Breakdown of Ýttu ekki of fast á takkann; hann virkar ekki.
Questions & Answers about Ýttu ekki of fast á takkann; hann virkar ekki.
Because it’s an imperative (a command). Icelandic imperatives often omit the subject, just like English Don’t press the button (not You don’t press the button).
If you want to include it for emphasis, you could add þú (singular) or þið (plural), depending on who you’re addressing.
Ýttu is the 2nd person plural imperative of ýta (to push/press). It’s used for:
- addressing more than one person (you all), and
- often as a polite way to address one person (similar in function to formal you in some languages).
(Depending on context, ýttu can also be a past tense form (they pushed / you (pl.) pushed), but in this sentence it’s clearly intended as a command.)
A rough guide (not a perfect IPA transcription):
- Ýttu ≈ EET-tuh (with a clear tt sound)
- ekki ≈ EHK-kee (often with a khy/ky-like sound depending on accent)
- of ≈ ov (the f is usually voiced like v here)
- fast ≈ fahst (short a)
- á ≈ ow (like au in caught for many speakers)
- takkann ≈ TAHK-kahn
- hann ≈ hahn
- virkar ≈ VIR-kar
- ekki again ≈ EHK-kee
Also: Icelandic stress is usually on the first syllable of each word.
In Icelandic, the normal pattern for a negative command is:
- Imperative verb + ekki
So Ýttu ekki ... = Don’t press ...
This is very typical and is the default placement learners should copy.
of means too (as in too hard / too much). It usually goes right before the adjective/adverb it modifies:
- of fast = too hard / too firmly
So the order ekki of fast is basically: not too hard.
It functions as an adverb describing how you press:
- ýta fast = press hard
Icelandic often uses forms that look like adjectives to function adverbially in this kind of “manner” meaning.
ýta á is a very common collocation meaning press (on), especially for buttons, switches, keys, etc.
So Ýttu ... á takkann is literally Push/press on the button.
Because it’s:
1) the noun takki (button)
2) in the accusative case (required here after á in this “press onto” meaning), and
3) with the definite article attached as a suffix (the).
So:
- takki = a button (nominative, indefinite)
- takkann = the button (accusative, definite)
Many Icelandic prepositions change case depending on meaning. á can govern:
- accusative for movement/impact/contact directed onto something (press onto, put onto, hit onto)
- dative more for location/state (on, resting on)
Pressing a button is conceptualized as an action directed onto it → accusative → á takkann.
hann means he/it and refers back to takki (button), which is masculine in Icelandic.
Icelandic pronouns agree with the grammatical gender of the noun, so a button can be hann because takki is masculine.
virkar is present tense, 3rd person singular of virka (to work / function), matching hann:
- hann virkar = it works
- hann virkar ekki = it doesn’t work
Icelandic commonly uses present tense here just like English does.
Yes, semicolons are used in Icelandic similarly to English: to join two closely related clauses.
You could also write:
- Ýttu ekki of fast á takkann. Hann virkar ekki. (two sentences)
- or use a dash for a more conversational feel.
The meaning stays essentially the same; it’s mostly a style/punctuation choice.
Yes: double consonants are meaningful in Icelandic spelling and usually signal a shorter preceding vowel and a clearer/stronger consonant articulation.
- Ýttu has a clear tt sound.
- takkann has kk, and the a is short.
For learners, it’s a good habit to notice and pronounce double consonants distinctly.