hæfa

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse hœfa.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhaiːva/

  Rhymes: -aiːva

Verb

hæfa (weak verb, third-person singular past indicative hæfði, supine hæft)

1. (intransitive) to hit
2. (transitive, governs the accusative) to hit a mark

   Byssukúlan hæfði höfuð dýrsins.

   The bullet hit the animal in the head.

   Eldflaugin hefur hæft skotmarkið.

   The missile has hit the target.

3. (intransitive) to suit, to fit
4. (transitive, governs the dative) to suit someone, to fit someone

   Dökku jakkafötin hæfa honum vel.

   The dark suit fits him well.

5. (intransitive) to befit, to behoove, to be appropriate
6. (transitive, governs the dative) to befit someone, to behoove someone, to be appropriate for someone
7. (impersonal) to befit

Conjugation

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Synonyms

• (hit): hitta
• (suit): fara vel
• (be appropriate): sæma, vera viðeigandi

Derived terms

• óhæfa

Noun

hæfa f (genitive singular hæfu, no plural)

1. truth

   Það er engin hæfa í þessu!

   There is no truth to this!

2. fairness

   Þetta er engin hæfa.

   This is unfair.

Usage notes

• Mainly used in the expression engin hæfa í (“no truth to”).

Synonyms

• (truth): sannleikur
• (fairness): sanngirni

Derived terms

• engin hæfa
• engin hæfa í

See also

• úr lausu lofti gripið