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Sendu mér nýjustu útgáfuna aftur, vinsamlegast.

Sendu mér nýjustu útgáfuna aftur, vinsamlegast.
Send me the newest version again, please.

Breakdown of Sendu mér nýjustu útgáfuna aftur, vinsamlegast.

aftur
again
mér
me
senda
to send
vinsamlegast
please
nýjastur
newest
útgáfan
the version
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Questions & Answers about Sendu mér nýjustu útgáfuna aftur, vinsamlegast.

Why does the verb look like Sendu and not the dictionary form senda?

senda is the infinitive (to send). Sendu is the imperative (command) form used when telling one person to do something (informal singular you).
So Sendu = Send (you)!

Is Sendu singular or plural? How would I say it to more than one person or more formally?

Sendu is singular informal (to one person: þú).
For plural/formal (to a group, or politely to someone you address as þið), you use Sendið.

  • Singular: Sendu mér ...
  • Plural/formal: Sendið mér ...
Why is it mér and not ég or mig?

Because the verb senda commonly takes:

  • a direct object (the thing sent) in the accusative
  • and the recipient in the dative

So mér is the dative form of ég (I/me) meaning to me.

Case forms (singular):

  • Nominative: ég
  • Accusative: mig
  • Dative: mér
  • Genitive: mín
What case is nýjustu útgáfuna, and how can I tell?

It’s accusative because it’s the direct object (the thing being sent). You can see it on:

  • útgáfuna = útgáfa (edition/version) + -na (definite, accusative singular)

So útgáfuna specifically means the edition/version as a direct object.

Why is the definite article attached to the noun (útgáfuna) instead of being a separate word like the?

In Icelandic, the normal definite article is a suffix attached to the noun:

  • útgáfa = an edition/version
  • útgáfan = the edition/version (nominative)
  • útgáfuna = the edition/version (accusative)

You can also use a separate demonstrative like þessi (this), but the basic the is usually attached.

What’s going on with nýjustu—why does it end in -u?

nýjustu is the superlative of nýr (new): newest/latest.
It’s agreeing with útgáfuna (a feminine singular noun in the accusative with a definite ending), and that particular agreement gives nýjustu here.

So: nýjustu útgáfuna = the latest version.

Does nýjustu mean newest or latest? Which is better here?

Both are possible in English, but in this context it’s usually best understood as latest (the most recent release/version).
So nýjustu útgáfuna is naturally the latest version.

What does aftur mean here? Is it “again” or “back”?

aftur can mean both again and back, depending on context.
In Sendu mér ... aftur, it commonly means again (re-send it). In many situations it also implies back (send it back to me), but with mér present, the practical meaning is usually send it to me again.

If you specifically wanted send it back in the sense of returning something, Icelandic often uses phrasing with til baka as well, depending on nuance.

Where does vinsamlegast go, and how polite is it?

vinsamlegast means please (literally something like most kindly). It’s polite and common in requests.
It can appear:

  • at the end: ..., vinsamlegast.
  • near the beginning: Vinsamlegast sendu mér ...
  • after the verb: Sendu mér ..., vinsamlegast.

Ending with vinsamlegast is very natural, especially in writing.

Why is there a comma before vinsamlegast?

The comma sets off vinsamlegast as a parenthetical politeness marker, similar to English: ..., please.
It’s optional in some informal contexts, but it’s a very common punctuation choice in Icelandic when vinsamlegast is tacked on at the end.

What’s the basic word order in this sentence?

It’s essentially: 1) Verb (imperative): Sendu
2) Indirect object (recipient, dative): mér
3) Direct object (thing, accusative): nýjustu útgáfuna
4) Adverb: aftur
5) Politeness marker: vinsamlegast

So: Sendu mér [thing] aftur, vinsamlegast.

How would pronunciation typically work for the tricky parts?

A few common points learners ask about:

  • Sendu: the e is short; nd is a normal cluster.
  • mér: é is a long vowel (roughly like yeh/eh depending on accent).
  • nýjustu: ý is a long vowel (front, rounded); j is like English y.
  • útgáfuna: ú is long; á is also a distinct Icelandic vowel; the -na is a clear final syllable.
  • vinsamlegast: stress is on the first syllable (VIN-), as is typical in Icelandic.