Each Other With -st
Ég hitti hana (I meet her) becomes Við hittumst (We meet each other). The -st ending does the work of each other.
How It Works
Common reciprocal verbs.
- hittast (meet): Hittumst klukkan átta. (Let's meet at eight.)
- sjást (see each other): Sjáumst! (See you!)
- kynnast (get to know each other): Þau kynntust í Reykjavík.
- kyssast (kiss): Þau kysstust.
- faðmast (hug): Þau faðmast.
- talast við (talk to each other): Þau talast ekki við (They are not speaking to each other).
Forms. The plural endings are -umst, -ist, -ast in the present and -umst, -ust, -ust in the past, on the verb's own past stem: við hittumst, þau hittust; við sjáumst (present), við sáumst (past); við kynntumst, þau kynntust. For more on the past and perfect, see -st past and perfect.
You and one other person. Icelandic often says við + the other person's name: Við Anna kynntumst í skólanum means Anna and I got to know each other at school.
With or without -st. Without -st, the verb needs an object: Ég hitti Jón. With -st there is no object, and the subject names everyone involved: Við Jón hittumst. kynnast can also take a dative object and then means to get to know someone: Ég kynntist henni í fyrra. Some -st verbs have a meaning of their own: rífast means argue, but rífa means tear. Others, like ferðast (travel), exist only with -st (see verbs only in -st). Another way to say each other is hvor annar: Þau hjálpa hvort öðru.
Examples (6)
- Sjáumst á morgun!
See you tomorrow!
Word by Word: See-each-other on morning!
- Hvar eigum við að hittast?
Where shall we meet?
Word by Word: Where ought we to meet-each-other?
- Þau kynntust í Reykjavík.
They met in Reykjavík.
Word by Word: They got-to-know-each-other in Reykjavík.
kynntust is the past plural of kynnast.
- Við Anna kynntumst í skólanum.
Anna and I got to know each other at school.
Word by Word: We Anna got-to-know-each-other in the-school.
við + a name means "that person and I".
- Hún og Jón kysstust í fyrsta skipti.
She and Jón kissed for the first time.
Word by Word: She and Jón kissed-each-other in first time.
- Við hittumst oft á kaffihúsinu.
We often meet at the café.
Word by Word: We meet-each-other often on the-café.
Common Mistakes
Leaving off -st when there is no object.
Við hittum á morgun.Við hittumst á morgun.hitta needs an object: Ég hitti hana. Without an object, use the reciprocal hittast.
Using hittast with a singular subject and "með", like English "meet with".
Ég hittist með Önnu á morgun.Ég hitti Önnu á morgun.hittast needs a plural subject for the people who meet. With one subject, use hitta with an object, or say Við Anna hittumst.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Reciprocal -st builds on -st verbs.
Related Patterns
- hvor annarEach Other (Hvor Annar)
The other way to say each other: Þau hjálpa hvort öðru.
Level 4 - Past and Perfect of -st Verbs
Past and perfect forms like kynntust and hafa hist.
Level 4 - Verbs Only in -st
Verbs like ferðast and óttast that exist only with -st.
Level 4 - sig / sér / sínThe Reflexive Pronoun (Sig)
The reflexive pronoun says oneself, where -st reciprocal says each other.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Each Other With -st in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Icelandic lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
