The "-st" Verbs (Deponents)
In Icelandic, the middle voice is marked by adding an -st suffix to a verb. While this suffix is often used to make verbs reflexive, reciprocal, or passive, some verbs only exist with this ending.
These are called deponent verbs. They look like middle-voice verbs, but their meaning is active, and they have no active counterpart without the -st.
Many common verbs fall into this category, especially those describing personal feelings, changes, and interactions—perfect for talking about moving to a new city.
| Both the autumn and the winter are approaching and I fear the cold. | Bæði haustið og veturinn nálgast og ég óttast kuldann. |
| We hope to get by well in the new city. | Við vonumst til að bjargast vel í nýju borginni. |
Adapting to New Surroundings
When navigating a new environment, you will use deponent verbs like aðlagast (to adapt) and umgangast (to interact with).
Even though these verbs end in -st, they still conjugate according to person and number before the suffix is attached. This includes regular vowel shifts. For example, the a in umgangast shifts to an e in the present singular umgengst.
| We marvel at the noise but adapt to the environment anyway. | Við undrumst hávaðann en aðlögumst samt umhverfinu. |
| The student gains good experience and interacts with new people. | Nemandinn öðlast góða reynslu og umgengst nýtt fólk. |
Success and Assimilation
As you settle into a new place, your vocabulary shifts toward long-term integration. The verbs heppnast (to succeed) and samlagast (to assimilate) follow the exact same middle-voice rules.
| The move goes well and the family assimilates into the society. | Flutningurinn heppnast vel og fjölskyldan samlagast samfélaginu. |
| The foreigner tries both to adapt and to assimilate. | Útlendingurinn reynir bæði að aðlagast og samlagast. |
Because these verbs lack an active form, you never have to worry about whether to use the -st suffix or not—it is a permanent part of the word.
