Hvar er salernið?
To say "where is the bathroom?" in Icelandic, use Hvar er salernið?
This phrase is used to ask for the location of a toilet.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Hvar (where), er (is) and salernið (the toilet).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word salernið is the definite form of salerni (toilet), created by adding the suffix -ið to the noun.
Did you know?
- While baðherbergið literally translates to 'bath room', it is often avoided when asking for a toilet because it implies a place meant for bathing.
- Icelandic is so conservative that the word er has remained virtually unchanged from its Old Norse ancestor for over a millennium.
- Icelanders may use a melodic rising intonation when asking Hvar er salernið? that can sound like a statement to English speakers.
Examples in context
- Fyrirgefðu, hvar er salernið?Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
Example conversation
Sigríður and Gunnar are at a restaurant.
- SigríðurHvar er salernið?Where is the bathroom?
- GunnarÞað er þarnanaðra.It is over there.
- SigríðurTakk fyrir, Gunnar.Thank you, Gunnar.
- GunnarÞað var ekkert mál.No problem.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries er, hvar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
