In English, we often use "where" for location, destination, or origin in a relative clause. In Icelandic, direction matters. When describing the journeys of a migratory bird (farfuglinn), you need specific phrases to show whether it is traveling toward or away from a destination.
Þangað sem (To where)
When an action involves movement towards a location, use þangað sem (to where). It is used with verbs of motion, such as flying, or even when directing one's gaze.
| The migratory bird flies to where it lays eggs. | Farfuglinn flýgur þangað sem hann verpir. |
| The chick looks to where the food is. | Unginn horfir þangað sem fæðan er. |
| When the season changes, they fly to where it is warm. | Þegar árstíðin breytist fljúga þeir þangað sem hlýtt er. |
Þaðan sem (From where)
When describing movement away from a location, use þaðan sem (from where). It often describes a starting point, an origin, or a vantage point.
| I want to see the country from where the migratory bird comes. | Mig langar að sjá landið þaðan sem farfuglinn kemur. |
| The migratory birds come from Africa, from where they fly in the spring. | Farfuglarnir koma frá Afríku, þaðan sem þeir fljúga á vorin. |
| The chicks look down from the nest, from where they see the forest. | Ungarnir horfa niður úr hreiðrinu, þaðan sem þeir sjá skóginn. |
Distant Places
These directional clauses are especially useful for describing long journeys, such as flights between the tropics (hitabeltið) and a bird's breeding grounds.
| Africa is a distant place from where the migratory bird comes. | Afríka er fjarlægur staður þaðan sem farfuglinn kemur. |
| The tropics are a distant place to where the migratory bird flies. | Hitabeltið er fjarlægur staður þangað sem farfuglinn flýgur. |
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