The Icelandic course
Learn Icelandic ten words at a time
Íslenska
Ten games of ten words: the hundred most useful Icelandic words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Icelandic challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
Icelandic · Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness
Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- HallóHAH-lo
- Hello
- Hæhye
- Hi
- Góðan daginnGOH-than DIE-in
- Good morning
- Góða nóttGOH-tha noht
- Good night
- Kærar þakkirKYE-rar THAH-keer
- Thank you very much
- Takktahk
- Thanks
- Það var ekkertthath var EK-kert
- You're welcome
- VinsamlegastVIN-sam-leh-gast
- Please
- AfsakiðAHF-sah-kith
- Excuse me
- Blessbless
- Goodbye
Icelandic · Lesson 2 of 10
Order anything by pointing
One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.
- Eitt bjór, vinsamlegastAYT byohr, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- One beer, please
- Eitt af þessu, vinsamlegastAYT ahv THES-su, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- One of these, please
- Einn kaffi, vinsamlegastAYN KAH-fee, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- One coffee, please
- Tvo, vinsamlegasttvoh, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- Two, please
- Enn eitt, vinsamlegasten AYT, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- One more, please
- Hvað kostar þetta?kvath KOS-tar THET-tah
- How much is it?
- Reikninginn, vinsamlegastRAYK-ning-in, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- The bill, please
- Það er alltthath er ahlt
- That's everything
- Skál!skowl
- Cheers!
- Til heilsutil HALE-su
- Bless you
Icelandic · Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials
The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.
- Jáyow
- Yes
- Neinay
- No
- Allt í lagiahlt ee LAH-yee
- Okay
- Ekkert málEK-kert mowl
- Sure / No problem
- Ég veit ekkiyekh vayt EK-ee
- I don't know
- Ég skil ekkiyekh skil EK-ee
- I don't understand
- Talar þú ensku?TAH-lar thoo EN-sku
- Do you speak English?
- AðeinsAH-thyns
- A little
- AuðvitaðOY-vih-tath
- Of course
- Allt er í lagiahlt er ee LAH-yee
- Everything is fine
Icelandic · Lesson 4 of 10
Numbers and money
Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.
- Einn, Tveir, Þrír, Fjórir, FimmAYN, TVAYR, threer, FYOH-reer, fim
- One, Two, Three, Four, Five
- Sex, Sjö, Átta, Níu, Tíusex, syuh, OW-tah, NEE-u, TEE-u
- Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten
- Eitt hundraðAYT HUN-dreth
- One hundred
- KrónaKROH-nah
- Króna (the currency)
- Með kortimeth KOR-tee
- By card
- Með reiðufémeth RAY-thu-fyeh
- In cash
- Hvað kostar?kvath KOS-tar
- How much?
- Dýrtdeert
- Expensive
- Kvittun, vinsamlegastKVIH-tun, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- Receipt, please
- Áttu til af smápeningum?OW-tu til ahv SMOW-pen-ing-um
- Do you have change?
Icelandic · Lesson 5 of 10
At the supermarket
Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.
- Brauðbroith
- Bread
- Mjólkmyohlk
- Milk
- Vatnvatn
- Water
- Eggeg
- Eggs
- OsturOS-tur
- Cheese
- Poki?POH-kee
- A bag?
- Eigið þið...?AY-yith thith
- Do you have...?
- Ekkert annað, takkEK-kert AH-nath, tahk
- Nothing else, thank you
- Hvar er...?kvar er
- Where is...?
- Hvað kostar þetta?kvath KOS-tar THET-tah
- How much?
Icelandic · Lesson 6 of 10
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.
- Borð fyrir tvo, vinsamlegastborth FIR-ir tvoh, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- A table for two, please
- Matseðilinn, vinsamlegastMAT-seth-il-in, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- The menu, please
- Hvað mælir þú með?kvath MYE-lir thoo meth
- What do you recommend?
- Ég tek þettayekh tek THET-tah
- I'll have this
- Þetta er ljúffengtTHET-tah er LYOOF-fenkt
- It's delicious
- Enn eitt, vinsamlegasten AYT, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- Another one, please
- Með sérmeth syer
- To take away
- Reikninginn, vinsamlegastRAYK-ning-in, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- The bill, please
- Er þjónusta innifalin?er THYOH-nus-tah IN-ih-fah-lin
- Is service included?
- KjötsúpaKYUHT-soo-pah
- Lamb soup (local specialty)
Icelandic · Lesson 7 of 10
Small talk and neighbors
How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.
- Hvernig hefur þú það?KVER-nig HEH-vur thoo thath
- How are you? (formal)
- Hvernig gengur?KVER-nig GENG-ur
- How are you? (casual)
- Allt gott, takkahlt got, tahk
- Fine, thanks
- Hvað heitir þú?kvath HAY-tir thoo
- What's your name?
- Gaman að hitta þigGAH-man ath HIT-tah thig
- Nice to meet you
- Hvaðan ert þú?KVAH-than ert thoo
- Where are you from?
- Gott veður í daggot VEH-thur ee dahg
- Beautiful weather today
- Við sjáumstvith SYOYMST
- See you soon
- Gangi þér velGANG-ee thyer vel
- Have a good day
- Skálskowl
- Cheers / To your health
Icelandic · Lesson 8 of 10
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Hvar er...?kvar er
- Where is...?
- VinstriVIN-stree
- Left
- HægriHYE-gree
- Right
- Beint áframbaynt OW-vram
- Straight ahead
- StoppistöðinSTOP-ee-stuh-thin
- The bus stop
- FlugvöllurinnFLUG-vuht-lur-in
- The airport
- Einn miða, vinsamlegastAYN MEE-thah, VIN-sam-leh-gast
- One ticket, please
- Hvar er klósettið?kvar er KLOH-set-ith
- Where is the toilet?
- Hvað er það langt?kvath er thath lankt
- How far is it?
- Ég er villturyekh er VIL-tur
- I'm lost
Icelandic · Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days
Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.
- Í dagee dahg
- Today
- Á morgunow MOR-gun
- Tomorrow
- Í gæree gyre
- Yesterday
- NúnaNOO-nah
- Now
- SeinnaSAYN-nah
- Later
- MánudagurMOW-nu-dah-gur
- Monday
- FöstudagurFUHS-tu-dah-gur
- Friday
- HelginHEL-gin
- The weekend
- Hvað er klukkan?kvath er KLUK-an
- What time is it?
- Morgunn / KvöldMOR-gun / kvuhld
- Morning / Evening
Icelandic · Lesson 10 of 10
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Hjálp!hyowlp
- Help!
- Hringdu í lögreglu!HRING-du ee LUHG-reg-lu
- Call the police!
- Hringdu í lækni!HRING-du ee LYEK-nee
- Call a doctor!
- Apótekah-POH-tek
- Pharmacy
- Ég er villturyekh er VIL-tur
- I'm lost
- Ég þarf hjálpyekh tharf hyowlp
- I need help
- Það var stoliðthath var STOH-lith
- It was stolen
- Mér líður ekki velmyer LEE-thur EK-ee vel
- I don't feel well
- SjúkrahúsSYOO-kra-hoos
- Hospital
- NeyðartilfelliNAY-thar-til-fel-ee
- Emergency