Breakdown of Við liggjum í sófanum og kúrum.
og
and
við
we
í
in / into / to (before the hour, in telling time) / per (in frequency expressions)
sófinn
the sofa
liggja
to lie (be in a horizontal position)
kúra
to snuggle
Questions & Answers about Við liggjum í sófanum og kúrum.
How do liggjum and kúrum work together to mean "are snuggling"?
In Icelandic, you can show that an action is currently happening by using a posture verb (liggja, sitja, or standa) + og (and) + the action verb. Even though Við liggjum ... og kúrum literally means "We lie ... and snuggle", it translates to the continuous meaning: "We are lying ... and snuggling".
Why do both liggjum and kúrum end in -um?
In this continuous posture structure, both verbs must be conjugated to match the subject. Because the subject is Við (we), both the posture verb (liggjum) and the main action verb (kúrum) take the "we" ending -um.
Why does the sentence say í sófanum (in the sofa) instead of "on the sofa"?
Unlike English, Icelandic usually uses í (in) for pieces of furniture you sink or nestle into, like a sofa, armchair, or bed. You use á (on) for harder, flatter surfaces like a standard chair or a bench.
Why is sófanum in the dative case here?
The preposition í controls the dative case when it describes a stationary location (where something is), rather than movement towards a destination. Since you are already resting there, the masculine word sófi (sofa) takes its dative definite form, sófanum (the sofa).
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