Bættu

Bættu is a grammatical form of the Icelandic verb bæta, which has senses such as to add, to improve, or to repair. In contemporary Icelandic, bættu is primarily used as the second-person singular imperative, a direct instruction meaning “add” or “improve.”

The verb bæta comes from Old Norse bæta, with the sense of mending or making better. The form bættu reflects Icelandic verb conjugation and is used when addressing someone directly in a command or request.

In usage, bættu is commonly found with nýtt or with a prepositional phrase to indicate what should be added or improved. It is not typically used as a past tense or as a noun on its own; rather, it functions as a command to perform an action.

Example uses include giving cooking or editing instructions. For instance, Bættu við meira salti í súpuna. or Bættu við nýjum upplýsingum í skjalið. These illustrate how the imperative form directs an additive or corrective action in everyday language.

Bættu is one of several imperative forms in Icelandic that reflect the language’s emphasis on clear, concise commands. For learners, it is important to distinguish it from the infinitive bæta and to recognize its role in giving direct instructions.