Learn Icelandic: Í stuttu máli enskuvæða tölvuleikirnir krakkana. - In short, video games Anglicize the kids.

The verb enskuvæða is built from the noun enska (English) and the productive suffix -væða, which means "to -ize" or "to -ify". Therefore, enskuvæða literally means "to Anglicize" or "to make English." As covered in this lesson, verbs ending in -væða are weak verbs that take a -di ending in the past tense (e.g., enskuvæddi).

Why does the verb enskuvæða come before the subject tölvuleikirnir?

This is the V2 (verb-second) rule in action. Because the sentence starts with the prepositional phrase Í stuttu máli (In short), the conjugated verb must take the second position. This forces the subject tölvuleikirnir to be bumped to the third position, immediately after the verb.

Why is the phrase stuttu máli in the dative case?

The preposition í governs the dative case when it is used for abstract concepts or fixed expressions, like í stuttu máli (in short). Both the adjective stuttur (short) and the neuter noun mál (matter/language) decline to the dative to become stuttu máli.

Why do we use the accusative form krakkana here?