Eigðu góðan dag
have a good day in Icelandic is Eigðu góðan dag.
This phrase is a polite greeting used to wish someone well as they leave.
Which one should you use?
Hafðu góðan dag and Gangi þér vel í dag are used in informal settings, while Hafið góðan dag and Ég óska þér góðs dags are used in formal situations. Gangi þér vel í dag specifically carries the meaning of 'may things go well for you today'.
When do people say it?
When someone wishes you a good day, a natural response is to say Sama og þér, which means 'The same to you'.
Did you know?
- While English uses 'have' to wish a good day, the Icelandic Eigðu is the imperative form of a verb that can also mean 'to own' or 'to possess'.
- The word dag shares a root with the English word 'day' and the German 'Tag'. These languages are distant cousins that evolved from a common prehistoric source called Proto-Germanic.
- Icelandic is highly inflected, meaning the word dagur for 'day' changes to dag in góðan dag because the day is the object of the wish.
Examples in context
- Bless bless, eigðu góðan dag.Bye bye, have a good day.
Example conversation
Sigríður is leaving the office and sees Gunnar.
- SigríðurBless bless, Gunnar.Bye bye, Gunnar.
- GunnarBless bless, Sigríður.Bye bye, Sigríður.
- SigríðurEigðu góðan dag!Have a good day!
- GunnarTakk, það skal ég.Thanks, I will.
