Ég tek ekki símann á fundi.

Tek is the 1st person singular present tense of the verb taka (to take).

So:

• að taka = to take
• ég tek = I take

In this sentence, the subject is ég (I), so the verb has to match that subject:

• Ég tek = I take / I answer

This is one of those verbs where the present tense form does not look very similar to the infinitive, so it is worth memorizing:

• ég tek
• þú tekur
• hann/hún/það tekur

In a normal Icelandic main clause, ekki (not) usually comes after the finite verb.

So:

• Ég tek ekki símann = I do not answer the phone

This is different from English, where we usually need do not:

• English: I do not answer the phone
• Icelandic: I answer not the phone

That is a very common Icelandic pattern:

• Ég veit ekki. = I do not know.
• Hún kemur ekki. = She is not coming / She does not come.

Símann is the accusative singular definite form of sími (phone).

The verb taka takes a direct object, and here the phone is that object. In Icelandic, direct objects are often in the accusative case.

So:

• sími = a phone / phone (nominative)
• símann = the phone (accusative with the suffixed definite article)

The ending changes because Icelandic nouns change form depending on their role in the sentence.

It literally means take the phone, but in normal usage it often means answer the phone.

So in this sentence, the natural English meaning is:

• I don’t answer the phone in meetings

This is a very common expression in Icelandic. So even though the verb is literally take, learners should understand taka símann as a set phrase meaning pick up / answer the phone.

Fundi is the dative singular of fundur (meeting).

It appears in the dative because it comes after the preposition á. With location or being somewhere, á often takes the dative.

So:

• fundur = meeting
• á fundi = at a meeting / in a meeting

This is a very common pattern:

• á borði = on a table
• á skrifstofu = at an office
• á fundi = at a meeting

Á fundi means at a meeting in a general sense.

There is no definite article here, so it sounds like:

• at a meeting
• while in a meeting

If you say á fundinum, that means at the meeting — a specific meeting already known from the context.

So the difference is:

• á fundi = at a meeting
• á fundinum = at the meeting

In your sentence, á fundi sounds natural if the meaning is general or habitual: I don’t answer the phone when I’m in meetings.

Normally, it sounds like a general habit or rule:

• Ég tek ekki símann á fundi. = I don’t answer the phone in meetings.

The present tense in Icelandic, just like in English, can describe something habitual or generally true.

Without more context, this sentence is most naturally understood as:

• I don’t answer the phone during meetings
• I never pick up the phone when I’m in a meeting

It could refer to the present situation in some contexts, but the most natural reading is habitual.

Yes, Icelandic word order is somewhat flexible, but the version you have is the most neutral and natural.

Standard order:

• Ég tek ekki símann á fundi.

You can move parts of the sentence for emphasis, for example:

• Á fundi tek ég ekki símann.

That puts more focus on á fundi (in meetings / at meetings).

But something like:

• Ég tek símann ekki á fundi is much less natural in ordinary Icelandic.

So for learners, the safest version is:

• subject + finite verb + ekki + object + other information

Icelandic often puts the definite article onto the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like English the.

So:

• sími = phone / a phone
• símann = the phone

This is very common in Icelandic. The article is not a separate word; it is attached to the noun and changes with case, number, and gender.

That is why you see símann instead of something like the phone as two words.

Both are possible in English.

• at a meeting is a very direct translation
• in a meeting is often the most natural English phrasing in this context

So the sentence could be understood as:

• I don’t answer the phone at meetings
• I don’t answer the phone in meetings

If the meaning shown to the learner is something like I don’t answer the phone in meetings, that is a very natural translation.

Here are the dictionary forms:

• Ég → ég = I
• tek → taka = to take
• ekki → ekki = not
• símann → sími = phone
• á → á = on, at, in
• fundi → fundur = meeting

This is useful because Icelandic words often change form in actual sentences, especially verbs and nouns.