Formal þér

Level 6

Hvað viljið þér? (What would you like? formal) Everyday Icelandic says Hvað viltu?

How It Works

Forms.

  • Subject: þér — Getið þér hjálpað mér?
  • Object (accusative and dative): yður — Ég þakka yður fyrir.
  • Possessive: yðar, which never changes and usually comes after the noun — Er þetta taskan yðar?

Verbs and adjectives. The verb takes the þið form: þér eruð, þér viljið, þér komuð. An adjective or participle is usually singular and matches the person: Eruð þér þreyttur? (to a man), Eruð þér þreytt? (to a woman). Some speakers use the plural instead: Eruð þér þreyttir?

Do not mix it up with dative þér. The everyday dative þér means to you and comes from þú: Hvernig líður þér? (How are you?) The verb shows the difference: formal þér is the subject of a plural verb.

Where you will see it. In older books and films, old letters to officials, some ceremonies, and sometimes as a joke. Use þú in daily life, even with strangers. The formal we is vér.

Examples (6)

  1. Hvað viljið þér?

    What would you like?

    Word by Word: What want you?

    Formal: plural verb viljið with þér.

  2. Getið þér hjálpað mér?

    Could you help me?

    Word by Word: Can you help me?

  3. Ég þakka yður kærlega fyrir.

    Thank you very much.

    Word by Word: I thank you dearly for.

    The object form of formal þér is yður.

  4. Er þetta taskan yðar?

    Is this your bag?

    Word by Word: Is this the-bag your?

    yðar never changes.

  5. Eruð þér þreyttur?

    Are you tired?

    Word by Word: Are you tired?

    The verb is plural, but the adjective is singular here because it means one man. The plural þreyttir is also found.

  6. Geturðu hjálpað mér?

    Can you help me?

    Word by Word: Can-you help me?

    Everyday: þú with a singular verb.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a singular verb with formal þér.

    Hvað vilt þér?
    Hvað viljið þér?

    Formal þér always takes the plural verb form: viljið, eruð, getið.

  • Using þér as the object.

    Get ég aðstoðað þér?
    Get ég aðstoðað yður?

    The object form of formal þér is yður. In everyday Icelandic you would say Get ég aðstoðað þig?

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Formal þérLevel 6

Learn This First

Formal þér builds on þú for everyone and the plural pronouns.

Words in This Pattern

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