Icelandic nouns are declined in four cases, two numbers, and the presence of the definite article. Verbs have person and number, which is used with pronouns.
Although Icelandic looks very formidable with its strange characters "t" and "d" and many accented vowels, once the basic rules have been learned, pronunciation is fairly straightforward. Note that stress '''always''' falls on the first syllable of any word.
Some vowels in Icelandic can have accent marks which modify the sound of each vowel. Vowels can come in long or short forms. In Icelandic, all vowels can be long or short. Vowels are long when they are in single syllable words, or when they form the penultimate syllable in two syllable words.
; A a : (Short) like "a" in "land", (long) like "a" in "car"; or like "ow" in "now" when followed by "ng" or "nk". ; A a : Like "ow" in "now". ; E e : (Short) like "e" in "met", (long) like "ea" in "bear". ; E e : Like "ye" in "yes". ; I i : (Short) like "i" in "bit", (long) same "i" but lengthened; or like "ee" in "meet" when followed by "ng" or "nk". ; I i : Like "ee" in "meet". ; O o : (Short) like "o" in "hot", (long) like "or" in "door". ; O o : Like "o" in "snow". ; U u : (Short) like "u" in "put", (long) the same short "u" but lengthened; or like "oo" in "moon" when followed by "ng" or "nk". ; U u : Like "oo" in "moon". ; Y y : Same as Icelandic "i": (short) like "i" in "bit", (long) same "i" but lengthened; or like "ee" in "meet" when followed by "ng" or "nk". ; Y y : Same as Icelandic "i": like "ee" in "meet". ; A a : Like "i" in "mile". ; O o : (Short) like "ur" in "fur" but shorter, (long) like "ur" in "fur"; ('''do not''' pronouce the "r").
; B b : Like "b" in "bed", or like "p" when at word end or following "m". ; D d : Like "d" in "day", or like "t" when at word end. ; D d : Like "th" in "that", (only occurs in word middle and word end). ; F f : Like "f" in "fish", or like "v" in "van" when between vowels; or when before "l" or "n", like "b" in "bed". ; G g : Like "g" in "go", or like "k" in "kill" when in word middle; it is lost after "a", "o", "u" when followed by "a" or "u" in the next syllable or when at word end. ; H h : Like "h" in "hat", or like "k" when before a consonant; ('''never''' silent like "honour"). ; J j : Like "y" in "yes". ; K k : Like "k" in "kill". ; L l : Like "l" in "like". ; M m : Like "m" in "me". ; N n : Like "n" in "nurse". ; P p : Like "p" in "push", or like "f" in "far" when before "s", "k", or "t". ; R r : Rolled, like Scottish "r". ; S s : Like "s" in "sun"; ('''never''' like "z" in "zero"). ; T t : Like "t" in "take". ; V v : Like "v" in "value". ; X x : Like "x" in "exit". ; T t : Like "th" in "thing".
; au : Like "ur" in "fur" (do not prononce the r) followed by "ee" in "see" but with no intervening "r" - "u(r)-ee", similar to "oy" in "boy". ; ei, ey : Like "ay" in "say". ; gi, gj : Like "gy" in "drag-you" at word start; like "y" in "yes" in word middle or at word end. ; hv : Like "kv" in "lock vent". ; kk : Like "chk" in Scottish "Loch Carron". ; ll : Like "tl" in "settle". Similar to Welsh "ll" (double L) but more aspirated (has more air to it). ; ng : Like "nk" in "thinker", '''not''' "ng" in "finger". ; nn : Like "dn" in "hard-nosed" when after "a", "e", "i", "o", "u", "y", "a", "au", "ei", or "ey"; or like "nn" in "tunnel" after "a", "e", "i", "o", "u", "y" or "o". ; pp : Like "h" and "p" fused together, similar to "hop" without the "o". ; rl : Like "dl" in "riddle" similar in form to Welsh "ll" (double L) but said harder. ; rn : Like "dn" in "hard-nosed" when after "a", "e", "i", "o", "u", "y", "a", "au", "ei", or "ey". ; tt : Like "h" and "t" fused together, similar to "hut" without the "u".
'''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.
; OPEN : Opid ; CLOSED : Lokad ; ENTRANCE : Inn, or Inngangur ; EXIT : Ut, Utgangur ; NO ENTRY / EXIT : Adgangur bannadur ; PUSH : Yta, Ytid ; PULL : Toga, Togid ; TOILET : Badherbergi, Klosett, WC, VK ; GENTLEMEN : Menn, Herrar ; LADIES : Konur ; MEN : Menn, Karlar, or Karlmenn ; WOMEN : Konur ; FORBIDDEN : Bannadur ; WARNING : Varud}}
; Hello. : Hallo. (''Hal-law'') ; Hello (informal). : Sall, (to a man). ''(Sight-l.)'' : Sal, (to a woman). ''(Sigh-l.)'' ; Hi. : Ha. ''(High.) Like the English word.'' : ''Common amongst younger generations.'' ; How are you? : Hvad segirdu gott? ''(Kvadh sek-ir-dhu goht?)'' ; Fine, thank you. : Eg segi allt gott, takka ter fyrir. ''(Yeh sek-i atlt goht, thah-ka thyer fi-rir.)'' ; What is your name? : Hvad heitirdu? ''(Kvadh hay-tir-dhu?)'' ; My name is ______ . : Eg heiti ______ . ''(Yeh hay-ti _____ .)'' ; Nice to meet you. : Komdu sall, (to a man). ''(Komdu sight-l.)'' : Komdu sal, (to a woman). ''(Komdu sighl.)'' ; Please. : Gjordu svo vel, (to one person). ''(Gyer-dhu svo vel.)'' : Or; Gerid tid svo vel, (to many people). ''(Ger-adh thi-dh svo vel.)'' ; Thank you. : Takka ter fyrir. ''(Thah-ka thyer fi-rir.)'' ; Thanks, (informal) : Takk. ''(Tahk.)'' ; You're welcome. : Ekkert ad takka. ''(Eh-kehrt adh thah-ka.)'' ; Yes. : Ja. ''(Yaw.)'' : Or; Ju ''(Yoo; for answering a negative question).'' ; No. : Nei. ''(Nay.)'' ; Excuse me, (getting attention). : Afsakid. ''(Av-sak-idh.)'' ; Excuse me, (begging pardon). : Fyrirgefdu. ''(Fi-rir-gyev-dhu.)'' ; I'm sorry, (didn't hear). : Ha? ''(Ha?)'' : Or; Hvad segir tu? ''(Kvadh se-kir thoo?)'' ; I'm sorry, (regretful). : Tvi midur. ''(Thvee mi-dhur.)'' ; Goodbye, (informal). : Bless. ''(Bless; often said twice, "Bless bless".)'' ; I can't speak Icelandic [well]. : Eg tala ekki islensku [svo vel]. ''(Yeh ta-la eh-ki ees-len-sku [svo vel].)'' ; Do you speak English? : Talardu ensku? ''(Ta-lar-dhu en-sku?)'' ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : Er einhver her sem talar ensku? ''(Er ayn-kver hyer sem ta-lar en-sku?)'' ; Help! : Hjalp! ''(Hyawlp!)'' ; Look out! : Gatinn! ''(Gigh-tin!)'' ; Good morning. : Godan daginn. ''(Goh-dhan da-kin.)'' ; Good evening. : Gott kvold. ''(Got kvur-lt.)'' ; Good night. : Goda nott. ''(Goh-dha no-ht.)'' ; Good night, (to sleep). : Sofdu vel. ''(So-vdhu vel.)'' ; I don't understand. : Eg skil ekki. ''(Yeh skil eh-ki.)'' ; Could you speak more slowly? : Gatirdu talad hagar? ''(Gigh-tir-dhu ta-ladh high-kar?)'' ; How do you say _____ in Icelandic? : Hvernig segir madur _____ a islensku? ''(Kver-nik se-kir ma-dhur _____ aw ees-len-sku?)'' ; OK. : Allt i lagi. ''(Atlt ee lak-i.)'' : Or; Okei ''(Oh-kay; this is used amongst younger generations.)'' ; Where is the toilet? : Hvar er klosettid? ''(Kvar er klow-sett-idh?)''
; Leave me alone. : Fardu i burtu. Or just "fardu" ''(Fa-r thu i bur-tu.)'' ; Don't touch me! : Ekki snerta mig! ''(E-kki snert-a mig.)'' ; I'll call the police. : Eg kalla a logreglunna. ''(Ye kat-la a lurk-rek-luna.)'' ; Police! : Logregla! ''(Lurk-rek-la!)'' ; Stop! Thief! : Stopp! Tjofur! ''(Sto-hp! Thyoh-vur!)'' ; I need your help. : Eg tarf sma hjalp. ''(Ye tharf sm-a hjowlp.)'' ; It's an emergency. : Tad er aridandi. ''(Thadh er awr-eedh-an-ti.)'' ; I'm lost. : Eg er tyndur. ''(Yeg er teen-tur.)'' ; My bag is missing. : Taskan min er tynd. ''(Tas-kan meen er teen-ed.)'' ; My wallet is missing. : Ledurveskid mitt er tynt. ''(Ledh-ur-ves-kidh mi-ht er teent.)'' ; My purse is missing. : Buddan min er tynd. ''(Bu-tan meen er teen-ed.)'' ; I'm sick. : Eg er veikur. ''(Yeg er vai-kur.)'' ; I've been injured. : Eg er sardur. ''(Yeg er sair-thur.)'' ; I need a doctor. : Eg tarf lakni. ''(Yeg tha-rf lai-kni.)'' ; Can I use your phone? : Ma eg nota simann tinn? ''(Maw ye not-a see-min thin?)''
'''NOTE''': The numbers 1 to 4 have three gender forms in Icelandic, and this gender form changes depending upon whether the number is attached to a masculine, feminine, or neuter word. Only numbers one to four have these gender forms. In addition the numbers one to four change for the four grammatical cases; however, all numbers below are in their nominative (or ''natural'') forms.
; number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : numer _____ ''(noo-mer)'' ; half : halfur ''(hawl-vur)'' ; third : tridji ''(thri-dhyi)'' ; quarter : fjordungur ''(fjohr-dhun-gur)'' ; less : minni ''(min-ni)'' ; more : meiri ''(may-ri)''
Examples: : (m) ''Einn'' madur ''(ay-tn madh-ur)'' "one man". : (f) ''Ein'' kona ''(ayn kon-a)'' "one woman". : (n) ''Eitt'' barn ''(ay-ht barn)'' "one child".
; 1 : einn, (masculine) ''(a-te) much like the word "eight or ate" but with a softer T'' : ein, (feminine) ''(ayn)'' : eitt, (neuter) ''(ay-ht)'' ; 2 : tveir, (masculine) ''(tvay-r)'' : tvar, (feminine) ''(tvigh-r)'' : tvo, (neuter) ''(two-ah) much like the word "Twas" without the S'' ; 3 : trir, (masculine) ''(threer)'' : trjar, (feminine) ''(three-aw)'' : trju, (neuter) ''(three-oo)'' ; 4 : fjorir, (masculine) ''(fjoh-rir)'' : fjorar, (feminine) ''(fjoh-rar)'' : fjogur, (neuter) ''(fyoh-ur)'' ; 5 : fimm ''(fim)'' ; 6 : sex ''(sex)'' ; 7 : sjo ''(syur)'' ; 8 : atta ''(ohw-ta)'' ; 9 : niu ''(nee-u)'' ; 10 : tiu ''(tee-u)'' ; 11 : ellefu ''(et-le-vu)'' ; 12 : tolf ''(toe-lv)'' ; 13 : trettan ''(threh-tawn)'' ; 14 : fjortan ''(fyohr-tawn)'' ; 15 : fimmtan ''(fim-tawn)'' ; 16 : sextan ''(sex-tawn)'' ; 17 : sautjan ''(sur-ee-tyawn)'' : Or, seytjan ''(say-tjawn)'' ; 18 : atjan ''(aw-tyawn)'' ; 19 : nitjan ''(nee-tyawn)'' ; 20 : tuttugu ''(tuh-tu-ghu)'' ; 21 : tuttugu og einn ''(tuh-tu-ghu oh aydn)'' ; 22 : tuttugu og tveir ''(tuh-tu-ghu oh tvayr)'' ; 23 : tuttugu og trir ''(tuh-tu-ghu oh threer)'' ; 30 : trjatiu ''(thryaw-tee-u)'' ; 40 : fjorutiu ''(fyoh-ru-tee-u)'' ; 50 : fimmtiu ''(fim-tee-u)'' ; 60 : sextiu ''(sex-tee-u)'' ; 70 : sjotiu ''(syur-tee-u)'' ; 80 : attatiu ''(awh-ta-tee-u)'' ; 90 : niutiu ''(nee-u-tee-u)'' ; 100 : hundrad ''(hun-tradh)'' ; 101 : hundrad og einn ''(hun-tradh oh ay-dn)'' ; 200 : tvo hundrud ''(tvur hun-trudh)'' ; 300 : trju hundrud ''(thryow hun-trudh)'' ; 1000 : tusund ''(thoo-sunt)'' ; 2000 : tvo tusund ''(tvur thoo-sunt)'' ; 100,000 : hundrad tusund ''(hun-tradh thoo-sunt)'' ; 1,000,000 : milljon ''(mil-yohn)'' ; 1,000,000,000 : miljardur ''(mil-yar-dhur)'' ; 1,000,000,000 : billjon ''(bil-yohn)''
; 1st : fyrsti ''(fir-sti)'' ; 2nd : annar ''(an-nar)'' ; 3rd : tridji ''(thri-dhyi)'' ; 4th : fjordi ''(fyohr-dhi)'' ; 5th : fimmti ''(fim-ti)'' ; 6th : sjotti ''(syur-ti)'' ; 7th : sjoundi ''(syur-unti)'' ; 8th : attundi ''(awt-unti)'' ; 9th : niundi ''(nee-unti)'' ; 10th : tiundi ''(tee-unti)'' ; 11th : ellefti ''(et-lev-ti)'' ; 12th : tolfti ''(tohlv-ti)'' ; 13th : trettandi ''(thre-ht-awn-ti)'' ; 14th : fjortandi ''(fyohr-tawn-ti)'' ; 15th : fimmtandi ''(fim-tawn-ti)'' ; 16th : sextandi ''(sex-tawn-ti)'' ; 17th : sautjandi ''(sur-eet-yawn-ti)'' : Or, seytjandi ''(say-tyawn-ti)'' ; 18th : atjandi ''(awt-yawn-ti)'' ; 19th : nitjandi ''(neet-yawn-ti)'' ; 20th : tuttugasti ''(tut-htu-kas-ti)'' ; 21st : tuttugasti og fyrsti ''(tut-htu-kas-ti oh fir-sti)'' ; 30th : tritugasti ''(three-tu-kas-ti)'' ; 40th : fertugasti ''(fer-tu-kas-ti)'' ; 50th : fimmtugasti ''(fim-tu-kas-ti)'' ; 60th : sextugasti ''(sex-tu-kas-ti)'' ; 70th : sjotugasti ''(syur-tu-kas-ti)'' ; 80th : attugasti ''(awt-tu-kas-ti)'' ; 90th : nitugasti ''(nee-tu-kas-ti)'' ; 100th : hundradasti ''(hun-tra-dhas-ti)'' ; 101st : hundradasti og fyrsti ''(hun-tra-dhas-ti oh fir-sti)'' ; 100th : tvohundrudasti ''(tvur-hun-tra-dhas-ti)'' ; 1,000th : tusundasti ''(thoo-sun-tas-ti)'' ; 2,000th : tvotusundasti ''(tur-thoo-sun-tas-ti)'' ; 100,000th : hundrad tusuntasti ''(hun-tradh thoo-sun-tas-ti)'' ; 1,000,000th : milljonasti ''(mil-yohn-asti)'' ; 1,000,000,000th : tusund milljonasti ''(thoo-sunt mil-yohn-asti)'' ; 1,000,000,000,000th : billjonasti ''(bil-yohn-asti)''
; now : nuna ''(noo-na)'' ; early : snemma ''(sne-ma)'' ; late : seint ''(saynt)'' ; before : adur en ''(awdh-ur en)'' ; later : seinna meir ''(say-na may-r)'' ; morning : morgunn ''(mor-kun)'' ; afternoon : eftirmiddagur ''(eb-tir-midh-tak-ur)'' ; evening : kvold ''(kvurlt)'' ; night : nott ''(no-ht)''
; one o'clock AM : klukkan er eitt ''(kluch-kan er ay-ht)'' ; two o'clock AM : klukkan er tvo ''(kluck-kan er tvur)'' ; noon : hadegi ''(haw-de-ki)'' ; one o'clock PM : klukkan er trettan ''(kluch-kan er thre-ht-awn)'' ; two o'clock PM : klukkan er fjortan ''(fyohr-tawn)'' ; midnight : midnatti ''(midh-nigh-ht-i)''
; _____ minute(s) : _____ minuta ''(meen-oo-ta)'' : Plural; minutur ''(meen-oo-tur)'' ; _____ hour(s) : _____ klukkustund ''(kluch-ku-stunt)'' : Plural; klukkustundir ''(kluch-ku-stunt-ir)'' ; _____ day(s) : _____ dagur ''(dak-ur)'' : Plural; dagar ''(dak-ar)'' ; _____ week(s) : _____ vika ''(vik-a)'' : Plural; vikur ''(vik-ur)'' ; _____ month(s) : _____ manudur ''(maw-nudh-ur)'' : Plural; manudir ''(maw-nudh-ar)'' ; _____ year(s) : _____ ar ''(awr)''
; January : januar ''(yan-oo-ar)'' ; February : februar ''(feb-roo-ar)'' ; March : mars ''(mars)'' ; April: april ''(ap-reel)'' ; May : mai ''(ma-ee)'' similar to ''migh'' in "might" ; June : juni ''(yoo-nee)'' ; July : juli ''(yoo-lee)'' ; August : agust ''(aw-koo-st)'' ; September : september ''(sep-tem-ber)'' ; October : oktober ''(ok-toh-ber)'' ; November : november ''(noh-vem-ber)'' ; December : desember ''(des-em-ber)''
'''Example:''' : midvikudagur 14. april 2007 : ''Wednesday 14th April 2007''
'''TIME:''' The time in Iceland is written in the 24 hour format, as in most of Europe (not including UK or Ireland), with 00.00 being midnight and 12.00 being midday. The colon (:) is not used as the digit seperater, but rather the fullstop, or period, (.) is used. '''Note:''' the term "half-past the hour" in Icelandic is more like "half to the [next] hour" (see examples below).
'''Examples of time:''' : Written: klukkan 07.05 : Spoken: "klukkan er fimm minutur yfir sjo" ''(kluch-kan er fim meen-oot-ur i-ir syur)''
: Written: klukkan 13.30 : Spoken: "klukkan er halftvo" ''(kluch-kan er hawlv-tvur)''
Sometimes "klukkan" can be shortened to "kl.":
: Written: kl. 20:45 : Spoken: "klukkan er korter i niu" ''(kluch-kan er kor-ter ee neehu)''
NOTE: the words that describe the later pm hours of the time are rarely ever used, when speaking of them it is common just to say, example: "atta" (eight)instead of "tuttugu" (twenty)
'''Note:''' there are no trains in Iceland. There are two kinds of bus: ''ruta'', is a long distance coach; ''stratisvagn'' (or ''strato'', as it is commonly known) are the buses found in towns.
; Where are there a lot of... : Hvar er mikid... ''(Kvar er mi-kidh...)'' ; ...hotels? : ...hotel? ''(...hoh-tel?)'' ; ...restaurants? : ...veitingahusin? ''(...vay-tin-ka-hoos-in?)'' ; ...bars? : ...krar? ''(krawr)'' ; ...sites to see? : ...ferdamanns akvordunarstadir? ''(...fer-dha-mans aw-kvur-dhun-ar-sta-dhir?)''
; Can you show me on the map? : Gatiru synt mer a kortinu? ''(Gai-tiru see-nt m-yer a kort-inu?)'' ; street : strati ''(strigh-ti)'' ; turn left : fara til vinstri ''(fa-ra til vin-stri)'' ; turn right : fara til hagri ''(fa-ra til high-kri)'' ; left : vinstri ''(vin-stri)'' ; right : hagri ''(high-kri)'' ; straight ahead : beint afram ''(bay-nt aw-fram)'' ; towards the _____ : til _____ ''(til)'' ; past the _____ : framhja _____ ''(fram-hyaw)'' ; before the _____ : a undan _____ ''(aw un-tan)'' ; opposite (the) : a moti _____ ''(aw moh-ti)'' ; Watch for the _____. : leita ad _____. ''(lay-ta adh)'' ; intersection : gatnamot ''(gat-nam-oht)'' ; north : nordur ''(nor-dhur)'' ; south : sudur ''(su-dhur)'' ; east : austur ''(ur-ee-stur)'' ; west : vestur ''(ve-stur)'' ; uphill : upp i moti ''(up ee moh-ti)'' ; downhill : nidur i moti ''(ni-dhur ee moh-ti)''