verði

Verði is the present subjunctive form of the Icelandic verb verða, meaning to become or to come to pass. It is used in subordinate clauses to express possibility, doubt, or hypothetical conditions, and in optative or wishful constructions. The form also appears in older or formal Icelandic, religious, or ceremonial prose.

Etymology and cognates: Verði derives from the verb verða, which originates in Old Norse verður and is cognate with related North Germanic verbs in other Scandinavian languages. The word functions within the verb’s mood system to express non-indicative meanings such as wishes or contingencies.

Usage: In modern Icelandic, the present subjunctive is relatively rare in everyday speech and is often replaced by the indicative or other constructions. It remains common in fixed phrases, formal writing, and ceremonial or literary contexts. Examples include phrases like Verði þér að góðu (May it be to your advantage) and Ef þetta verði að veruleika (If this should become a reality).

Grammar notes: Verði marks the present subjunctive mood rather than the indicative present. It can occur with different persons, yielding forms such as ég verði, þú verði, hann verði. In practice, its use is largely limited to formal, religious, or literary registers, with speakers frequently relying on alternative expressions in casual speech.

See also: verða, Icelandic grammar, subjunctive mood, Icelandic phonology and morphology.