Þó að ég sé svangur, borða ég bara eina brauðsneið.

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Breakdown of Þó að ég sé svangur, borða ég bara eina brauðsneið.

• vera: to be
• borða: to eat
• svangur: hungry

Questions & Answers about Þó að ég sé svangur, borða ég bara eina brauðsneið.

Why does the sentence start with Þó að? What does that structure do?

Þó að means although / even though. It introduces a subordinate clause that sets up a contrast with the main clause.

So in:

Þó að ég sé svangur, borða ég bara eina brauðsneið.

the first part means Although I am hungry, and the second part gives the surprising or contrasting result: I only eat one slice of bread.

It is a very common way to express concession, like English although, even though, or despite the fact that.

Why is it ég sé and not ég er?

This is one of the most important grammar points in the sentence.

After þó að, Icelandic often uses the subjunctive mood, especially in more careful or standard language. That is why you get:

• ég er = I am (indicative)
• ég sé = I be / I am in the subjunctive

So:

• Þó að ég er svangur may sometimes be heard in casual usage, but
• Þó að ég sé svangur is the standard grammatical form learners are usually taught.

Here, sé is the present subjunctive form of vera (to be).

What exactly is sé?