Þetta krydd er nýtt fyrir mig, en það passar vel með kjúklingi.

Because krydd is a neuter singular noun, and the demonstrative must agree with it.

In the nominative singular:

• þessi is used with masculine and feminine nouns
• þetta is used with neuter nouns

So:

• þetta krydd = this spice / this seasoning

In Icelandic, if you already have a demonstrative like þetta (this), you normally do not add the suffixed definite article to the noun.

So the natural form is:

• þetta krydd = this spice

Using both a demonstrative and the definite ending can sound overly heavy or specially emphatic.

Krydd usually means spice, seasoning, or sometimes flavoring.

In this sentence, it is best understood as:

• this spice
• or this seasoning

Like English, the exact translation depends on context. It could refer to a specific spice, a spice blend, or a seasoning in general.

Because the adjective has to agree with krydd, which is neuter singular.

The adjective nýr (new) changes by gender:

• nýr = masculine
• ný = feminine
• nýtt = neuter

So:

• krydd is neuter
• therefore nýtt is the correct form

This is true even though the adjective comes after er. It is still describing krydd, so it agrees with it.

Here fyrir mig means something like to me or for me, and the whole phrase:

• nýtt fyrir mig

means:

• new to me

So the idea is not that the spice is newly made, but that it is unfamiliar to the speaker.

Learners often want to translate this word for word, but it is better to learn the whole chunk:

• vera nýtt fyrir mér/mig = to be new to someone

In this sentence, just understand nýtt fyrir mig as the natural equivalent of new to me.

Það means it here, and it refers back to krydd.

So:

• það passar vel = it goes well

Since krydd is a neuter noun, the pronoun used to refer to it is also neuter:

• það

This is very normal in Icelandic; instead of repeating krydd, the sentence uses a pronoun.

The verb passa can mean fit, suit, match, or go well with, depending on context.

In food contexts:

• passa vel með = go well with
• pair well with

So:

• það passar vel með kjúklingi means:
• it goes well with chicken
• or it pairs well with chicken

This verb is also used in other contexts, for example with colors, clothes, or objects that match each other.

Because the preposition með (with) takes the dative case.

The base form is:

• kjúklingur = chicken

But after með, it changes to the dative singular:

• með kjúklingi = with chicken

So the form kjúklingi is there because of the preposition með.

Because en means but, and after it Icelandic usually continues with normal main-clause word order unless another element is moved to the front.

So here the order is:

• það = subject
• passar = verb
• vel með kjúklingi = rest of the clause

This is the most straightforward order:

• en það passar vel með kjúklingi

You can change the order for emphasis, for example:

• en með kjúklingi passar það vel

But the original version is the most neutral and natural.