Breakdown of Megi velfarnaður ávallt fylgja þér!
þú
you
fylgja
to follow
mega
to be allowed to
velfarnaðurinn
the prosperity
ávallt
always
Questions & Answers about Megi velfarnaður ávallt fylgja þér!
Why is megi at the very beginning of the sentence, and why is it in the subjunctive?
Megi is the present subjunctive form of mega (may). Placing a present subjunctive verb at the start of a main clause is how you express a formal wish or blessing in Icelandic, exactly like saying "May [something happen]" in English. Since the subject is velfarnaður (a third-person noun), the verb takes the third-person singular form megi.
I usually learn alltaf for "always". Why is ávallt used here?
Ávallt is a synonym for alltaf. It has a more formal, elevated, or poetic tone. Because this sentence is a formal blessing or well-wish, ávallt fits the mood much better than the everyday word alltaf.
Why does the sentence end with the dative pronoun þér instead of the accusative þig?
The pronoun is in the dative case because it is the object of the verb fylgja (to follow or accompany). In Icelandic, fylgja always dictates that its object must be in the dative case, regardless of how it translates into English.
How does the word velfarnaður translate to "prosperity"?
It is a compound word made of vel (well) and farnaður (faring or journey, related to the verb fara). Literally, it means "faring well" or "going well", which translates naturally to prosperity, success, or well-being in English.
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