Useful Icelandic phrases
A collection of useful phrases in Icelandic, a North Germanic
language spoken mainly in Iceland.
Key to abbreviations: inf = informal, frm = formal,
>m = to a man, >f = to a woman.
Please note: the formal phrases are rarely used.
Jump to phrases
See these phrases
in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
English |
Íslenska (Icelandic) |
Welcome |
Velkomin (>f)
Velkominn (>m) |
Hello (General greeting) |
Halló
Góðan dag
Góðan daginn
Sæll (>m)
Sæl (>f)
Sæll vertu (>m)
Sæl vertu (>f)
Komdu sæll (>m)
Komdu sæl (>f)
Komdu sæll og blessaður (>m)
Komdu sæl og blessað (>f)
Blessaður (>m)
Blessað (>f) |
How are you? |
Hvað segirþú?
("What do you say?")
Hvernig hefurþú það?
("How do you have it?")
Hvað er að frétta?
("What's the news?")
Hvað er að frétta af þér?
("What's the news from you?") |
Reply to 'How are you?' |
Allt gott, en þú? ("Everything good, and you?)
Allt fínt, en þú? ("Everything fine, and you?)
Allt ágætt, en þú? ("Everything okay, and you?)
Bara fínt, en þú? ("Just fine, and you?)
Ég hef það bara fínt, en þú? ("I have it just fine, and you?)
Ég hef það bara gott, en þú? ("I have it just good, and you?) |
Long time no see |
Langt síðan við höfum sést |
What's your name? |
Hvað heitir þú? |
My name is ... |
Ég heiti ... |
Where are you from? |
Hvaðan ert þu?
Hvaðan ertu?
Hvaðan kemur þú? |
I'm from ... |
Ég er frá ... |
Pleased to meet you |
Gaman að kynnast þér
Gaman að hitta þig |
Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Góðan daginn
Góðan dag |
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Góðan daginn
Góðan dag |
Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Góða kvöldið
Gott kvöld |
Good night |
Góða nótt |
Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Vertu blessaður (>m)
Vertu blessuð (>f)
Bless á meðan
Bless bless (inf)
Bless
Við sjáumst (see you later)
Sjáumst síðar (see you later) |
Good luck! |
Gangi þér vel! |
Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Skál! |
Have a nice day |
Eigðu góðan dag |
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Verði þér að góðu |
Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Góða ferð |
I understand |
Ég skil |
I don't understand |
Ég skil ekki |
Yes |
Já |
No |
Nei |
Maybe |
Kannski |
I don't know |
Ég veit ekki |
Please speak more slowly |
Gætirðu talað hægar?
Viltu tala svolítið hægar? |
Please say that again |
Gætirðu sagt þetta aftur?
Gætirðu endurtekið þetta? |
Please write it down |
Gætirðu skrifað þetta niður (inf)
Gætirðu vinsamlegast skrifað þetta niður (frm) |
Do you speak Icelandic? |
Talar þú íslensku? |
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Já, smávegis |
I'm learning Icelandic |
Ég læri íslensku |
Speak to me in Icelandic |
Talaðu íslensku við mig |
How do you say ... in Icelandic? |
Hvernig segir maður ... á íslensku? |
Excuse me |
Afsakið!
Fyrirgefðu! |
How much is this? |
Hvað kostar þetta? |
Sorry |
Því miður
Fyrirgefðu
Mér þykir það leitt |
Please |
Gjörðu svo vel (sg)
Gerið þið svo vel (pl) |
Thank you |
Takk
Takk fyrir
Þakka þér fyrir
Þakka þér kærlega fyrir
Kærar þakkir |
Reply to thank you |
Það var ekkert |
Where's the toilet / bathroom? |
Hvar er klósettið? |
This gentleman will pay for everything |
Þessi herramaður mun borga fyrir allt saman |
This lady will pay for everything |
Þessi dama mun borga fyrir allt saman |
Would you like to dance with me? |
Viltu dansa við mig? |
I miss you |
Ég sakna þín |
I love you |
Ég elska þig |
Get well soon |
Láttu þér batna
Láttu þér batna fljótt |
Leave me alone! |
Láttu mig í friði! |
Help! |
Hjálp! |
Fire! |
Eldur! |
Stop! |
Hættu! |
Call the police! |
Náið í lögregluna! |
Christmas greetings |
Gleðileg jól |
New Year greetings |
Farsælt komandi ár
Farsælt nýtt ár |
Easter greetings |
Gleðilega páska |
Birthday greetings |
Til hamingju með afmælið |
Congratulations! |
Til hamingju! |
One language is never enough |
Eitt tungumál er aldrei nóg |
My hovercraft is full of eels |
Svifnökkvinn minn er fullur af álum |
Famous volcanoes |
Eyjafjallajökull
Hekla
Katla
Askja
Surtsey (Vesturey)
Vestmannaeyjar |
Recordings by Stefan Steinsson and Jóhannes Helgason
Download all the audio files (Zip format, 1.4MB)
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if
you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Icelandic |
Phrases |
Numbers |
Colours |
Family words |
Time |
Terms of endearment |
Idioms |
Tongue twisters |
Tower of Babel |
Learning materials
Links
Other collections of Icelandic phrases (some with audio)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/quickfix/icelandic.shtml
http://odin.bio.miami.edu/norse/icetrans.html
http://wikitravel.org/en/Icelandic_phrasebook
http://www.linguanaut.com/english_icelandic.htm
Learn Icelandic with Glossika
Phrases in Germanic languages
Afrikaans,
Alsatian,
American Norwegian,
Bavarian,
Cimbrian,
Danish,
Dutch,
Elfdalian,
English (British),
Faroese,
Flemish (West),
Frisian (North - Bökingharde),
Frisian (North - Sylt),
Frisian (Saterland),
Frisian (West),
German,
Gothic,
Icelandic,
Limburgish,
Low Saxon,
Luxembourgish,
Norwegian,
Old English,
Pennsylvania German/Dutch,
Scots,
Stellingwarfs,
Swedish,
Swiss German (Basel dialect),
Swiss German (Chur dialect),
Swiss German (Lucerne dialect),
Värmlandic,
West Jutlandic,
Westrobothnian,
Wymsorys,
Yiddish
Phrases in other languages
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