Log inSign up

Eftir kvöldmat skola ég diskana og nota svamp til að ná fitunni af.

Eftir kvöldmat skola ég diskana og nota svamp til að ná fitunni af.
After dinner I rinse the dishes and use a sponge to get the grease off.
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Icelandic grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Icelandic now

Questions & Answers about Eftir kvöldmat skola ég diskana og nota svamp til að ná fitunni af.

Why does it start with Eftir kvöldmat and not something like Eftir kvöldmatur?

Because eftir (when meaning after) governs the accusative case in Icelandic.

  • kvöldmatur = nominative (dictionary form)
  • kvöldmat = accusative singular (eftir kvöldmat = after dinner)
Why is the word order skola ég (verb before ég) instead of ég skola?

Icelandic follows the V2 rule in main clauses: the finite verb typically comes second. Since Eftir kvöldmat is placed first, the verb skola comes next, and the subject ég follows:

  • Eftir kvöldmat (slot 1) + skola (slot 2) + ég (subject)

If you start with the subject, you get the more “plain” order:

  • Ég skola diskana eftir kvöldmat.
What tense is skola here, and how is it conjugated?

It’s present tense, 1st person singular of að skola (to rinse).

  • (ég) skola
  • (þú) skolar
  • (hann/hún/það) skolar
  • (við) skolum
  • (þið) skolið
  • (þeir/þær/þau) skola

Same idea for nota (present tense of að nota, to use): (ég) nota.

Why is it diskana and not diskar or diska?

diskana is accusative plural definite (“the dishes/plates”). It’s accusative because it’s the direct object of skola.

  • diskar = nominative plural (subject form)
  • diska = accusative plural indefinite (“(some) dishes”)
  • diskana = accusative plural definite (“the dishes”)
Is diskar “dishes” or “plates”? How do I know?

diskur literally means plate, but in daily speech it often works like “the dishes” in English when you’re talking about washing up. Context decides whether you mean plates specifically or dishware generally.

Why does the second verb appear as (ég) … og nota svamp without repeating ég?

Icelandic often omits repeating the subject when two verbs share it, just like English:

  • “I rinse the dishes and (I) use a sponge …”
    The ég is understood for nota as well.
Why is it nota svamp and not nota svampur or nota svampinn?

Because svamp here is the accusative singular object of nota (“use a sponge”).

  • svampur = nominative singular (dictionary form)
  • svamp = accusative singular (object form)
  • svampinn = accusative singular definite (“use the sponge”)

So nota svamp = “use a sponge,” while nota svampinn would imply a specific sponge already known.

What does til að do in til að ná …?

til að + infinitive expresses purpose: “in order to / to.”
So nota svamp til að ná … = “use a sponge to get …”

Why is it að ná and not just ná?

Because after til að, Icelandic uses the infinitive with að (similar to English “to”):

  • til að ná = “to manage/get (to do something)” / “to get (something off)”
Why is it fitunni (dative, definite) instead of something like fitu?

The verb ná commonly takes its object in the dative when it means “to get/obtain/reach,” and especially in patterns like ná einhverju af (“get something off (something)”).

  • fita = nominative
  • fitu = accusative (often after some verbs/prepositions)
  • fitunni = dative singular definite (“the grease”)

So ná fitunni af = “get the grease off.”

What is the function of af at the end? Why is it separated from the verb?

af here is a particle/preposition meaning off (of). Icelandic often places such particles after the object, similar to English “take it off”:

  • ná fitunni af ≈ “get the grease off”

You can think of ná … af as a fixed pattern: “remove/get … off.”

How do I pronounce some tricky parts like Eftir, kvöldmat, and fitunni?

A few helpful points (roughly):

  • Eftir: the ft is pronounced like ft; r is a rolled/tapped r.
  • kvöldmat: ö is like a rounded vowel (somewhere between “uh” and “er,” but with lip rounding); ldm cluster is normal in Icelandic.
  • fitunni: double nn affects the preceding vowel length (often shorter); u is like a rounded “u/oo” sound but typically more relaxed than English oo.

If you want, I can give IPA for each word in your preferred accent model (Icelandic standard).