Breakdown of Við sjáum allmarga áhugamenn í kvöld.
við
we
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
kvöldið
the evening
sjá
to see
Questions & Answers about Við sjáum allmarga áhugamenn í kvöld.
How does the prefix all- change the meaning of marga in this sentence?
The prefix all- means "fairly" or "quite." When attached to margur (many), it creates the word allmargur, which means "quite a few" or "a fair number of." It actually softens the meaning rather than intensifying it; allmarga is fewer than marga (many) but more than nokkra (some).
Why is the ending -a used on allmarga here?
The prefixed adjective must still agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. Since áhugamenn is the direct object of the verb sjá, it is in the masculine plural accusative. The masculine plural accusative form of margur is marga, so the prefixed version becomes allmarga.
Áhugamenn translates to "amateurs," but what is its literal breakdown?
It is a compound word made from áhugi (interest or enthusiasm) and menn (people or men). It literally translates to "enthusiasts." In Icelandic, this is the standard way to refer to amateurs or hobbyists, contrasting with atvinnumenn (professionals).
Why is kvöld used in the phrase í kvöld to mean "tonight"?
Icelandic does not have a single distinct word for "tonight." Instead, it uses the preposition í (in) followed by kvöld (evening) in the accusative case. Literally, it means "in the evening," but it is the standard way to say "tonight."