Learn Icelandic: Þarf maðurinn að bíða lengi? - Does the man need to wait long?

In Icelandic, when you use the verb þurfa (to need) with another verb, you must connect them with the infinitive marker að (to). So, þarf ... að bíða translates to "needs ... to wait". This works just like "need to" in English.

Why does the verb Þarf come at the very beginning of the sentence?

This is a yes/no question! In Icelandic, you form a yes/no question by putting the verb first. Instead of "The man needs..." (Maðurinn þarf...), you swap the verb and the subject to say "Needs the man...?" (Þarf maðurinn...?).

How do we get "the man" from maðurinn?

The base word for "man" or "person" is maður. In Icelandic, the word for "the" isn't a separate word before the noun; it is a suffix attached to the end of the word. The -inn at the end of maðurinn is what makes it "the man" instead of just "a man".

Can I use lengi to describe a long physical object, like a long road?

No, lengi is an adverb used strictly for time, meaning "for a long time". If you want to describe a physically long object, you would use the adjective langur instead.