Word
Hún talar spænsku reiprennandi.
Meaning
She speaks Spanish fluently.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about Hún talar spænsku reiprennandi.
This lesson is about using geta for ability. Why don't we say "Hún getur talað..." to mean she can speak Spanish?
In Icelandic, when you talk about knowing a language, you just use the verb tala (to speak) directly. Saying Hún getur talað spænsku sounds more like you are emphasizing her physical ability to speak it right now (for example, if she had a sore throat but is better). Usually, just saying Hún talar... is the natural way to say someone "can" speak a language.
Why does the word for Spanish, spænsku, end in -u here?
The dictionary form of the language is spænska. Names of languages in Icelandic are usually feminine nouns ending in -a (like íslenska). Because it is the direct object receiving the action of the verb, it takes the accusative case. Feminine nouns ending in -a change to -u in the accusative.
Reiprennandi is a very long word for "fluently"! What is its literal translation?
It is a descriptive compound word combining reipi (a rope) and rennandi (running, sliding, or flowing). The literal image in Icelandic is something moving as smoothly as a sliding rope.
Does the -andi ending in reiprennandi mean it works like an "-ing" word in English?
Yes, the -andi suffix is the Icelandic equivalent of the English "-ing" ending (the present participle). While the word literally means "rope-sliding," it functions here as an adverb describing how she speaks.