This is the 193rd most frequent Icelandic word.
hefst
"Begins" or "starts."
In this sentence, "hefst" means "starts," indicating the beginning of an action or event, in this case, a course.
Námskeiðið hefst í næstu viku.
The course starts next week.
Here, "hefst" refers to the initiation of the event (the celebration), highlighting the temporal sequence based on the guests' arrival.
Veislan hefst um leið og gestirnir koma.
The celebration begins as soon as the guests arrive.
In this example, "hefst" denotes the commencement of an activity (the work) contingent on another condition (tools being ready).