Learning Icelandic

How to pronounce some of the Icelandic alphabet.

  • a = like a in father
  • e = like e in test
  • i, y = like i in little
  • u = like German ü in für or French u in tu
  • ö = like German ö in höher or French eu in neuf
  • æ sounds like eye
  • ð = like th in weather (voiced th)
  • þ = like th in thorn (unvoiced th)

Common phrases

Yes = Já
No = Nei
Thank you = Takk
Thank you very much = Takk fyrir
You’re welcome = Gerðu svo vel
Excuse me/sorry = Fyrirgefðu
Hello = Halló/Góðan daginn
Goodbye = Bless
What is your name? = Hvað heitir þú?
Nice to meet you = Gaman að kynnast þér
How are you? = Hvernig hefur þú það?
Good = Góður/Góð (male/fem.)
Bad = Vondur/Vond (male/fem.)

Good night = Góða Nótt
Good evening = Gott kvöld
Have a good weekend = Góða Helgi
Have a good trip = Goða ferð

Numbers

zero = núll
one = einn
two = tveir
three = þrír
four = fjórir
five = fimm
six = sex
seven = sjö
eight = átta
nine = níu
ten = tíu