verða

Verða is an Icelandic verb meaning “to become” and also “to happen” or “to turn into.” It is one of the language’s most versatile and frequently used verbs, serving both as a main verb and as a semi-auxiliary in various constructions.

As a main verb, verður expresses change of state or transformation, such as someone changing condition or a situation developing. In everyday speech it also introduces future or imminent events: það verður gott veður (that weather will be good) or það verður að gerast (that must happen). The phrase að verða to express necessity uses the construction verða að + infinitive, meaning “to have to” or “must”: ég verð að fara (I have to go).

As an auxiliary or semi-auxiliary, verða participates in modal-like expressions and in forming futures. It is common to see það verður used impersonally to indicate a future event or outcome. The verb also appears in past tense forms to indicate that something had to be done or became certain in the past (e.g., had to, became, happened), and with the perfect participle to indicate that something has become or happened.

Grammatical notes: The verb is irregular and its forms vary across tenses. It has a specialized past tense and a past participle used with other auxiliary verbs to form perfect constructions. Its wide range of meanings makes it essential for expressing states, events, and obligations in Icelandic.

Etymology: Verða originates in Old Norse and belongs to the Germanic family of verbs. It is related to similar verbs in other Scandinavian languages and shares a common lineage with verbs that denote becoming or coming to pass.