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Breakdown of Staðfestingin er í tölvupóstinum.
vera
to be
í
in
tölvupósturinn
the email
staðfestingin
the confirmation
Questions & Answers about Staðfestingin er í tölvupóstinum.
Why does Staðfestingin end with -in?
The ending -in is the attached definite article for feminine nouns. The base noun is staðfesting (confirmation, fem.). In the nominative singular, the definite form is staðfestingin (the confirmation). Other common definite case forms:
- Accusative: staðfestinguna
- Dative: staðfestingunni
- Genitive: staðfestingarinnar
Why is tölvupóstinum in the dative and with the ending -num?
The preposition í takes the dative when it expresses location (being in/inside). The noun tölvupóstur (email, masc.) has dative singular tölvupósti; with the definite suffix it becomes tölvupóstinum. The -num ending is the regular definite dative singular ending for many masculine nouns.
When would í use the accusative instead?
Use the accusative after í for motion into something (change of location):
- Location (dative): Það er í tölvupóstinum. (It is in the email.)
- Motion (accusative): Ég set þetta í tölvupóstinn. (I put this into the email.)
What is the base form and plural of tölvupóstinum?
Base form (nominative singular): tölvupóstur (masc.).
- Dative singular indefinite: tölvupósti
- Dative singular definite: tölvupóstinum
- Dative plural indefinite: tölvupóstum
- Dative plural definite: tölvupóstunum (e.g., í tölvupóstunum = in the emails)
Could I say Staðfestingin er í tölvupósti instead?
Yes. Í tölvupósti (dative, no definite article) is more general and can mean “in an email” or even “by email.” Í tölvupóstinum points to a specific email you have in mind.
Why not use á (on) instead of í (in)?
Í is used for inside/within containers or bounded spaces, which fits the idea of something being inside an email message. Á is “on/at” and is used for surfaces or platforms (e.g., á netinu = on the internet). For an email, Icelandic prefers í.
How do the definite articles work here? Why isn’t there a separate word for “the”?
Icelandic attaches the definite article as a suffix to the noun:
- staðfesting → staðfestingin (the confirmation)
- tölvupósti → tölvupóstinum (in the email) There’s no separate word like English “the.”
What are the genders of the nouns, and does that matter?
- Staðfesting is feminine. Refer back to it with hún (she/it): Hún er í tölvupóstinum.
- Tölvupóstur is masculine. This affects case endings and agreement with adjectives/possessives.
Is tölvupóstur countable or mass?
Both, depending on context.
- Countable: Ég fékk tvo tölvupósta. (I got two emails.)
- As “an email” in everyday speech: Ég sendi þér tölvupóst. (I’ll send you an email.)
- General medium: Fékk þetta í tölvupósti. (Got this by email.)
What does the compound tölvupóstur literally mean, and why tölvu-?
It’s a compound of tölva (computer) + póstur (mail). In compounds, the first noun often appears in the genitive singular, so tölva → tölvu-, giving tölvupóstur (“computer mail”).
Can I just say póstur for email?
Póstur means mail/post in general (often physical mail). In context some speakers may shorten to póstur for email, but tölvupóstur is clear and standard for email.
What’s the word order here? Can I move things around?
Icelandic main clauses are V2 (the finite verb is in second position). Both are fine:
- Staðfestingin er í tölvupóstinum.
- Núna er staðfestingin í tölvupóstinum. (Now the confirmation is in the email.) You can place an adverb or topic first, but keep the verb second.
How do I ask “Where is the confirmation?” and answer with this sentence?
- Question: Hvar er staðfestingin?
- Answer: Hún er í tölvupóstinum.
How do I say “the confirmation is in my/your email”?
Two common options:
- Preposed possessive (no suffixed article): Staðfestingin er í mínum/þínum tölvupósti.
- Postposed possessive (keep the article): Staðfestingin er í tölvupóstinum mínum/þínum. Both are idiomatic; the second is a bit more formal/bookish.
What are the past and plural forms with vera (to be) here?
- Present singular: er (as in the sentence)
- Past singular: var → Staðfestingin var í tölvupóstinum.
- Present plural: eru → Staðfestingarnar eru í tölvupóstinum.
- Past plural: voru → Staðfestingarnar voru í tölvupóstinum.
How do I make “confirmation” plural and definite?
- Plural nominative: staðfestingar (confirmations)
- Plural nominative definite: staðfestingarnar (the confirmations) Example: Staðfestingarnar eru í tölvupóstunum. (the confirmations are in the emails)
Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?
- Stress the first syllable of each word: STað-festingin, ER, Í, TÖL-vupóstinum.
- á as in “ow” (like English “cow”).
- ð is the voiced th in “this.”
- í is a long “ee.”
- ö is like the vowel in British “bird,” but with rounded lips.
- ó is a long “oh.”
- The cluster ng is a velar nasal (as in English “sing”). A rough guide: “STHAUTH-festing-in air ee TUL-vu-POST-in-um.”
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