Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Icelandic words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
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Hello.
How much is it?|
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
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Hvað heitir þú? What is your name? Ég heiti ... My name is ... Hvernig hefur þú það? How are you? Fínt. En þú? Fine. And you? Hvar er ...? Where is ...? Hvar er klósettið? Karlar/Konur Where is the toilet? Men/Women Fyrirgefðu. Afsakið. Sorry. Excuse me. Ekkert mál. No problem. Ég vil ... I want ... Ég vil ekki ... I don't want ... |
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Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
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Hvaðan ertu? Where are you from? Ég er frá Ástralíu.* I am from Australia. Reikninginn, takk. The bill, please. Ég er týndur. (man) Ég er týnd. (woman) I'm lost. Hættu! Bíddu! Stop! Wait! Hér, þar. Here, there. Taxi. Hótel. Flugvöllur. Strætóstoppistöð. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop. Mér líkar ... I like ... Mér líkar ekki ... I don't like ... einn, tveir, þrír, fjórir, fimm. one, two, three, four, five. sex, sjö, átta, níu, tíu. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: frá Ameríku - from America frá Kanada - from Canada frá Englandi - from England frá Írlandi - from Ireland frá Nýja-Sjálandi - from New Zealand |
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Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... |
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Skál! Cheers! góður / vondur good / bad stór / lítill big / small nálægt / langt near / far minni / meira less / more annar / nógur another / enough Ég er grænmetisæta. I am vegetarian. Ég borða ekki kjöt. I don't eat meat. ... kjúkling. ... chicken. ... fisk. ... fish. Ég er með ofnæmi fyrir hnetum. I am allergic to nuts. ... jarðhnetum. ... peanuts. ... fiski. ... fish. ... fiski og skelfiski. ... seafood. ... eggjum. ... eggs. |
Vowels:
á is pronounced ow as in cow (IPA au)
æ is pronounced as ai as in aisle
au is pronounced as er+i (øɪ)
é is pronunced as ye as in yet (jɛ)
i is pronounced as i as in bill (ɪ)
í is pronounced as a long i (IPA i:)
ó is pronounced o+u (IPA ou)
ö is pronounced as er as in herd (œ)
u is pronounced as Southern English oo as in book (ʏ), a short i (ɪ) with rounded lips
ú is pronounced as u
y is pronounced as i, ý as í
Consonants:
f after vowels is pronounced as v
g, b and d are pronounced as k, p and t without any puff of air (IPA k, p, t)
g before i and gj are pronounced as y as in yet (IPA j)
g after vowels is like gh, a voiced velar fricative (ɣ)
hv is pronounced as kʰv
k, p and t have a puff of air after the consonant, eg. kʰ, pʰ, tʰ
kk, pp and tt is pronounced as hk, hp and ht
kt is pronounced as kht (IPA xt)
ll is pronounced as tl, eg. sæll = saitl
pk, ps, and pt are pronounced as fk, fs, ft
z is pronounced as s
ð is pronounced as th as in this (ð) or at the end of a word as th as in thick (θ)
þ is pronounced as th as in thick (θ)
á is pronounced ow as in cow (IPA au)
æ is pronounced as ai as in aisle
au is pronounced as er+i (øɪ)
é is pronunced as ye as in yet (jɛ)
i is pronounced as i as in bill (ɪ)
í is pronounced as a long i (IPA i:)
ó is pronounced o+u (IPA ou)
ö is pronounced as er as in herd (œ)
u is pronounced as Southern English oo as in book (ʏ), a short i (ɪ) with rounded lips
ú is pronounced as u
y is pronounced as i, ý as í
Consonants:
f after vowels is pronounced as v
g, b and d are pronounced as k, p and t without any puff of air (IPA k, p, t)
g before i and gj are pronounced as y as in yet (IPA j)
g after vowels is like gh, a voiced velar fricative (ɣ)
hv is pronounced as kʰv
k, p and t have a puff of air after the consonant, eg. kʰ, pʰ, tʰ
kk, pp and tt is pronounced as hk, hp and ht
kt is pronounced as kht (IPA xt)
ll is pronounced as tl, eg. sæll = saitl
pk, ps, and pt are pronounced as fk, fs, ft
z is pronounced as s
ð is pronounced as th as in this (ð) or at the end of a word as th as in thick (θ)
þ is pronounced as th as in thick (θ)