Meeting people in Icelandic
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes. 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
- Hvernig hefur þú það?KVER-nig HEH-vur thoo thath
- How are you?
- Allt gott, takkahlt got, tahk
- I'm fine, thanks
- En þú?en THOO
- And you?
- Hvað heitir þú?kvath HAY-tir thoo
- What's your name?
- Ég heiti...yekh HAY-ti
- My name is...
- Hvaðan ert þú?KVAH-than ert thoo
- Where are you from?
- Ég er frá...yekh er frow
- I'm from...
- Mér líkar þaðmyer LEE-kar thath
- I like it
- Þetta er fallegtTHET-ta er FAT-lekht
- It's beautiful
- VelkominVEL-ko-min
- Welcome
The fuller form of asking how someone is. Used in slightly more formal or first-meeting contexts. Icelanders often answer directly and honestly rather than reflexively saying "fine."
The default positive response to "how are you." Gott means "good" and allt means "all." Together they form the Icelandic equivalent of "all good."
Literally "what are you called?" Icelanders always go by first names, including in professional settings. There are no titles like Mr. or Mrs. in everyday use.
Icelanders use first names for everyone, even the president.
A very common question for tourists in Iceland. Icelanders are curious about where visitors come from. Be ready to reciprocate and ask about their own background.
The double l is said "tl".
To one man: "velkominn".