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Þegar afmælisbarnið kemur, segjum við: „Til hamingju!“

Þegar afmælisbarnið kemur, segjum við: „Til hamingju!“
When the birthday person arrives, we say: “Happy birthday!”

Breakdown of Þegar afmælisbarnið kemur, segjum við: „Til hamingju!“

við
we
segja
to say
þegar
when
koma
to arrive
afmælisbarnið
the birthday person
til hamingju
happy birthday
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Questions & Answers about Þegar afmælisbarnið kemur, segjum við: „Til hamingju!“

What does Þegar mean here, and does it change the grammar of the clause that follows?

Þegar means when (sometimes closer to whenever/once depending on context). It introduces a subordinate (dependent) clause: Þegar afmælisbarnið kemur.
In Icelandic, subordinate clauses typically keep normal subject–verb order (subject before verb), which is exactly what you see: afmælisbarnið (subject) + kemur (verb).

Why is there a comma after kemur?

It’s the standard punctuation rule: when a subordinate clause (introduced by þegar, ef, því að, etc.) comes first, it’s usually followed by a comma before the main clause.
So: Þegar … kemur, segjum við …

Why does the main clause say segjum við instead of við segjum?

Because Icelandic follows a verb-second (V2) pattern in main clauses: the finite verb tends to be the second “unit” in the sentence.
When you start the sentence with an adverbial/subordinate clause (Þegar afmælisbarnið kemur), that whole part counts as the first unit, so the verb comes next:

  • Þegar afmælisbarnið kemur, segjum við …
    If the sentence began directly with the subject, you’d get:
  • Við segjum: …
What do kemur and segjum tell me about tense—and can kemur mean future?
  • kemur is present tense of koma (to come), 3rd person singular.
  • segjum is present tense of segja (to say), 1st person plural (we say).
    Icelandic often uses the present tense for events that are effectively future in English, especially in time clauses: Þegar … kemur can mean When … comes/When … will come depending on context.
What exactly does afmælisbarnið mean, and can it refer to an adult?

afmælisbarnið literally looks like birthday + child, but in actual usage it means the birthday person (the one whose birthday it is), and it can absolutely refer to adults as well as children.
It’s also a handy gender-neutral way to refer to the person being celebrated.

How is afmælisbarnið built, and why is there an -s- in the middle?

It’s a compound:

  • afmæli = birthday (literally “anniversary day”)
  • barn = child
  • -ið = the definite article suffix (the) for neuter singular
    The -s- is a very common linking genitive/compound connector in Icelandic compounds (often reflecting a genitive relationship), roughly like “birthday’s child/person” → “birthday person.”
Why does afmælisbarnið end in -ið?

The -ið is the definite article attached to a neuter noun in the singular (nominative/accusative).
So barn = a child, but barnið = the child. With the compound, afmælisbarnið = the birthday person (the specific person whose birthday it is).

What does Til hamingju literally mean, and why is hamingju in that form?

Til hamingju is the standard way to say Congratulations!
Literally, it’s something like to happiness / for happiness. The key grammar point: til governs the genitive case, and hamingju is the genitive singular of hamingja (happiness/fortune).

Is Til hamingju! only for birthdays? What are common alternatives?

No—Til hamingju! is used for congratulations in many situations (birthdays, achievements, engagements, etc.).
For birthdays specifically, you’ll also commonly hear:

  • Til hamingju með afmælið! = Congratulations on your birthday / Happy birthday
  • Til hamingju með daginn! = Congratulations on the day (a birthday idiom)
Why does the sentence use a colon and those quotation marks: segjum við: „…“?

The colon introduces direct speech (what is said). Icelandic often uses a colon here, similar to English writing.
The quotation marks „ … “ are the standard Icelandic-style quotes (low opening, high closing). In plainer contexts (or informal typing), you may also see other quote styles, but „ … “ is the conventional printed form.

Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts like Þegar and afmælisbarnið?

A few high-impact points:

  • Þ (thorn) is like English unvoiced th in think: Þegar starts like TH.
  • g in Þegar is usually a soft voiced fricative [ɣ]-like sound (not a hard English g).
  • In afmæli-, the f often sounds closer to a p before m in natural speech (many learners hear something like ap-).
  • ð (eth) at the end of barnið is like the voiced th in this (and can be quite soft in fast speech).