Á þriðjudag hittumst við á torginu gegnt kirkjunni klukkan ellefu.

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Breakdown of Á þriðjudag hittumst við á torginu gegnt kirkjunni klukkan ellefu.

• á: on
• klukka: the clock
• á: in

Questions & Answers about Á þriðjudag hittumst við á torginu gegnt kirkjunni klukkan ellefu.

Why is the word order Á þriðjudag hittumst við instead of Á þriðjudag við hittumst?

Because Icelandic main clauses normally follow a verb-second pattern. If you put a time expression first, like Á þriðjudag, the finite verb usually comes next, and the subject follows it:

Á þriðjudag + hittumst + við

If you started with the subject instead, that would also be correct:

Við hittumst á þriðjudag ...

But once Á þriðjudag is in first position, hittumst is expected in second position.

What exactly does hittumst mean, and why is it one word?

Hittumst comes from the verb hittast, which means to meet each other / to meet.

The ending -st is very important. It often gives a verb a middle/reflexive/reciprocal sense. So:

• hitta = meet, find, or run into someone
• hittast = meet each other

So hittumst við means we meet or we meet each other.

It is one word because this -st ending is built into the verb form, not written as a separate word.

How do I know whether hittumst is present, past, or future here?