Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Systkini hennar bókuðu borð á veitingastaðnum. - Her siblings booked a table at the restaurant.

Systkini is a neuter noun meaning "sibling(s)". Its nominative/accusative singular and plural look the same. Here it means "siblings" (more than one), so the verb is 3rd person plural past: bókuðu. A quick check is to swap in the pronoun: Þau bókuðu borð... ("They booked a table"). If it were one sibling: Eitt systkini bókaði borð...

Is systkini always plural? How do I say “one/two/three siblings”?

It can be singular or plural depending on context and agreement.

one sibling: eitt systkini
two siblings: tvö systkini
three siblings: þrjú systkini The verb agrees: Eitt systkini bókaði... vs Tvö systkini bókuðu...

Why does the possessive come after the noun (systkini hennar) instead of before like in English?

In Icelandic, possessives commonly follow the noun. Third‑person possessives hennar (her), hans (his), þeirra (their) are always postposed: systkini hennar, húsið hans. First/second person possessives (minn/þinn/okkar/ykkar/sinn) also usually come after: bróðir minn. So hennar must follow the noun; hennar systkini is unusual outside of special emphasis.

When do I use sín instead of hennar for “her”?

Sín is reflexive: it refers back to the subject of the same clause. Hennar refers to some other female.

Hún sagði að systkini sín bókuðu borð. = She said that her own siblings booked a table.
Hún sagði að systkini hennar bókuðu borð. = She said that her (another woman’s) siblings booked a table.

What exactly is bókuðu? How would the verb look in other forms?

It’s the 3rd person plural past of bóka (“to book”).

present: þau bóka
past: þau bókuðu
perfect: þau hafa bókað Past participle: bókað.

Is bóka borð the most natural way to say “reserve a table”?

Both bóka borð and panta borð are understood. Many speakers prefer panta borð for restaurants; bóka is very common for flights/hotels. Another option is taka frá borð (“set aside a table,” i.e., reserve).

Why is there no word for “a” before borð?

Icelandic has no indefinite article. Bare nouns serve that function. Bókuðu borð means “booked a table.” To say “the table,” use the suffixed definite article: borðið.

What case is borð, and why doesn’t it change?

It’s the direct object, so accusative singular. Many neuter nouns have identical nominative and accusative forms, so borð looks the same. The definite form would be borðið (nom/acc sg).

Why is it dative after á in á veitingastaðnum?

With location (being at/on), á takes dative: á veitingastaðnum = “at the restaurant.” With motion (to/onto), á takes accusative: fara á veitingastaðinn = “go to the restaurant.”

What’s inside the word veitingastaðnum?

base noun: veitingastaður (“restaurant,” literally veitinga- “refreshment/serving” + staður “place”)
case: dative singular for location: veitingastað
definite suffix: -num (dative singular “the”) Together: veitingastaðnum = “the restaurant” in dative.

How would I say “at a restaurant” instead?

Drop the definite ending: á veitingastað.

Can I move the place phrase earlier or put it before borð?

Neutral order is Subject–Verb–Object–Place: Systkini hennar bókuðu borð á veitingastaðnum. You can front the place for emphasis: Á veitingastaðnum bókuðu systkini hennar borð. Inserting it between verb and object (…bókuðu á veitingastaðnum borð) is odd in neutral discourse.

How would the sentence change with “brothers” or “sisters” instead of “siblings”?

Bræður hennar bókuðu borð á veitingastaðnum. (her brothers)
Systur hennar bókuðu borð á veitingastaðnum. (her sisters) Referring back, use þeir (masc), þær (fem); with systkini, use neuter þau.

Any quick pronunciation tips for tricky letters?

á ≈ “ow” in “cow.”
ó (in bókuðu) is long, like “boat.”
ð (in bókuðu/borð/veitingastaðnum) is a voiced th (as in “this”); in clusters it may be very soft.
ei (in veitinga-) ≈ “ay.” Very rough guide: Systkini hennar bókuðu borð á veitingastaðnum ≈ “SIST-kinny HEN-nar BOH-koo-thu borth ow VAY-ting-a-stath-num.”