Staðfestingin er í tölvupóstinum.

The confirmation is in the email.

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.”