Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Við förum í ferðalag í sumar.

the plan is quite definite, and
the future time is made clear by an adverbial, like „í sumar“ (this summer), „á morgun“ (tomorrow), etc.

So „Við förum í ferðalag í sumar“ literally is “We go on a trip in summer”, but because of „í sumar“, it is naturally understood as future: We’re going / We’re going to go on a trip this summer.

Which preposition is „í“, and why is it used here with „ferðalag“?

„Í“ is the preposition meaning “in / into / to”, depending on context.

It normally works like this:

with movement/direction → accusative case
with static location → dative case

Here, „fara í ferðalag“ expresses going into / onto a trip (movement, starting an activity), so „ferðalag“ is in the accusative after „í“.

So:

„í + ferðalag“ (accusative) = to go on a trip (movement, starting the trip)
Compare: „Ég er í ferðalagi“ (dative) = I am on a trip (already there, location/state)

What kind of noun is „ferðalag“, and what form is it in this sentence?

„Ferðalag“ is:

a compound noun: ferð (trip/journey) + -lag (a nominalizing ending)
neuter gender
singular

In „Við förum í ferðalag í sumar“, it is:

accusative singular neuter
indefinite (no article)

So grammatically it’s: í + ferðalag (prep + acc. sg. neut.).
Meaning-wise, it’s just “a trip / a journey” here, with no special article.

Why don’t we use a definite form or an article, like „í ferðalagið“, if in English we might say “on the trip”?

In Icelandic, the definite form is used only when a specific, known trip is meant. For example:

„Við förum í ferðalag í sumar.“
= We are going on a trip this summer. (some trip, not specified)
„Við förum í ferðalagið í sumar.“
= We are going on the trip this summer. (a particular trip everyone already knows about)

In English, speakers sometimes say “the trip” even when it’s not very specific. Icelandic is stricter: you use the definite form only when the trip is clearly identified in the context.

Is „í ferðalag“ an idiom? Could I also say „í ferð“?

Yes, „fara í ferðalag“ is a common phrase meaning “to go on a trip / journey”.
You can also say:

„fara í ferð“ – also “go on a trip”, often a bit shorter/more general.
„fara í bíltúr“ – go for a drive.
„fara í ferðalag með…“ – go on a trip with…

So „í ferðalag“ is not a strange idiom; it’s a natural way to say “on a trip”, very close to English in structure.

What does „í sumar“ literally mean, and is its position at the end fixed?

„Í sumar“ literally means “in summer”, but idiomatically “this summer” (the coming or current summer, depending on context).

About word order:

„Við förum í ferðalag í sumar.“ – neutral word order, very natural.
You can move it for emphasis or style:
- „Í sumar förum við í ferðalag.“ – emphasizes the time (“This summer, we’re going on a trip.”)
- „Við förum í sumar í ferðalag.“ – possible, but less usual; can sound slightly marked.

In everyday speech, putting the time expression at the end like in the original sentence is the most common and neutral choice.

What is the difference between „í sumar“ and „á sumrin“?

„í sumar“ = this summer (one specific summer, usually the upcoming one)
„á sumrin“ = in (the) summers / in summer(s) (generally, habitually)

Examples:

„Við förum í ferðalag í sumar.“
We’re going on a trip this summer (one particular occasion).
„Við förum oft í ferðalög á sumrin.“
We often go on trips in the summers / in summer (every summer, as a habit).

How would the sentence change if I used „ætlum að fara“, like „Við ætlum að fara í ferðalag í sumar“?

„Ætla að“ + infinitive is used to express intention / plan.

„Við förum í ferðalag í sumar.“
= We’re going on a trip this summer. (stated fact / decided plan)
„Við ætlum að fara í ferðalag í sumar.“
= We intend / plan to go on a trip this summer.

Both describe a future trip, but:

„ætlum að fara“ highlights the intention or plan.
simple „förum“ sounds more definite and a bit more matter‑of‑fact.

How do you pronounce „förum“ and „ferðalag“?

Approximate English-friendly pronunciation (not IPA):

„förum“ ≈ “FUR-um”
- ö is like German ö / French eu, similar to the vowel in English “fur” (but shorter).
- r is rolled or tapped.
- Stress on the first syllable: FÖ-rum.
„ferðalag“ ≈ “FER-tha-lag”
- fer: like English “fair” but shorter.
- ð is a voiced th as in “this”.
- the a in -lag is like the a in “father” but short.
- Stress on the first syllable: FER-ða-lag.

What is the plural of „ferðalag“, and how would you say “We go on trips in summer”?

The plural of „ferðalag“ (nom./acc.) is „ferðalög“.

One natural way to say “We go on trips in summer” is:

„Við förum í ferðalög á sumrin.“

Breakdown:

Við – we
förum – go (1st pl. pres.)
í ferðalög – on trips (acc. pl.)
á sumrin – in the summers / in summer (habitual)

How do you turn „Við förum í ferðalag í sumar.“ into a yes–no question?

In Icelandic, you typically keep the same word order and use a question intonation, or add a question word like „áttu“/„ert þú“ etc. for more complex questions. For a plain yes–no question here, the simplest is:

„Förum við í ferðalag í sumar?“
(verb förum comes first)

This is the standard V2 (verb-second) structure, but in questions the finite verb can appear first:

Statement: Við förum í ferðalag í sumar.
Question: Förum við í ferðalag í sumar? – Are we going on a trip this summer?

Can I start the sentence with „Í sumar“, like „Í sumar förum við í ferðalag“? Does that change the meaning?

Yes, that word order is correct:

„Í sumar förum við í ferðalag.“

This mainly changes emphasis, not the basic meaning:

„Við förum í ferðalag í sumar.“ – neutral; the statement is about the trip.
„Í sumar förum við í ferðalag.“ – puts focus on the time (“This summer, we’re going on a trip (as opposed to some other time)”).

Both mean that you are going on a trip this summer; it’s just a matter of stylistic emphasis.