Ég þvæ munninn eftir kvöldmat.

I wash my mouth after dinner.

Breakdown of Ég þvæ munninn eftir kvöldmat.

• ég: I
• kvöldmat: the dinner
• eftir: after
• þvo: to wash
• munninn: the mouth

Questions & Answers about Ég þvæ munninn eftir kvöldmat.

What is the base (dictionary) form of þvæ, and what does it mean?

The verb form þvæ comes from the infinitive að þvo, which means “to wash”.

So:

• ég þvæ = I wash
• að þvo = to wash

Why does þvo change to þvæ in Ég þvæ munninn?

This is an irregular vowel change inside the verb stem, which is common in Icelandic.

For þvo in the present tense:

• ég þvæ – I wash
• þú þværð – you (sing.) wash
• hann/hún/það þvær – he/she/it washes
• við þvoum – we wash
• þið þvoið – you (pl.) wash
• þeir/þær/þau þvo – they wash

So þvæ is just the regular 1st person singular present form of þvo.

What exactly does munninn mean, and why is it not just munn?

munninn literally means “the mouth”:

• munnur – mouth (nominative, basic form)
• munninn – the mouth (definite, accusative here)

In this sentence:

• munninn is definite (marked by -inn, “the”)
• and it’s in the accusative case, because it is the direct object of the verb þvæ.

So Ég þvæ munninn = “I wash the mouth” (but in natural English we say “I wash my mouth”).

Why don’t we say Ég þvæ minn munn for “I wash my mouth”?

In Icelandic, it’s very common not to use a possessive pronoun (like minn = my) with body parts when it’s obvious whose body is meant.

Instead, Icelandic typically uses:

• a reflexive structure or
• the definite article on the noun.

So:

• Ég þvæ munninn. = literally “I wash the mouth” → understood as my mouth.

Using Ég þvæ minn munn is grammatical but sounds unusually emphatic or unnatural in most normal contexts, almost like stressing that it is specifically my mouth (contrasting with someone else’s).

What case is munninn in, and why?

munninn is in the accusative singular definite.

Reason:

• It is the direct object of the verb þvæ (“I wash what?” → munninn).
• Direct objects normally take the accusative in Icelandic.

Declension of munnur (“mouth”):

• Nominative: munnur – (a) mouth
• Accusative: munn – mouth (object)
• Dative: munni
• Genitive: munns

Definite forms (singular):

• Nominative: munnurinn – the mouth
• Accusative: munninn – the mouth (object)
• Dative: munninum
• Genitive: munnsins

Could I also say Ég þvæ mér munninn? Is that more correct?

You can say Ég þvæ mér munninn, and it is grammatical.

• Ég þvæ mér munninn. – literally “I wash myself the mouth.”

This uses a reflexive dative (mér) and a definite object (munninn). It often feels a bit more explicit or formal, like “I wash my mouth (on myself).”

However, Ég þvæ munninn is already clear and natural in everyday speech. Both forms are used; context and style decide which feels better.

What does eftir kvöldmat mean literally, and how is it built?

eftir kvöldmat literally means “after dinner”.

• eftir – after
• kvöldmat – dinner (accusative singular of kvöldmatur, “evening meal / dinner”)

So the full sentence:

• Ég þvæ munninn eftir kvöldmat.
  = “I wash my mouth after dinner.”

Which case does eftir take here, and why is it kvöldmat and not some other form?

Here eftir governs the accusative.

The noun kvöldmatur (“dinner”) declines (simplified):

• Nominative: kvöldmatur – dinner
• Accusative: kvöldmat – dinner (object / time expression)
• Dative: kvöldmat – (same spelling)
• Genitive: kvöldmatar

With time expressions like “after X (time/event)”, eftir typically takes the accusative, so you get eftir kvöldmat.

By coincidence, here accusative and dative look the same (kvöldmat), so you don’t see the difference in form, but grammatically it is accusative.

Can I move eftir kvöldmat to another position in the sentence?

Yes. Icelandic word order is fairly flexible, but the finite verb usually stays in second position.

Possible variants:

• Ég þvæ munninn eftir kvöldmat. – neutral, very natural.
• Eftir kvöldmat þvæ ég munninn. – emphasizes the time (“After dinner, I wash my mouth.”).

You cannot move words so that the verb loses its second-position role in a main clause, e.g.

• ✗ Eftir kvöldmat ég þvæ munninn. – ungrammatical.

How do you pronounce the letters þ and ð in this sentence?

In Ég þvæ munninn eftir kvöldmat.

• þ (thorn) in þvæ and eftir

  • Pronounced like unvoiced th in English “thing”.
  • So þvæ ≈ th-vai; eftir ≈ ef-tir (with th as in thing).

• ð (eth) does not appear in this sentence, but in general it’s the voiced th, like in English “this”, “that”.

Does this present tense mean “I am washing” right now, or a regular habit?

The Icelandic present tense covers both:

• Right now:

  • Context: You are standing at the sink after dinner.
  • Ég þvæ munninn eftir kvöldmat. – “I am washing my mouth after dinner (right now).”

• Habit / routine:

  • Context: Describing your daily routine.
  • Ég þvæ munninn eftir kvöldmat. – “I wash my mouth after dinner.”

Which meaning is intended depends on context, not on a different verb form.

Is there a difference between Ég þvæ munninn eftir kvöldmat and using another verb like bursta?

Yes, the nuance can change with the verb:

• Ég þvæ munninn eftir kvöldmat.

  • Focuses on washing the mouth in general (with water, maybe with soap in some contexts).

• Ég bursta tennurnar eftir kvöldmat.

  • bursta = “to brush”
  • This means “I brush my teeth after dinner.”

So þvo/þvæ is a general washing verb, while bursta is more specifically about brushing (hair, teeth, etc.).

Could the same structure be used for other body parts?

Yes, very naturally. The pattern Ég þvæ [body part in accusative + definite] is common:

• Ég þvæ hendurnar. – I wash (my) hands.
• Ég þvæ andlitið. – I wash (my) face.
• Ég þvæ hárið. – I wash (my) hair.

In each case, the definite form is used instead of a possessive pronoun, and it is normally understood as referring to your own body part.