Basics in Icelandic phrasebook
Note: you should take time to learn the alphabet rather than rely on the pronunciation guides within the brackets. Also note, the hyphens (-) serve only as a means to help you break down pronunciations, they do not represent where a pause should be, and the pronunciation should be read without pausing on the hyphens.
|
Common signs
- OPEN�
- Opið
- CLOSED�
- Lokað
- ENTRANCE�
- Inn, Inngangur
- EXIT�
- Út, Útgangur
- NO ENTRY�
- Aðgangur bannaður
- PUSH�
- Ýta, Ýtið
- PULL�
- Toga, Togið
- TOILET�
- Baðherbergi, Klósett, WC
- GENTLEMEN�
- Menn, Herrar
- LADIES�
- Konur
- MEN�
- Menn, Karlar, or Karlmenn
- WOMEN�
- Konur
- FORBIDDEN�
- Bannaður
- WARNING�
- Varúð
|
Hello.�
Halló. (Hal-law)
Hello (informal).�
Sæll, (to a man). (Sight-l.)
Sæl, (to a woman). (Sigh-l.)
Hi.�
Hæ. (High.) Like the English word.
Common amongst younger generations.
How are you?�
Hvað segirðu gott? (Kvadh sek-ir-dhu goht?)
Fine, thank you.�
Ég segi allt gott, þakka þér fyrir. (Yeh sek-i atlt goht, thah-ka thyer fi-rir.)
What is your name?�
Hvað heitirðu? (Kvadh hay-tir-dhu?)
My name is ______ .�
Ég heiti ______ . (Yeh hay-ti _____ .)
Nice to meet you.�
Komdu sæll, (to a man). (Komdu sight-l.)
Komdu sæl, (to a woman). (Komdu sighl.)
Please.�
Gjörðu svo vel, (to one person). (Gyer-dhu svo vel.)
Or; Gerið þið svo vel, (to many people). (Ger-adh thi-dh svo vel.)
Thank you.�
Þakka þér fyrir. (Thah-ka thyer fi-rir.)
Thanks, (informal)�
Takk. (Tahk.)
You're welcome.�
Ekkert að þakka. (Eh-kehrt adh thah-ka.)
Yes.�
Já. (Yaw.)
Or; Jú (Yoo; for answering a negative question).
No.�
Nei. (Nay.)
Excuse me, (getting attention).�
Afsakið. (Av-sak-idh.)
Excuse me, (begging pardon).�
Fyrirgefðu. (Fi-rir-gyev-dhu.)
I'm sorry, (didn't hear).�
Ha? (Ha?)
Or; Hvað segir þú? (Kvadh se-kir thoo?)
I'm sorry, (regretful). �
Því miður. (Thvee mi-dhur.)
Goodbye, (informal).�
Bless. (Bless; often said twice, "Bless bless".)
I can't speak Icelandic [well].�
Ég tala ekki íslensku [svo vel]. (Yeh ta-la eh-ki ees-len-sku [svo vel].)
Do you speak English?�
Talarðu ensku? (Ta-lar-dhu en-sku?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?�
Er einhver hér sem talar ensku? (Er ayn-kver hyer sem ta-lar en-sku?)
Help!�
Hjálp! (Hyawlp!)
Look out!�
Varúð! (!)
Good morning.�
Góðan daginn. (Goh-dhan da-kin.)
Good evening.�
Gott kvöld. (Got kvur-lt.)
Good night.�
Góða nótt. (Goh-dha no-ht.)
Good night, (to sleep).�
Sofðu vel. (So-vdhu vel.)
I don't understand.�
Ég skil ekki. (Yeh skil eh-ki.)
Could you speak more slowly?�
Gætirðu talað hægar? (Gigh-tir-dhu ta-ladh high-kar?)
How do you say _____ in Icelandic?�
Hvernig segir maður _____ á íslensku? (Kver-nik se-kir ma-dhur _____ aw ees-len-sku?)
OK.�
Allt í lagí. (Atlt ee lak-i.)
Or; Ókei (Oh-kay; this is used amongst younger generations.)
Where is the toilet?�
Hvar er klósettið? (Kvar er klow-sett-idh?)
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Icelandic phrasebook
