Help and emergencies in Icelandic
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Icelandic 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 Icelandic phrases in this lesson
- Hjálp!hyowlp
- Help!
- Hringdu í lækni!HRING-du ee LYEK-nee
- Call a doctor
- LögreglanLUH-rek-lan
- Police
- Apótekah-POH-tek
- Pharmacy
- SjúkrahúsSYOO-kra-hoos
- Hospital
- Ég er villturyekh er VIL-tur
- I'm lost
- Mér líður ekki velmyer LEE-thur EK-ee vel
- I don't feel well
- Það var stoliðthath var STOH-lith
- It was stolen
- Þetta er neyðartilvikTHET-ta er NAY-thar-til-vik
- It's an emergency
- Láttu mig í friðiLOWT-tu mikh ee FRI-thi
- Leave me alone
Shout this clearly and loudly in any emergency. The hj- combination sounds like a soft "hy" sound. Iceland has very low crime rates but emergencies on trails or in remote areas do happen.
Lækni is the accusative form of læknir, meaning doctor. In a medical emergency, calling 112 will connect you to all emergency services including ambulance. Healthcare is excellent in Iceland.
The emergency number is 112.
Pharmacies are called apótek in Icelandic, close to the word in many European languages. They stock prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Hours can be limited outside Reykjavík.
Landspítali is the main hospital in Reykjavík. Sjúkrahús literally means "sick house." Emergency treatment is available to all visitors but costs can be high without travel insurance.
Villtur is the masculine form. A woman would say "villt." Use this when you genuinely need help navigating. Icelanders are helpful to tourists and will go out of their way to assist.
Tell a local or hotel staff this if you feel ill. Mér is the dative of ég, meaning "to me." Líður comes from the verb líða, to feel or fare. Prompt phrasing can speed up getting help.
Theft is rare in Iceland but not impossible, particularly in tourist areas. Report any theft to the police. You will need a crime report number for any travel insurance claim.
Literally "let me be in peace".