undirbúa

Undirbúa is an Icelandic verb meaning to prepare in advance or to prearrange. It denotes taking steps to make something ready before it occurs, including planning, gathering resources, or organizing tasks. The action can be practical, logistical, or mental.

Etymology: It is a compound formed from undir- meaning "in advance" or "before" and búa, the base verb meaning "to prepare" or "to make ready."

Usage: Widely used in both spoken and written Icelandic across domains such as education, business, government, and daily life. It commonly appears with a direct object or with phrases such as "fyrir" (for) or "fyrirfram" (in advance) to specify what is being prepared. Examples: "Ég þarf að undirbúa prófið fyrir morgundaginn" (I need to prepare for the exam by tomorrow). "Við undirbúum fundinn fyrir næstu viku" (We are preparing the meeting for next week). "Hann hefur undirbúið matseðlinn fyrir veislu" (He has prepared the menu for the party).

See also: undirbúningur (preparation); undirbúinn/undirbúið (prepared); fyrirfram (in advance).