Breakdown of Við vöskum upp eftir að við borðum.
við
we
borða
to eat
vaska upp
to wash dishes
eftir að
after (conjunction)
Questions & Answers about Við vöskum upp eftir að við borðum.
Why is there an að after eftir? Can't I just say eftir við borðum?
You need the að because eftir að is a conjunction (a linking word) connecting two full actions. If you only use eftir, it acts as a preposition and must be followed by a noun, like in eftir matinn (after the meal). To say "after we do something", you must always use eftir að.
Why use vöskum upp instead of þvoum (wash)?
The verb phrase vaska upp specifically means "to wash the dishes" or "to wash up". While þvo means "to wash" in a general sense (like washing a car, clothes, or your hands), vaska upp is the standard and most natural phrase for doing the dishes.
Why are both verbs (vöskum and borðum) in the present tense here?
Just like in English ("We wash the dishes after we eat"), Icelandic uses the present tense to describe general routines or habits. Even if you were talking about your plans for tonight ("We will wash the dishes after we eat"), Icelandic still commonly uses the present tense for both verbs, letting the words eftir að clarify the timeline.
If I put the eftir að part at the beginning of the sentence, does the word order change?
Yes, it does! If you start the sentence with the time phrase (Eftir að við borðum...), it takes up the first "slot" in the sentence. Because Icelandic main clauses follow the V2 rule (the verb must come second), you have to swap the subject and verb in the main clause. It becomes: Eftir að við borðum, vöskum við upp.
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