Icelandic Phrasebook - Taalgids IJslands

It Icelandic (islenskalisten)) is a North Germanic language with nearly 320,000 speakers. It is the official language of Iceland. Icelandic, together with Faroese, belongs to the western or island Scandinavian languages. It is not easily understood by speakers of the Scandinavian mainland languages: Norwegian, Swedish and Danish.

A striking feature of Icelandic is its strong purism, which has had a major influence on the development of the language. While the other Germanic languages were inundated with loanwords from French and Latin, and the mainland Scandinavian languages moreover with loanwords from Low German, Iceland has always tried to draw on the source of hereditary words to name new concepts. Icelandic is a rich language, due to the many centuries of saga literature. As a result, often forgotten words from the past could be used to indicate new concepts. Thus 'telephone' became sími, after an old word for 'wire', and 'screen' (screen, computer screen) became skjár, after an old word for 'window'. In recent years, however, the number of loanwords in Icelandic has increased.

Info

Iceland was populated between 800 and 1000 from Norway. Icelandic evolved from Old Norse. In Norway, as in the rest of the Germanic-speaking area, major language changes took place in the following centuries, whether or not caused by intensive contacts with the Low German-speaking merchants of the Hanseatic League, but in remote Iceland this hardly happened and they remained the vocabulary and the declension system are virtually unchanged. The pronunciation has changed. Icelandic possesses a number of phonemes that are rare in other European languages, for example a voiceless l, n, m and r.

Grammar

Alphabet

Icelandic is written using the Latin alphabet, with several characters added: Áá, Éé, Íí, Óó, Úú, Ýý, Ðð (edh), Þþ (thorn), Ææ, and Öö. The alphabetical order is: A Á B (C) D Ð E É F G H I Í J K L M N O Ó P (Q) R S T U Ú V (W) X Y Ý (Z) Þ Æ Ö.

The letters c, q, w and z are not used except for words and names of non-Icelandic origin.

Pronunciation

The special letter thorn (þ) represents the sound that is also encountered as the th in English think (much like the Greek letter Θ (theta), and the eth (ð) is its voiced variant (like the th in English that or the Greek letter Δ (delta)), however, in Icelandic the letter ð is never at the beginning, nor is the letter þ at the end of a word. The thorn comes from the old runic alphabet.

Furthermore, i and y sound the same, as do í and ý. The disused z sounds like s, just like in all North Germanic languages.

The stress is always on the first syllable in Icelandic.

Grammar

In Icelandic, the old Scandinavian inflection system is still completely intact. All nouns, adjectives, articles, demonstrative pronouns, possessive pronouns, proper names, numerals and so on are inflected into four cases, which have separate forms for all three genders. In addition, Icelandic has strong and weak inflections.

To illustrate, here is the declension of the irregular masculine word fjörður, 'fjord'.

	singular	plural
nominative:	fjörður	firðir
genitive:	fjarðar	fjarða
dative:	firði	fjorðum
accusative:	fjord	firði

The definite article, like in the other Scandinavian languages, is pasted after the noun (attached article), so you can get forms like fjarðarins 'of the fjord', fjörðunum 'on the fjords'. The indefinite article is not known in Icelandic. Fjordur can therefore mean both 'fjord' and 'a fjord'.

Dictionary

basic words

Common expressions

OPEN: Opi
CLOSED: Loka
ENTRANCE: Inn of Inngangur
EXIT: Út, Útgangur
NO ACCESS: Aðgangur bannaður
PUSH: Ýta, Ýtið
PULL: Toga, Togic
TOILET, WC: Baðherbergi, Klósett, WC, UK
GENTLEMEN: Menn, Herrar
LADIES: Konur
MEN: Menn, Karlar or Karlmenn
WOMEN: Konur
FORBIDDEN: bannaður
WARNING: Varuð

Hey.: Hey. (Halo.)
Hey (informal).: sæll. (Saitl.) (to a man), Sæl. (Sail.) (to a woman)
hey: H. (hi.)
How are you?: Hvað segirðu gott? (Kwadh se-ghir-dhu goht?)
Good, thank you.: Eg segi allt gott, þakka ér fyrir. (Jegh se-ghi atlt goht, thah-ka thjer fi-rir)
What's your name?: Hvað heitirðu? (Kwadh hei-tir-dhu?)
My name is ______ .: Eg heiti ______ . (Jegh hei-ti _____ .)
Pleasant introduction.: Komdu sæll. (Come-du saitl.) (to a man), Komdu sæl. (Come-du sail.) (to a woman)
Please.: Gjörðu svo vel. (Gjeur-dhu swo yes.) (singular), Gerið þið svo vel. (Ge-ridh thidh swo yes.) (plural)
Thank you.: Þakka ér fyrir. (Thah-ka thjer fi-rir.)
Thank you. (informal): branch. (tahk.)
Do not mention it.: Ekkert að þakka. (Eh-kert adh thah-ka.)
Yes.: Yes. (yes.)
New.: no. (no.)
Sorry.: Þvi miður. (Thwie mi-dhur.)
Bye.: bless. (Blaze.)
I don't speak Icelandic.: Eg tala ekki islensku. (Jegh ta-la eh-ki ies-len-sku.)
Do you speak Dutch?: Talarðu Hollensku? (Ta-lar-dhu Hol-len-sku?)
Does anyone here speak Dutch?: There einhverher sem talar Hollensku? (Er ein-kwer hjer sem ta-lar Hol-len-sku?)
Help!: Hjalp! (Whoops!)
Look out!: Varuð! (Wa-rodh!)
Good morning.: Góðan daginn. (Goo-dhan da-ghin.)
Good evening.: Gott kvold. (Gosh gulp.)
Good night.: Góða nott. (Goo-dha nooht.)
I do not understand.: Eg skil ekki. (Jegh skil eh-ki.)
Do you want to speak slowly?: Gætirðu talað hægar? (Gai-tir-dhu ta-ladh hai-ghar?)
How do you say _____ in Icelandic?: Hvernig segir maður _____ á íslensku? (Kwer-nigh se-ghir ma-dhur ____ au ies-len-sku?)
OK.: Allt i lagi. (Atlt ie la-gi.)
Where is the bathroom?: Hvar er klósettið? (Kwa klo-seh-tidh?)

When problems occur

Leave me alone.: . ()
Do not touch me!: ! ( !)
I'm calling the police.: . ()
Law enforcement!: ! ()
Stop! Thief!: ! ! ()
I need your help.: . ()
It's an emergency.: . ()
I am lost.: . ()
I lost my bag.: . ()
I lost my wallet.: . ()
I am ill.: . ()
I'm hurt.: . ()
I need a doctor.: . ( ')
Can I use your phone?: ? ()

Numbers

1: einn (eitn) (masculine), ein (ein) (feminine), eitt (ehht) (neutral)
2: tveir (tweir) (masculine), tvær (twair) (feminine), tvö (two) (neutral)
3: þrír (thrier) (masculine), þrjár (thrjaur) (feminine), þrjú (thrjoe) (neutral)
4: fjorir (fjoo-rir) (masculine), fjórar (fjoo-rar) (female), fjögur (fjeu-ghur) (neutral)
5: film (movie)
6: sex (sex)
7: sjo (sieu)
8: atta (auh-ta)
9: niu (not-you)
10: tiu (tie-u)
11: ellefu (ed-le-vu)
12: tolf (toolf)
13: þrettan (threh-taun)
14: fjortan (fjoor-taun)
15: fimmtan (fim-taun)
16: sextan (sex-taun)
17: sautjan (sui tiaun)
18: atjan (au tiaun)
19: nítján (nie-tiaun)
20: tuttugu (tuh-tu-ghu)
21: tuttugu og einn (tuh-tu-ghu og eitn)
22: tuttugu og tveir (tuh-tu-ghu og tweir)
23: tuttugu og þrír (tuh-tu-ghu og thrier)
30: þrjátíu (thrjau-tie-u)
40: fjörutíu (fjeur-tie-u)
50: fimmtíu (fim-tie-u)
60: sextiu (sex-tie-u)
70: sjotiu (sieu-tie-u)
80: attatiu (auh-ta-tie-u)
90: níutíu (not-you-tie-u)
100: hundrað (hund-radh)
200: tvö hundruð (two hund-rudh)
300: þrju hundruð (thrjoe hund-rudh)
1.000: þúsund (thoe-sund)
2.000: tvö þúsund (tweu thoe-sund)
1.000.000: one million (a million-joon)
1.000.000.000: one billion hours (eitn mil-jar-dhur)
1.000.000.000,000: ()
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): ()
half: ()
less: ()
Lake: ()

Time

now: now ()
later: síðar (sie-dhar)
for: ()
morning: morning (mor-gutn)
afternoon: ()
evening: kvold (curse)
night: nott (never)

Clock

One o'clock in the morning: ()
two o'clock in the morning: ()
Twelve o'clock in the afternoon: (
One o'clock in the afternoon: ()
Two o'clock PM: ()
Midnight: ()

Expensive

_____ minute(s): ()
_____ you(s): ()
_____ to dawn): ()
_____ week(s): ()
_____ months): ()
_____ year(s): ()

To dawn

Today: i day (ie bye)
yesterday: í gær (ie gair)
tomorrow: a morning (au mor gun)
this week: ()
last week: ()
next week: ()
Monday: mandagur (mau-nu-da-ghur)
Tuesday: þriðjudagur (thridh-ju-da-ghur)
Wednesday: miðvikudagur (midh-wi-ku-da-ghur)
Thursday: fimmtudagur (fim-tu-da-ghur)
Friday: föstudagur (fus-tu-da-ghur)
Saturday: laugardagur (lazy-gar-da-ghur)
Sunday: sunnudagur (sun-nu-da-ghur)

Months

January: January (yes-no-ear)
February: February (fairy-brother-ear)
March: march (Mars)
April: April (a-priel)
May: mai (ma-ie)
June: June (joe-nie)
July: julia (joe-lie)
August: agost (ouch)
September: Sept (sef-tem-ber)
October: October (oh-to-ber)
November: November (noo-wem-ber)
December: December (dee-sem-ber)

To colour

black: svartur ()
white: hvitur ()
gray: grár ()
red: rauður ()
blue: ljósblár ()
yellow: gulur ()
green: grænn ()
Orange: apple sínugulur ()
Violet: lillablar ()
brown: brunn ()

Transport

Train and bus

How much does a ticket to _____ cost?: ? ()
A ticket to _____, please.: . ()
Where does this train/bus go?: ? ()
Where is the train/bus to _____?: ? ()
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: ? ()
When does the train/bus leave for_____ ?: ? ()
When does the train/bus arrive in _____?: ? ()

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: ? ()
...the station?: ? ()
...the bus stop?: ? ()
...the airport?: ? ()
...the city center?: ? ()
...the youth hostel?: ? ()
...the hotel?: ? ()
...the Dutch/Belgian/Surinamese consulate?: ? ()
Where are there many...: ()
...hotels?: ? ()
...restaurants?: ? ()
...cafes?: ? ()
...sights?: ? ()
Can you mark it on the map?: ? ()
street: ()
Turn left.: . ()
Turn right.: . ()
left: ()
right: ()
straight ahead: ()
towards _____: ()
beyond the _____: ()
for the _____: ()
Note the _____.: . ()
intersection: ()
north: ()
South: ()
east: ()
west: ()
uphill: ()
downhill: ()

Cab

Cab!: ! ()
Take me to _____, please.: . ()
How much does it cost to drive to _____?: ? ()
Take me there, please.: . ()

To sleep

Do you still have rooms available?: ? ()
How much is a room for one person/two people?: ? ()
Does the room have...: ()
...sheets?: ? ()
...a toilet?: ? ()
...a bathroom?: ? ()
...a phone?: ? ()
...a television?: ? ()
Can I see the room first?: ? ()
Don't you have anything calmer?: ? ()
...taller?: ? ()
...cleaner?: ? ()
...cheaper?: ? ()
Okay, I'll take it.: . ()
I stay _____ night(s).: . ()
Can you recommend me another hotel?: ? ()
Do you have a safe? (for valuable possessions): ? ()
...lockers? (for clothes): ? ()
Is breakfast/dinner included?: ? ()
What time is breakfast/dinner?: ? ()
Would you like to clean my room?: ? ()
Can you wake me up at _____?: ? ()
I want to check out.: . ()

Money

Can I pay with US dollars?: ()
Can I pay with British Pounds?: ()
Can I pay with euros?: ()
Can I pay with a creditcard?: ? ()
Can you change money for me?: ? ()
Where can I exchange money?: ? ()
Can I exchange traveler's checks here?: ? ()
Where can I redeem traveler's cheques?: ()
What is the exchange rate?: ? ()
Where is there an ATM?: ? ()

Food

A table for one person/two people, please.: . ()
May I see the menu?: . ()
Can I take a look in the kitchen?: . ()
Is there a house specialty?: ? ()
Is there a regional dish?: ? ()
I am vegetarian.: . ()
I do not eat pork.: . ()
I don't eat beef.: . ()
I only eat kosher.: . ()
Can you make that with less oil/butter/fat, please?: ? ()
fixed menu: ()
à la carte: ()
breakfast: ()
lunch: ()
afternoon tea (meal): ()
supper: ()
I would like _____.: . ()
I would like a dish with _____.: ()
chicken: ()
beef: ()
fish: ()
ham: ()
sausage: ()
cheese: ()
Eggs: ()
salad: ()
(fresh vegetables: ()
(fresh fruit: ()
bread: ()
toast: ()
noodles: ()
rice: ()
beans: ()
Can I have a glass of _____?: ? ()
Can I have a cup of _____?: ? ()
Can I have a bottle of _____?: ? ()
coffee: ()
tea: ()
juice: ()
sparkling water: ()
mineral water: ()
beer: ()
red/white wine: ()
Can I have some _____?: ? ()
salt: ()
black pepper: ()
butter: ()
Waiter!: ! ()
I'm ready.: . ()
It was delicious.: . ()
Can you clear the plates?: ? ()
The bill please.: . ()

Going out

Do you serve alcohol?: ? ()
Is there table service?: ? ()
One beer/two beers, please.: . ()
A glass of red/white wine, please.: . ()
A vase, please: . ()
A bottle, please.: . ()
_____ (liquor) of _____ (added drink), Please.: . ()
whiskey: ()
vodka: ()
rum: ()
water: ()
soda water: ()
tonic: ()
orange juice: ()
coke: ()
Do you have snacks?: ? ()
One more, please.: . ()
One more round, please.: . ( ')
When do you close?: ? ()
Cheers!: ! ()

Shop

Do you have this in my size?: ? ()
How much does that cost?: ? ()
That's too expensive.: . ()
Want to sell it for _____?: ? ()
expensive: ()
cheap: ()
I can't afford that.: . ()
I do not want it.: . ()
You are deceiving me.: . ()
I am not interested.: . ()
Okay, I'll take it.: . ()
Can I have a bag?: ? ()
Do you deliver (overseas)?: ()
I would like...: . ()
...toothpaste.: . ()
...a toothbrush.: . ()
...tampons.: . ( ')
...soap.: . ()
...shampoo.: . ()
...a painkiller.: . ()
...a remedy for the common cold.: ()
...stomach tablets.: ... ()
... razor blades: . ()
...an umbrella.: . ()
...sunscreen.: . ()
...a postcard.: . ()
...stamps.: . ()
...batteries.: . ()
...writing paper.: . ()
...a pen.: . ()
...Dutch books.: . ()
...Dutch magazines.: . ()
...a Dutch-language newspaper.: . ()
...a Dutch-Icelandic dictionary.: . ()

To drive

I want to rent a car.: . ()
Can I have it insured?: ? ()
Stop: ()
one way street: ()
give priority: ()
parking ban: ()
speed limit: ()
gas station: ()
gasoline: ()
diesel: ()

authorities

I haven't done anything wrong.: . ()
It was a misunderstanding.: . ()
Where are you taking me?: ? ()
Am I arrested?: ? ()
I am a Dutch/Belgian/Surinamese citizen.: ()
I want to talk to the Dutch/Belgian/Surinamese embassy/consulate.: ()
I want to speak with a lawyer.: ()
Can't I just pay a fine now?: ()

This article is still completely under construction . It contains a template, but not yet enough information to be useful to a traveler. Dive in and expand it!