In English, questions with two distinct choices simply connect the options with "or". In Icelandic, these "A or B" questions are introduced with the word hvort ("which of two"). Placing it at the beginning of the sentence immediately signals a choice between specific alternatives.
The Basic Structure
Because hvort acts as a question word, the verb immediately follows it. You then present the two alternatives, linking them with eða (or).
| Did you take the beef or the pork from the buffet? | Hvort tókstu nautakjötið eða svínakjötið af hlaðborðinu? |
| Is she going to choose the shellfish or the meat? | Hvort ætlar hún að velja skelfiskinn eða kjötið? |
Describing Options
This structure also works for asking about properties or conditions, like dietary restrictions:
| Do all the desserts need to be vegan or dairy-free? | Hvort þurfa allir eftirréttirnir að vera vegan eða mjólkurlausir? |
Full Clauses and "Or Not"
The alternatives do not have to be single words. You can offer a choice between an action "or not" (eða ekki):
| Is the catering service going to the wedding reception or not? | Hvort fer veitingaþjónustan í brúðkaupsveisluna eða ekki? |
Both sides of eða can also contain their own verbs to express two completely different scenarios:
| Is this food dairy-free, or is there butter in it? | Hvort er þessi matur mjólkurlaus eða er smjör í honum? |
| Does the guest eat from the buffet, or get his own dish? | Hvort borðar gesturinn af hlaðborðinu eða fær hann réttinn sinn? |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io