mellufær

Icelandic

Etymology

From mella (“whore”) +‎ fær (“capable”), probably originally in the meaning of "to speak a language well enough to be able to request the services of prostitutes" rather than "to be as capable as a whore". Today the word however only means "minimally capable" and usually does not evoke imagery of prostitution to listeners.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɛtlʏˌfaiːr/

Adjective

mellufær (not comparable)

1. (informal) to have some minimum necessary amount of knowledge in a foreign language to be able to communicate effectively

   Æ, ég er svona mellufær í þýsku. ― Well, I can communicate in German.

2. (informal, by extension of the above) to have some minimum necessary amount of skill to be able to do something effectively

   Hann er mellufær á trommur. ― He can play the drums, but he's not exactly an advanced player.

Declension

positive forms of mellufær

strong declension (indefinite)	singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	mellufær	mellufær	mellufært
	accusative	mellufæran	mellufæra
	dative	mellufærum	mellufærri	mellufæru
	genitive	mellufærs	mellufærrar	mellufærs
	plural	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	mellufærir	mellufærar	mellufær
	accusative	mellufæra
	dative	mellufærum
	genitive	mellufærra
weak declension (definite)	singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
	nominative	mellufæri	mellufæra	mellufæra
	acc/dat/gen	mellufæra	mellufæru
	plural (all-case)	mellufæru