Learn Icelandic: Kennarinn er ekki heima. - The teacher is not at home.

In simple Icelandic sentences, the verb is almost always in the second position. The word ekki (not) comes immediately after that main verb. Here it looks just like English ('is not'), but remember this rule applies to all verbs in Icelandic. For example, 'The teacher does not sleep' is Kennarinn sefur ekki.

How do we get 'The teacher' from Kennarinn? Isn't the word for teacher just kennari?

Yes! In Icelandic, the word for 'the' isn't a separate word that goes before the noun. Instead, it gets tacked onto the end of the noun as a suffix. So kennari means 'a teacher', and adding the suffix -nn makes it kennarinn, meaning 'the teacher'.

Why is the word for 'at home' heima instead of heim?

Icelandic uses different words depending on whether you are moving or staying still. You use heima when you are already at a location (stationary), like the teacher being in their house. You use heim when you are moving towards your home, like walking or driving there.

Which verb does er come from?

Er is a conjugated form of the verb vera (to be). It is the form used for he, she, and it, working exactly like the English word 'is'.