Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Hlekkurinn í tölvupóstinum virkar ekki.

Hlekkur-inn = link-the (nominative singular, masculine; the subject)
í = in (preposition; with location it takes the dative)
tölvu-póst-inum = computer-mail-the (dative singular, masculine; “in the email”)
virk-ar = works (3rd person singular present of virka “to work/function”)
ekki = not (negation, placed after the finite verb)

Why is it hlekkurinn and not just hlekkur?

Because we’re referring to a specific link. Icelandic marks definiteness with a suffixed article. Hlekkur (a link) + -inn (the) = hlekkurinn (the link).

Why is tölvupóstinum in the dative case?

The preposition í uses the dative to express location (being “in” something). Since we mean “in the email” (static location), we use the dative singular definite: tölvupóstinum. The indefinite dative would be tölvupósti (“in an email”).

When would I use the accusative after í instead?

Use the accusative with í to express motion into something. For example: Settu skjalið í tölvupóstinn (“Put the file into the email”). Here tölvupóstinn is accusative singular definite.

Why is it virkar and not virka?

Virkar is the present tense 3rd person singular form of the verb virka (“to work/function”). The subject hlekkurinn is 3rd person singular, so the verb is virkar. Plural subjects would take virka (e.g., Hlekkirnir virka ekki).

Where does ekki go in a sentence like this?

In main clauses, ekki typically comes right after the finite verb: virkar ekki. With an auxiliary, it follows the auxiliary:

Hlekkurinn mun ekki virka (will not work)
Hlekkurinn hefur ekki virkað (has not worked)
Hlekkurinn virðist ekki virka (seems not to work)

Is this sentence an example of verb-second (V2) word order?

Yes. In main clauses, Icelandic is V2. The first slot is taken by one constituent (here the subject phrase Hlekkurinn í tölvupóstinum), and the finite verb virkar comes second. You can front the prepositional phrase and still keep V2: Í tölvupóstinum virkar hlekkurinn ekki.

Why í tölvupóstinum and not á tölvupóstinum?

Use í (“in”) for being inside or within something like an email message. Á (“on”) is common with surfaces or platforms (e.g., á vefsíðunni “on the website”). For email content, í tölvupóstinum is idiomatic.

Could I say “in an email” instead of “in the email”?

Yes. Use the indefinite dative: í tölvupósti (“in an email”). The definite version is í tölvupóstinum (“in the email”).

What’s the difference between hlekkur, tengill, and slóð?

hlekkur: the most common everyday word for a (hyper)link.
tengill: also means link/connector; used but feels a bit more technical or less common in casual speech.
slóð: literally “path/URL”; often used when referring to a web address itself.

Does tölvupóstur mean “email address”?

No. tölvupóstur means “email” (the medium or an email message). “Email address” is netfang. Example: Netfangið mitt er… (“My email address is …”).

How would I say “The links in the email don’t work” (plural)?

Hlekkirnir í tölvupóstinum virka ekki.

Hlekkirnir = the links (nominative plural definite)
virka = present plural

How could I add “you sent me” to the sentence?

Hlekkurinn í tölvupóstinum sem þú sendir mér virkar ekki.

sem þú sendir mér = “that you sent me” (note mér, dative “to me”)

Is there a more specific way to say “the link doesn’t open” instead of “doesn’t work”?

Yes: Hlekkurinn opnast ekki (“the link doesn’t open”) or Ég get ekki opnað hlekkinn (“I can’t open the link”).

How is this pronounced? Any tips?

hl is pronounced as a voiceless L; the h isn’t a separate sound.
kk is pronounced like a “kh” sound (as in ekki, which sounds like “EH-ki” with a breathy k).
ö (in tölvu) is like the vowel in British “nurse.”
ó (in póst-) is like the “o” in “owe.”
í is like “ee.”
Icelandic r is tapped/trilled, and primary stress is on the first syllable of each word.

Can I use a progressive-like form, as in “isn’t working right now”?

For general non-function, use the simple present: virkar ekki. To emphasize “right now,” you can add a time adverbial: virkar ekki núna or virkar ekki í augnablikinu. Forms like er ekki að virka can occur for ongoing processes, but for links the simple present plus a time phrase sounds most natural.