Getið þér staðfest tímann fyrir símafundinn, eða þarf að fresta honum?

Because this is a yes/no question. In Icelandic, the finite verb typically comes first in this kind of question.

• Statement order: Þér getið staðfest tímann.
• Question order: Getið þér staðfest tímann?

This is similar to older or more formal English patterns like Can you confirm the time?

Þér is a formal/polite way of saying you to one person. It is less common in everyday modern Icelandic than it used to be, but it still appears in formal, respectful, or old-fashioned language.

So:

• þú = informal singular you
• þér = formal singular you

That means Getið þér... is more polite or formal than Geturðu... or Getur þú...

The verb is geta = to be able to / can. Here it is conjugated to match þér.

In the present tense:

• ég get
• þú getur
• hann/hún/það getur
• við getum
• þið getið
• þeir/þær/þau geta

With formal þér, Icelandic often uses the plural verb form, so you get getið.

That is why the sentence has Getið þér...

Because after geta, Icelandic normally uses the infinitive of the main verb.

So:

• geta = can / be able to
• staðfesta = to confirm

In the sentence, staðfest is the infinitive form used after getið. Some learners may expect staðfesta, but Icelandic infinitives can appear without the -a ending in some contexts in older, formal, or fixed-style writing. The important point for the learner is that it functions as the infinitive after geta: can confirm.

Tímann is the accusative singular definite form of tími = time.

Here, staðfesta takes a direct object, and that object must be in the accusative case. The speaker is talking about the time, not just time in general.

So:

• tími = time
• tímann = the time, as a direct object

That is why the sentence says staðfest tímann.

It means for the phone meeting.

Breakdown:

• fyrir = for
• símafundinn = the phone meeting

Here fyrir is being used in the sense of for or regarding the meeting.
Símafundinn is the accusative singular definite of símafundur.

So the phrase tells you what the time is connected to: the time for the phone meeting.

Because símafundur is a masculine noun, and here it appears in the accusative singular definite form.

Basic pattern:

• símafundur = a phone meeting
• símafundinn = the phone meeting

The ending changes because Icelandic nouns change form depending on case and definiteness.

This is a very common Icelandic structure.

• þarf = is needed / needs / must
• að fresta = to postpone
• honum = it / him in the dative

So þarf að fresta honum? means something like:

• does it need to be postponed?
• literally: is there a need to postpone it?

The subject is not stated explicitly as someone. Icelandic often uses þarf in an impersonal way like this.

Because the verb fresta takes the dative case.

You do not fresta something with a plain accusative object. You fresta einhverju = postpone something, where something is in the dative.

Since símafundur is masculine, the pronoun referring back to it is:

• nominative: hann
• accusative: hann
• dative: honum

So honum is correct because fresta requires the dative.

Eða means or. It links two alternatives:

1. Getið þér staðfest tímann fyrir símafundinn
2. þarf að fresta honum

So the overall structure is:

• Can you confirm the time for the phone meeting, or does it need to be postponed?

Not word for word, but it is the natural equivalent.

A more literal breakdown would be:

• þarf = there is a need / it is necessary
• að fresta honum = to postpone it

So the Icelandic phrasing is closer to is it necessary to postpone it?, while the English translation may be does it need to be postponed?

Both convey the same idea.

Yes. If you wanted to address someone informally, you would normally use þú instead of þér.

A less formal version would be something like:

• Geturðu staðfest tímann fyrir símafundinn, eða þarf að fresta honum?

or

• Getur þú staðfest tímann fyrir símafundinn, eða þarf að fresta honum?

Geturðu is especially common in natural speech and writing.

A learner should especially notice these:

• Verb-first word order in a yes/no question: Getið þér...
• Formal address with þér
• Infinitive after geta: staðfest
• Accusative direct object: tímann
• Prepositional phrase: fyrir símafundinn
• Impersonal þarf: þarf að...
• Dative after fresta: honum

So this one sentence is a good example of question word order, formality, case usage, and verb government in Icelandic.