Breakdown of Ég er að bíða eftir póstinum.
vera
to be
ég
I
að
to (infinitive marker)
bíða
to wait
eftir
after / for (waiting for)
pósturinn
the mail
Questions & Answers about Ég er að bíða eftir póstinum.
Why is eftir used here when it usually means "after"?
In Icelandic, many verbs require a specific preposition, even if it doesn't translate literally to English. The verb bíða (to wait) always pairs with eftir to mean "to wait for." It is best to memorize them together as a set phrase: bíða eftir.
Why is the word for mail spelled póstinum instead of the dictionary form póstur?
The phrase bíða eftir always forces the noun that follows it into the dative case. For the masculine noun póstur (mail), the dative form is pósti. Since we are saying "the mail" rather than just "mail", we add the dative "the" ending, which gives us póstinum.
Can I just say Ég bíð eftir póstinum?
Yes! Icelandic doesn't always distinguish between "I wait" and "I am waiting." However, using er að bíða (am waiting) strongly emphasizes that you are actively waiting right at this exact moment.
Does póstinum mean the physical letters, or the person delivering them?
It can mean both! Depending on the context, póstur can refer to the physical mail (letters and packages), the postal service itself, or the mail carrier.
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