Cooking & Markets

1. Geturðu gefið mér uppskriftina?

   Can you give me the recipe?

   Usage

   Ask for the recipe after enjoying a dish

   Grammar Note

   "Geturðu" is the contracted "getur þú" ("can you"). "Gefa" takes a dative for the person and an accusative for the thing: "mér" (dative) and "uppskriftina" (feminine "uppskrift" with the article, accusative). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

2. Hvernig býr maður til þennan rétt?

   How do you make this dish?

   Usage

   Ask how a particular dish is prepared

   Grammar Note

   "Maður" is the impersonal "one", and "búa til" means "to make". "Réttur" is a masculine noun (dish); here accusative with the demonstrative: "þennan rétt". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

3. Hvar get ég keypt hráefnin?

   Where can I buy the ingredients?

   Usage

   Ask where to shop for the ingredients of a recipe

   Grammar Note

   "Hráefni" is a neuter noun (raw material, ingredient); the plural has the same form and takes the article: "hráefnin". "Keypt" is the supine of "kaupa". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

4. Hversu lengi á að sjóða þetta?

   How long should this be boiled?

   Usage

   Ask how long something needs to cook

   Grammar Note

   "Á að + infinitive" means "is to be / should", without naming a subject. "Sjóða" means "to boil". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

5. Eldum saman

   Let's cook together

   Usage

   Invite someone to cook together

   Grammar Note

   "Eldum" is the first person plural imperative of "elda" (to cook), "let's cook". "Saman" means "together"

6. Hvað heitir þetta krydd?

   What is this spice called?

   Usage

   Ask the name of a spice at a market or in a kitchen

   Grammar Note

   "Heita" means "to be called". "Krydd" is a neuter noun (spice), so the demonstrative is neuter "þetta". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

7. Eru grænmetisréttir í boði?

   Are there vegetarian dishes?

   Usage

   Ask at a restaurant or dinner whether there are meat-free dishes

   Grammar Note

   "Grænmetisréttur" is a compound of "grænmetis" (genitive of "grænmeti", vegetables) and "réttur" (dish), a masculine noun; nominative plural "grænmetisréttir". "Í boði" means "on offer". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

8. Mig langar að læra hefðbundna matargerð

   I want to learn traditional cooking

   Usage

   Say you want to learn local traditional cooking at a class or in a home

   Grammar Note

   "Mig langar að ..." has an accusative subject. "Matargerð" is a feminine noun (cookery); as the object of "læra" it is accusative, and the adjective agrees: "hefðbundna". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

9. Hvers konar pott notar þú?

   What kind of pot do you use?

   Usage

   Ask what type of pot is used for a dish

   Grammar Note

   "Hvers konar" means "what kind of", and the noun after it takes the case the sentence needs. "Nota" takes the accusative; the accusative of the masculine "pottur" is "pott". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

10. salt

    Usage

    The seasoning name; useful when cooking or shopping

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun. Icelandic nouns have gender and the definite article is a suffix ("saltið")

11. sykur

    sugar

    Usage

    The seasoning name; useful in cooking and when ordering drinks

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun (with the article: "sykurinn")

12. pipar

    pepper

    Usage

    The seasoning name; use it to ask for pepper at the table

    Grammar Note

    A masculine noun (with the article: "piparinn")

13. olía

    oil

    Usage

    Cooking oil; useful in cooking and shopping

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun (with the article: "olían")

14. edik

    vinegar

    Usage

    The seasoning name; useful in cooking and shopping

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun (with the article: "edikið")

15. smjör

    butter

    Usage

    The ingredient name; useful at breakfast and in cooking

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun (with the article: "smjörið")

16. hunang

    honey

    Usage

    The ingredient name; used with tea and bread

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun (with the article: "hunangið")

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