This is the 778th most frequent Icelandic word.
stóðu
"Stóðu" is the past tense of "standa," meaning "stood" in English.
'Stóðu' is used here as the past tense plural form of the verb 'að standa', meaning 'to stand', describing the children standing in a specific arrangement.
Börnin stóðu í röð fyrir utan skólann.
The children stood in line outside the school.
In this sentence, 'stóðu' is part of the phrasal verb 'að standa sig', which means 'to perform' or 'to accomplish', indicating their positive performance.
Þau stóðu sig vel í prófinu.
They performed well on the exam.
'Stóðu' here is used in the phrase 'að standa undir', which can mean 'to meet' or 'to fulfill' expectations, referring to whether the attendees succeeded in doing so.