Questions & Answers about Hún snýr sér hægt við og brosir.
Why is it snýr sér við and not just snýr við?
Because snúa sér við is the usual reflexive expression for turn around or turn oneself around.
The word sér is the reflexive pronoun, meaning something like herself here. Icelandic often uses a reflexive pronoun in places where English does not.
So:
- snúa sér við = turn around
- literally, something close to turn oneself around
Without sér, the meaning would usually change or sound incomplete in this context.
What exactly is sér here?
Sér is the reflexive pronoun, used for himself / herself / itself / themselves depending on context.
In this sentence, since hún means she, sér means herself.
A useful point: sér does not change for gender. The subject tells you who it refers to.
Examples:
- Hún sér sig. = She sees herself.
- Hún snýr sér við. = She turns around.
In your sentence, sér is in the case required by the verb expression snúa sér við.
Why is the reflexive pronoun sér and not sig?