Breakdown of Getið þér sagt mér hvenær næsti gjalddagi er?
vera
to be
geta
to be able
hvenær
when
næstur
next
Questions & Answers about Getið þér sagt mér hvenær næsti gjalddagi er?
Why does the sentence start with Getið þér? Does that mean Can you?
Yes. Getið þér means can you in a formal or polite style.
- getið = present tense of geta for þér
- þér = a formal you
So the opening literally works like Can you... ?
A less formal everyday version would usually be Geturðu... ?
Why is þér used here instead of þú?
Þér is the old formal way to address one person politely, similar to older European formal you systems.
So:
- þú = informal singular you
- þér = formal singular you
Because þér historically behaves like a plural form, the verb also appears in the plural form:
- Getur þú... ? = informal
- Getið þér... ? = formal
In modern Icelandic, þér can sound quite formal, stiff, or old-fashioned depending on the context. Many speakers today simply use þú even when being polite.
Why is it sagt and not segja?