning clear. Some strong verbs have a distinct subjunctive and can stand alone (e.g., Ég kæmi ef... = I would come if...).

How do commas work with the if-clause?

When the ef‑clause comes first, use a comma after it: Ef kaffið væri kalt, ... When it follows the main clause (as in your sentence), modern style generally omits the comma: Ég myndi panta vatn ef ...

Any quick pronunciation tips for these words?

Ég: like “yeh” with a soft final g‑sound; vowel is long.
myndi: both y and i sound like a short “i”; stress on the first syllable.
panta: PAN‑ta; stress first syllable.
kaffið: KAFF‑ið; final ð like the th in this.
væri: æ like “eye”; trilled r. General rule: stress is almost always on the first syllable.

How would I say this as a real/likely condition?

Use present indicative in both clauses:

Ef kaffið er kalt, panta ég vatn. (If the coffee is cold, I order water ≈ I’ll order water if the coffee is cold.)

How do I express the past counterfactual (“would have ordered”)?

Use the perfect conditional:

Ég hefði pantað vatn ef kaffið hefði verið kalt. That’s hefði + past participle in both clauses (pantað, verið).

How does "myndi" conjugate?

Across persons (singular → plural):

ég myndi, þú myndir, hann/hún/það myndi
við myndum, þið mynduð, þau/þeir/þær myndu Combine with an infinitive: myndi panta, myndir drekka, etc.