Learn Icelandic: Megi framtíðin verða farsæl!

Megi is the present subjunctive form of mega. In main clauses, starting a sentence with the present subjunctive is the standard way to express a strong wish or blessing. It works exactly like saying 'May...' in English.

Why does the sentence start with the verb megi instead of the subject?

When using the subjunctive to express a wish in a main clause, the verb always moves to the very front of the sentence. This pushes the subject (framtíðin) into the second position, similar to how verbs move to the front when forming questions.

Why use verða here rather than vera (to be)?

While English translates this as 'May the future be...', Icelandic prefers verða (to become) when talking about conditions or states in the future. It sounds much more natural in Icelandic to wish for what the future will 'become' rather than what it 'is'.

Why is the adjective farsæl in this specific form?

It has to agree with the subject it describes. Framtíðin (the future) is a feminine noun in the nominative case, so the adjective farsæll (successful/prosperous) drops its masculine ending and takes the feminine, singular, nominative form farsæl.