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.

Inflection

    positive (strong declension)

singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	mellufær	mellufær	mellufært
accusative	mellufæran	mellufæra	mellufært
dative	mellufærum	mellufærri	mellufæru
genitive	mellufærs	mellufærrar	mellufærs
plural	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	mellufærir	mellufærar	mellufær
accusative	mellufæra	mellufærar	mellufær
dative	mellufærum	mellufærum	mellufærum
genitive	mellufærra	mellufærra	mellufærra

    positive (weak declension)

singular	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	mellufæri	mellufæra	mellufæra
accusative	mellufæra	mellufæru	mellufæra
dative	mellufæra	mellufæru	mellufæra
genitive	mellufæra	mellufæru	mellufæra
plural	masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	mellufæru	mellufæru	mellufæru
accusative	mellufæru	mellufæru	mellufæru
dative	mellufæru	mellufæru	mellufæru
genitive	mellufæru	mellufæru	mellufæru