Questions & Answers about Ég nenni ekki að elda.
What exactly does nenni mean here?
It comes from the verb nenna, which is a very common Icelandic word that does not have a single exact English translation. It roughly means to have the energy or willingness to do something. So ég nenni ekki is the standard way to say I can't be bothered or I don't feel like doing it.
Why do we need the word að before elda?
In Icelandic, að is used before a verb to show it is in the infinitive (dictionary) form, just like the word 'to' in the English phrase 'to cook.' When you link nenna with an action you do not want to do, that second action must be in the infinitive with að.
Why is ekki placed after the verb instead of before it?
In standard Icelandic sentences, the main conjugated verb must be the second piece of information. Negation words like ekki (not) usually come right after that verb. So literally, the word order is 'I bother not to cook.'