Language/Icelandic/Grammar/Question-Words
As a beginner in learning Icelandic, one of the essential aspects to understand is asking questions to communicate effectively with native speakers. In this lesson, we'll learn how to use question words in Icelandic to form questions that can help us navigate through daily life situations.
Question Words
Question words are used to form questions seeking specific information about someone or something. In Icelandic, the most common question words are:
- Hvernig - how
- Hvað - what
- Hvar - where
- Hvenær - when
- Hvers vegna/Hví - why
- Hver - who
Each of these question words is used in specific situations. Let's take a closer look at how and when to use them.
Hvernig - How
"Hvernig" is the question word used to ask about how something is done or how something looks or feels. It's followed by adjectives or adverbs that describe the noun being asked about.
For example:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hvernig er veðrið í dag? | kveɾnɪɣ ɛr ˈvɛðrɪð i ˌtaːk | How is the weather today? |
| Hvernig mættum við aðstoða yður? | ˈkvetnɪɣ ˈmaɪt.ʏm vɪð ˈaustɔða ˈiːjʏr | How can we help you? |
| Hvernig hefurðu það? | kveɾnɪɣ ˈheːvʏrðʏ θaːð | How are you (informal)? |
Hvað - What
"Hvað" is the most common question word in Icelandic, used to ask for information about a person or an object. It can also be used to ask for clarification about something that has been said earlier.
For example:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hvað heitir þessi staður? | kvat ˈheɪːtɪr ˈθɛsɪ ˈstauːðʏr | What is the name of this place? |
| Hvað ertu að gera? | kvat ˈɛr.tʏ at ˈɣɛːra | What are you doing? |
| Hvað meintirðu? | kvat ˈmeɪntɪr.ðʏ | What do you mean? |
Hvar - Where
"Hvar" is used to ask for location or direction of an object or person. It is often followed by a preposition such as "í" (in) or "á" (on).
For example:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hvar er nærmasti matvöruverslun? | kvar ɛr ˈnaɪr.mastɪ ˈmat.vœː.rʏ.vɛrs.lʏn | Where is the nearest grocery store? |
| Hvar ertu? | kvar ˈɛr.tʏ | Where are you? |
| Hvar á ég að skila þessu aftur? | kvar au ˈjaɣað ˈskɪː.la ˈθɛsʏ ˈaftʏr | Where should I return this? |
Hvenær - When
"Hvenær" is used to ask about time, either a specific time, a date, or a frequency.
For example:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hvenær er næsta flug til Kanada? | kvɛː.naʊr ɛr ˈnai.sta flʏːk tɪl ˈkʰaː.na.ta | When is the next flight to Canada? |
| Hvenær hefst skóli? | kvɛː.naʊr ˈhɛfst ˈskouː.lɪ | When does school start? |
| Hvenær varðst þú hér? | kvɛː.naʊr ˈvarðst θuː hjɛːr | When did you arrive here? |
Hvers vegna/Hví - Why
"Hvers vegna" or "hví" are used to ask about the reason or cause of something.
For example:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hvers vegna ertu svo látur? | kvɛrs ˈvɛɣna ˈɛr.tʏ svaʊ ˈlaut.ʏr | Why are you so lazy? |
| Hví gerðirðu þetta? | kviː ˈɣɛrðɪr.ðʏ ˈθɛs.tʰa | Why did you do this? |
| Hvers vegna er hann svo snarpur við okkur? | kvɛrs ˈvɛɣna ɛr hann svaʊ ˈsnar.pʏr vɪð ˈɔkʏr | Why is he so rude to us? |
Hver - Who
"Hver" is used to ask about a person or subject, often followed by a verb.
For example:
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Hver er þessi maður? | kver ɛr ˈθɛs.sɪ ˈmaː.ðʏr | Who is this man? |
| Hver var Íslenskur vinnuveitandi á síðasta ári? | kvɛːr var ˈiːs.lɛns.kʏr ˈvɪnː.ʏˌvɛit.an.tɪ au ˈsiːðasta ˈaː.rɪ | Who was the Icelandic employer of the year last year? |
| Hver íhugsaði þetta fyrirsumeðan? | kver iːˈhʏgsauðɪ ˈθɛs.tʰa fɪrɪrˈsʏː.mɛðan | Who thought of this beforehand? |
Question words can also be used together in questions to gather more information, for example:
- "Hvar og hvenær?" - Where and when?
- "Hvernig og hvað?" - How and what?
- "Hver og hvers vegna?" - Who and why?
It's common to use "eða" (or) between the question words if there is a choice between two options.
For example:
- "Hvar er Mundi? Í bókhandlinni eða í sjoppunni?" - Where is Mundi? In the bookstore or in the shop?
Knowing question words is essential to understand and communicate with others in Icelandic. Practice using them in different situations to become familiar with their usage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, learning how to form questions using question words is a crucial aspect of communication in Icelandic. By using "hvernig", "hvað", "hvar", "hvenær", "hvers vegna/hví", and "hver", we can ask for information about someone or something, location or direction, time, reason or cause, and people or subjects. Learning how to use these question words correctly will help us navigate through daily conversations with native Icelandic speakers.
Other Lessons
- Adverbs
- Adverbs Formation
- Definite Article
- Negation
- How to Use Be
- Common Prepositions
- Nouns
- Possession
- Definite and Indefinite Articles
- Pronouns
Sources