Þetta er handa þér.

to be

Breakdown of Þetta er handa þér.

• þetta: this
• þér: you
• handa: for (someone's benefit)

Questions & Answers about Þetta er handa þér.

Why is it þetta? Does it just mean this?

Yes. Þetta means this in the sentence.

More specifically, þetta is the neuter singular form of the demonstrative þessi (this). Icelandic often uses þetta very naturally when presenting or pointing out something in a general way, especially in sentences like:

• Þetta er gott. — This is good.
• Hvað er þetta? — What is this?
• Þetta er handa þér. — This is for you.

So even if the thing itself might be, for example, a book or a gift with its own gender, þetta is still very common when you mean this thing / this here.

What does er mean here?

Er means is.

It is the present tense, third-person singular form of the verb vera (to be).

So:

• þetta = this
• er = is
• handa þér = for you

Altogether: This is for you.

What does handa mean?