Meeting people in Faroese
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes. Play the ten Faroese words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Faroese phrases in this lesson
- Hvussu hevur tú tað?HVOO-soo HEH-voor too teth
- How are you?
- Gott, takkgot tahk
- I'm fine, thanks
- Og tú?og TOO
- And you?
- Hvat eitur tú?kvat AY-toor too
- What's your name?
- Eg eiti...eh AY-tee
- My name is...
- Hvaðan ert tú?KVA-than airt too
- Where are you from?
- Eg eri úr...eh EH-ree oor
- I'm from...
- Mær dámar taðmair DOH-mar teh
- I like it
- Tað er vakurtteh air VAH-kurt
- It's beautiful
- VælkominVEL-ko-min
- Welcome
The polite form used with people you do not know well, older people, or in professional settings. Faroese society is relatively informal, but this form is appreciated.
The standard positive reply to "how are you?" Simple and natural. You can add "og hjá tær?" (and with you?) to be polite.
Literally "what are you called?" The standard way to ask someone's name in Faroese. Faroese names often come from Old Norse and have strong historical roots.
Literally "I am called".
A natural follow-up in conversation with a visitor. The Faroe Islands receive a growing number of tourists and locals are genuinely curious about where people come from.
Literally "it pleases me".
For the cliffs and waterfalls, the only fitting comment.