Icelandic Language Guide
Basic Vocabulary & Pronunciation
Icelandic is a North Germanic language that is so similar to the Old Norse of the Vikings that Icelanders can read the medieval sagas in the original—a feat no other European nation can accomplish with its 1,000-year-old texts.
Special Letters
The Icelandic alphabet has 32 letters and includes some that exist in no other modern language:
| Letter | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Þ / þ | Like English "th" in "think" (voiceless). Tip of the tongue between the teeth! | Þingvellir = "Thingwetlir" |
| Ð / ð | Like English "th" in "the" (voiced, softer than Þ) | Goðafoss = "Gothafoss" |
| Æ / æ | Like German "ei" in "Ei" or "ai" in "Mai" | Islænsk = "Is-leinsk" |
| Ö / ö | Similar to German "ö", but shorter | Jökull |
| Á / á | Like "au" in "Haus" | Mál = "maul" |
| É / é | Like "je" in "jeder" | Rétt = "rjett" |
| Í / í | Like long "i" in "Kino" | Vík = "viik" |
| Ó / ó | Like "ou" in "Souvenir" | Góður = "gouthur" |
| Ú / ú | Like long "u" in "Kuh" | Húsavík = "huusavík" |
| Ý / ý | Like long "i" (same as í) | Mývatn = "miivatn" |
Special Pronunciation Rules:
- ll is often pronounced like "tl": Eyjafjallajökull = "...jö-kutl"
- hv is pronounced like "kv": Hvítá = "Kvietau"
- fn is pronounced like "bn": Höfn = "Höbn"
- rl is pronounced like "rtl": Karl = "Kartl"
Tipp
The pronunciation of "Eyjafjallajökull"? Approximately: "EI-ja-fyat-la-JÖ-kutl". Icelanders are thrilled when you try—and laugh good-naturedly if it goes wrong. Learn at least "Takk" (Thank you), "Bless" (Goodbye), and "Skál" (Cheers)—with these, you can get through all of Iceland. And "Þetta reddast"—it will work out somehow—is the perfect response to any situation.
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