Reciprocal Verbs: The Middle Voice (-st)
In Icelandic, verbs ending in -st are in the "middle voice." A common use for this form is describing reciprocal actions—things people do with each other. This is perfect for talking about socializing, like getting to know one another or meeting up.
| We got to know each other yesterday. | Við kynntumst í gær. |
| Where did you meet? | Hvar hittust þið? |
Past Tense Plural Endings
To form the past tense of a middle voice verb, add -st to the active past tense forms. For plural subjects, the ending shifts slightly to ease pronunciation:
- við (we): -umst
- þið (you, plural): -ust (the ð from the active -uð ending drops)
- þeir / þær / þau (they): -ust
| Pronoun | Infinitive | Past Tense (-st) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| við | sjást | sáumst | we saw each other |
| þið | hittast | hittust | you met (each other) |
| þeir, þær, þau | sættast | sættust | they reconciled |
| We parted ways after the chat. | Við skildumst eftir spjallið. |
| They reconciled after the phone call. | Þeir sættust eftir símtalið. |
Singular Forms with Collective Nouns
Collective nouns like vinahópurinn (the friend group) are grammatically singular. Use the singular past tense form of the verb (often ending in -ist or -dist).
| My friend group met up earlier. | Vinahópurinn minn hittist áðan. |
| Your friend group reconciled yesterday. | Vinahópurinn þinn sættist í gær. |
Social Events and Gatherings
Pair your new reciprocal verbs with nouns for social gatherings to describe exactly what happened when you hung out.
| We saw each other at the get-together. | Við sáumst á hittingnum. |
| We parted ways at the game night. | Við skildumst á spilakvöldinu. |
| We hugged each other after the game night. | Við föðmuðumst eftir spilakvöldið. |
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