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Ég vista skrána á tölvunni áður en fundurinn byrjar.

Ég vista skrána á tölvunni áður en fundurinn byrjar.
I save the file on the computer before the meeting starts.

Breakdown of Ég vista skrána á tölvunni áður en fundurinn byrjar.

ég
I
á
on
byrja
to start
áður en
before
fundurinn
the meeting
tölvan
the computer
vista
to save
skráin
the file
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Questions & Answers about Ég vista skrána á tölvunni áður en fundurinn byrjar.

Why is it vista and not vistar?

Because the verb agrees with the subject:

  • Ég vista = I save (1st person singular, present)
  • Hann/hún/það vistar = he/she/it saves (3rd person singular, present)

So vistar would only be correct with a 3rd-person subject, not with Ég.

What exactly does vista mean here, and is it the normal word for “save (a file)”?

Vista is a very common computer/tech verb meaning to save (a file/document). It’s the straightforward choice in this context.
You may also see:

  • geyma = store/keep (more general; can be used for saving data, but feels broader)
  • spara = save in the sense of save money / save time / economize (not the usual “save a file” verb)
Why is it skrána instead of skrá?

skrána is:

  • skrá (file) + the definite article (the) + the required case ending

So:

  • skrá = a file
  • skrána = the file

Also, vista typically takes a direct object in the accusative case, and skrána is accusative singular definite of the feminine noun skrá.

How do I know that skrá is feminine, and does that affect the endings?

Yes—gender strongly affects endings in Icelandic. Skrá is feminine, which is why the definite accusative singular ends up as -na here (skrána).
If the noun were masculine or neuter, the definite endings would look different.

Why is it á tölvunni (with -unni), and what case is that?

tölvunni is dative singular definite of tölva (computer).

The preposition á changes case depending on meaning:

  • á + dative = location/state (on/at, no movement)
  • á + accusative = motion onto something (movement toward/onto)

So:

  • á tölvunni = on/at the computer (location)
  • á tölvuna = onto the computer (movement) — usually only in physical/spatial scenarios, not “saving a file”
Why does Icelandic say á tölvunni (“on the computer”) instead of í tölvunni (“in the computer”)?

Icelandic often uses á where English might prefer on or in, especially for “using/at a device” or “on a system/platform.” Á tölvunni is the natural phrasing for doing something on a computer.

Í tölvunni is possible, but it tends to sound more like inside the computer (physically inside the machine, or “within the computer’s contents”), depending on context.

What is áður en doing, and does it always introduce a clause?

Áður en means before and is commonly used to introduce a subordinate clause:

  • áður en fundurinn byrjar = before the meeting starts

It can also be used with an infinitive-style structure in some contexts (often with að), but the most common everyday pattern is exactly what you see here: áður en + finite verb clause.

Why is the word order áður en fundurinn byrjar and not something like áður en byrjar fundurinn?

In Icelandic:

  • Main clauses usually follow verb-second (V2) word order.
  • Subordinate clauses (like the one after áður en) typically do not use V2.

So in the subordinate clause you normally get:

  • subject + verb → fundurinn byrjar

That’s why byrjar fundurinn would sound odd here.

Why is it fundurinn and not fundarinn or some other form?

Fundurinn is:

  • fundur (meeting) + definite article (the) in nominative singular

It’s nominative because fundurinn is the subject of byrjar (starts).
So:

  • fundur = a meeting
  • fundurinn = the meeting
How would I change the tense (past or future) in this sentence?

Common, natural options:

Past:

  • Ég vistaði skrána á tölvunni áður en fundurinn byrjaði.
    = I saved the file on the computer before the meeting started.

Future (using mun):

  • Ég mun vista skrána á tölvunni áður en fundurinn byrjar.
    = I will save the file on the computer before the meeting starts.

You can also use present tense for near-future plans in Icelandic, but mun is the clearest “will.”

Any pronunciation traps in this sentence for English speakers?

A few common ones:

  • Stress is almost always on the first syllable: VÍ-sta, SKRÁ-na, TÖL-vun-ni, Á-ður, FÚN-dur-inn, BYR-jar.
  • Ég: the g is very soft (often like a light y sound in casual speech).
  • á is like ow in now (but cleaner/shorter in many accents).
  • ö (as in tölvunni) is not English o; it’s closer to German ö / French eu.
  • ð (in áður) is like th in this (voiced), though it can be very weak depending on surrounding sounds.
  • -nn- in tölvunni is long/held a bit: -un-ni.