hvernig hefurðu það?
In Icelandic, "how are you?" is said as hvernig hefurðu það?
This phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their general well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "how have you it?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The form hvernig hefurðu það? is a contraction of hvernig hefur þú það? where the pronoun þú (you) is merged with the verb hefur (have).
When do people say it?
When someone asks how you are, you might respond with Ég hef það gott (I am doing well) or use the more informal Allt gott (All good/everything is good). You can also use Frábært! to mean "Great!"
Did you know?
- While hvernig hefurðu það? is standard, Icelanders often use the phrase Hvað segirðu? which literally means 'What do you say?'
- In Iceland, using this phrase with a stranger in a shop might elicit a much more literal description of your day than you expect.
- The pronoun þú in hvernig hefurðu það? is a close linguistic cousin to the English 'thou', showing how much the language has preserved its ancient roots.
Examples in context
- Sæll, hvernig hefurðu það?Hello, how are you?
Example conversation
Jón and Kristín meet on the street.
- JónHæ Kristín, hvernig hefurðu það?Hi Kristín, how are you?
- KristínÉg hef það gott, takk. Og þú?I'm doing well, thanks. And you?
- JónÉg hef það líka gott.I'm doing well too.
- KristínÞað er flott!That is great!
