boðháttur

Boðháttur, or the imperative mood, is a grammatical mood in Icelandic used to issue commands, requests, invitations and other direct directives. It is directed at the listener and appears in direct address, rather than in statements about the listener. In modern Icelandic, the boðháttur is mainly represented by the second-person singular and plural forms, though the mood also appears in certain fixed expressions and in older or formal styles.

Formation and use: The singular and plural imperative are formed from the verb stem, with patterns that vary by verb class. A common, everyday pattern adds a suffix to the stem for the singular (for example, from the verb gera, meaning to do: gerðu = do!) and a plural form with a different suffix (gerið = do!, for you all). Many verbs follow these general endings, but irregularities and stem changes occur in some verbs, so forms can differ across the lexicon. The boðháttur is typically used in direct commands, brief instructions, menus, signs and recipes, as well as in invitations or warnings. In negative commands, the word ekki precedes or follows the verb phrase in natural usage, as in “Ekki gerðu það” (Don’t do that).

Politeness and variants: In more formal or polite contexts, speakers may soften the command with "vinsamlegast" (please) or use indirect forms. The 1st-person plural construction for “let us” or a suggestion is not a bare imperative; Icelandic uses a different form, such as skulum + infinitive, to express inclusive commands or proposals (e.g., skulum fara = let us go).

Overall, boðháttur is a compact, direct mood that remains central to everyday Icelandic communication.