Log inSign up

Skál fyrir heiðursgestinum!

Skál fyrir heiðursgestinum!
Cheers to the guest of honor!
From Lesson 208:Wishes and exhortations (subjunctive)·Icelandic

Questions & Answers about Skál fyrir heiðursgestinum!

Since this lesson is about using the subjunctive for wishes, where is the subjunctive verb in this sentence?
There actually isn't one! While many formal wishes use a subjunctive verb (like veri or lifi), this sentence is a verbless exclamation. Skál is simply a noun (originally meaning "bowl") used as an interjection, much like "Cheers" in English. Not all wishes and exhortations require a verb.
Why is heiðursgestinum in the dative case? Doesn't fyrir usually take the accusative when it means "for"?
Fyrir takes the accusative when it means "for" in the sense of an intended recipient (e.g., buying a gift for someone). However, when making a toast in honor of someone, fyrir takes the dative. This is why a standard toast is Skál fyrir þér! (Cheers to you! - dative), not þig (accusative).
How is the word heiðursgestinum constructed?
It is a compound word made of heiður (honor) and gestur (guest). The -s- in the middle is a genitive ending that links the two nouns together (literally "guest of honor"). Finally, the -inum at the end is the masculine dative definite article, making it "the guest".
Where does the -i- in the ending of -gestinum come from?
Gestur is a strong masculine noun that takes an -i ending in the dative singular, making it gesti (unlike some masculine nouns like strákur that drop their ending entirely to become strák). When you attach the dative masculine definite article -num, the two parts combine into -gestinum.

Learn Skál fyrir heiðursgestinum and more in Icelandic

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Icelandic →