Laundry

1. Hvar er næsta þvottahús?

   Where is the nearest laundry?

   Usage

   Find a place to wash your clothes while travelling

   Grammar Note

   "Þvottahús" is a neuter noun (a place for washing). "Næsta" is the weak neuter nominative of "næstur", agreeing with the neuter noun

2. Hvað kostar að þvo og þurrka?

   How much does it cost to wash and dry?

   Usage

   Ask the price of washing and drying

   Grammar Note

   "Hvað kostar að ..." means "what does it cost to ...". "Þvo" (wash) and "þurrka" (dry) are both infinitives

3. Hvað tekur þvotturinn langan tíma?

   How long does the laundry take?

   Usage

   Ask how long until the laundry is ready

   Grammar Note

   "Þvottur" is a masculine noun (laundry) with the article "þvotturinn". "Taka langan tíma" means "to take a long time"; "langan tíma" is masculine accusative

4. Þvoið þið samdægurs?

   Do you wash the same day?

   Usage

   Ask whether laundry can be done within the day

   Grammar Note

   "Þvoið þið" is the plural "you wash", used when asking a shop or its staff. "Samdægurs" is an adverb meaning "on the same day"

5. Getið þið þvegið þessa viðkvæmu flík varlega?

   Can you wash this delicate item carefully?

   Usage

   Ask when handing over silk, wool or other delicate clothes

   Grammar Note

   "Flík" is a feminine noun (garment); as the object of "þvo" it is accusative, and "þessa" and the weak adjective "viðkvæmu" agree. "Þvegið" is the supine

6. Þessa skyrtu þarf að þurrhreinsa

   This shirt needs to be dry-cleaned

   Usage

   Use at the cleaner to say how a garment must be treated

   Grammar Note

   "Þurfa að" means "has to be ...". Here the feminine "skyrta" (shirt) is fronted in the accusative, "þessa skyrtu". "Þurrhreinsa" means "to dry-clean"

7. Eigið þið þvottaefni eða mýkingarefni?

   Do you have detergent or fabric softener?

   Usage

   Ask at a self-service laundry whether detergent or softener is available

   Grammar Note

   "Eiga" means "to have/own"; "þvottaefni" and "mýkingarefni" are neuter nouns with the same accusative form. "Þið" is the plural "you" addressed to a shop's staff

8. Fötin mín eru ekki hrein. Getið þið þvegið þau aftur?

   My clothes aren't clean. Can you wash them again?

   Usage

   Ask for a rewash when the result is not clean

   Grammar Note

   "Föt" is a neuter plural noun (clothes), with the article "fötin". The possessive is "mín" and the adjective is the neuter plural "hrein". "Þau" is the neuter plural "them"

9. Má ég nota þvottavélina sjálfur?

   Can I use the washing machine myself?

   Usage

   Check that you may operate the washing machine yourself

   Grammar Note

   "Þvottavél" is a feminine noun (washing machine), accusative with the article "þvottavélina". "Sjálfur" is the masculine speaker's "myself"; a woman says "sjálf"

10. Er hægt að fá fötin straujuð?

    Is it possible to have the clothes ironed?

    Usage

    Ask a hotel or cleaner whether ironing can be arranged

    Grammar Note

    "Er hægt að ...?" asks "is it possible to ...?". "Fá + accusative + participle" means "to have something done". "Föt" is neuter plural and the participle agrees: "straujuð". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

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