One or You (maður)

Level 3

maður can mean you or one in general: Maður gerir ekki svona (You don't do that).

How It Works

You, one, people. Icelandic often uses maður where English says you or one about people in general:

  • Maður gerir ekki svona. (You don't do that.)
  • Hvernig segir maður þetta á íslensku? (How do you say this in Icelandic?)
  • Hérna getur maður borðað úti á sumrin. (Here you can eat outside in the summer.)

It often includes the speaker in a modest way: Maður er bara þreyttur can mean I'm just tired.

Grammar of maður. It is the noun maður, used without the article. The verb is third person singular, and an adjective agrees with it in the masculine: Maður verður þreyttur.

Other cases. maður keeps its forms mann, manni, manns. With verbs that take an oblique subject, use the case the verb needs:

  • Mann langar alltaf í meira. (accusative, like mig langar)
  • Manni líður vel í heita pottinum. (dative, like mér líður)
  • Þetta gerir mann glaðan. (object: This makes you happy.)

Other ways to say it. In casual speech you also hear þú used this way. Formal texts often choose other wording, such as fólk or the impersonal passive.

Examples (6)

  1. Maður gerir ekki svona.

    You don't do that.

    Word by Word: Man does not so.

  2. Hvernig segir maður þetta á íslensku?

    How do you say this in Icelandic?

    Word by Word: How says man this in Icelandic?

  3. Maður verður þreyttur á því að bíða svona lengi.

    You get tired of waiting this long.

    Word by Word: Man becomes tired on it to wait so long.

  4. Manni líður vel í heita pottinum.

    You feel good in the hot tub.

    Word by Word: Man (dat.) feels well in the-hot tub.

    líða takes a dative subject, so maður becomes manni.

  5. Mann langar alltaf í meira.

    You always want more.

    Word by Word: Man (acc.) longs always in more.

    langa takes an accusative subject, so maður becomes mann.

  6. Hérna getur maður borðað úti á sumrin.

    Here you can eat outside in the summer.

    Word by Word: Here can man eat outside in the-summers.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the nominative with a verb that takes an accusative subject.

    Maður langar í kaffi.
    Mann langar í kaffi.

    langa takes the accusative, like mig langar, so maður becomes mann.

  • Keeping the nominative with a verb that takes a dative subject.

    Maður líður vel hérna.
    Manni líður vel hérna.

    líða takes the dative, like mér líður, so maður becomes manni.

  • Adding the article when you mean people in general.

    Maðurinn gerir ekki svona.
    Maður gerir ekki svona.

    maðurinn means "the man", one particular person. For "you" or "one" in general, use maður without the article.

How It Connects

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

One or You (maður)Level 3

Learn This First

Generic maður builds on maður and oblique subjects.

Words in This Pattern

mannmanni