This is the 719th most frequent Icelandic word.
vorum
The Icelandic word "vorum" is the first-person plural past tense of the verb "vera," meaning "we were."
Here, 'vorum' is used in the past continuous tense to indicate an action (reading) that was ongoing in the past.
Við vorum að lesa bók í garðinum.
We were reading a book in the garden.
In this case, 'vorum' is part of a question, used for stating something in past passive voice.
Hvers vegna vorum við ekki boðin í veisluna?
Why were we not invited to the party?
Here 'vorum' is used as part of a past perfect question structure, asking about prior acquaintance.