Breakdown of Verði þér að góðu!
verði þér að góðu
enjoy your meal
Questions & Answers about Verði þér að góðu!
The translation is "Enjoy your meal!", but what is the literal meaning of this phrase?
Literally, it means "May it become good for you!" It is made up of verði (may it become), þér (to or for you), að (to), and góðu (good).
I know that verða means "to become". Why is it spelled verði here?
Verði is a special form of the verb verða used for making wishes or expressing hope. You will often see this form in traditional blessings or fixed expressions, acting much like the English phrase "May it..."
Why does the sentence use þér instead of the normal word for you, þú?
Because the phrase literally means "May it become for you..." The word þér is the dative form of þú. We use it here because the action is happening to or for the person you are speaking to.
Can I use this phrase to say "You're welcome" in other situations, or is it just for food?
You can use it in other situations too! While it is the standard polite reply when someone says thank you for a meal, Icelanders also use Verði þér að góðu as a polite "You're welcome" or "Here you go" whenever they hand an object to someone.
What if I am speaking to more than one person? Does the phrase change?
Yes! Because þér means "to you" for just one person, you must change it if you are speaking to a group. To say "Enjoy your meal" to multiple people, you would say Verði ykkur að góðu, using ykkur (to you all).
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