Easy Icelandic Language Phrases For Beginners - Basic Greetings & More

Even though many Icelanders speak English well, they love it when visitors attempt to speak Icelandic. I provide some basic and easy Icelandic language phrases for beginners that you can use while traveling in Iceland. Even just a simple greeting will put a big smile on an Icelander's face. I hope you give it a try and let me know in the comments which phrase you found easiest to say and which one you found difficult.
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Hear interviews with natives and ex-pats that dive deep into Icelandic history, language, nature, and culture, as well as learn new Icelandic words and phrases.
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Time Stamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Greetings in Icelandic
01:37 - Goodbye in Icelandic
01:43 - Yes & No in Icelandic
02:14 - Thank you in Icelandic
03:19 - You're welcome in Icelandic
04:15 - "Where is the bathroom?" in Icelandic
04:38 - "How much does that cost?" in Icelandic
05:29 - Sorry & Excuse Me
06:16 - Introduce yourself in Icelandic
06:30 - Say where you are from in Icelandic
08:07 - Unofficial Icelandic Slogan
#iceland #learnicelandic #icelandicphrases

[@kennethgray545]

This is the best video I've seen on pronunciation. I liked particularly when you used phonetics to illustrate the sounds of the words more closely.

[@ajrocks12x]

I am truly impressed that you learnt to speak Icelandic fluently.

[@AllThingsIceland]

I'm still working my way towards fluency. 🙂

[@sabrinapeterson7144]

This video is so helpful, as I am preparing for my Iceland trip in September. Anytime I travel outside of the country, I like to learn the greeting words to greet the locals. I think it's important and it makes us well balance.

[@KaySpradley]

I spent a week in Iceland and only learned to use basic greetings. But everyone spoke English and they all gave a big smile. They really appreciate the attempt.

[@gabbybee6379]

Thank you so much for breaking down the words and pronouncing each syllable slowly! In other videos I've found, they give some tips on how to remember the phrases, but say the individual words so quickly.

[@user-gd4hn9iq8s]

Jewells, amazing to me how fluent you are in the language. Having only been there the amount of time you have. Love your voice, and speech.

[@maryatienza9336]

Thank you for covering phonetics with these phrases. I especially appreciate knowing how to inquire for a restroom (so necessary!) AND the “unofficial slogan”😊 ALSO… -would you please make a video telling us how to ask for a bus stop and how to politely order a beer? -Love your videos & energy!!

[@donnabanks7656]

Beautiful!! It's like an art!!! Thank you for sharing.

[@AllThingsIceland]

Oh, that’s a lovely way of thinking about it. My pleasure 😊

[@tacrewgirl]

I'm impressed by your language skills and pronunciation. Thanks for the video. Never thought I'd be learning Icelandic on KZbin.

[@AllThingsIceland]

Thank you! Glad to add something kind of random to your experience on KZbin. 😂

[@Sindrijo]

'Þetta reddast': The origin of the slang-word 'reddast' is probably from Danish/Norwegian where 'redde' means 'to save'. I think it's important to also mention that this slang-word is also used when actually doing something to resolve an issue/problem. "Ég redda þessu" (I'll fix this. / I'll do it. I'll make sure it's done/won't be a problem.) It's not just a special word we have exclusively for saying that 'things will fix themselves'. If you're with your friend at a store and you're about to pay but you forgot your wallet you can also say 'Geturðu reddað mér?' (Can you spot me?). If you have some item that you need that you're not able to get yourself for whatever reason you can also say 'Geturðu reddað mér [ITEM]?' Someone can also be a 'reddari' (slang) which sort of means that they are a 'problem solver'. In Danish a 'redder' is a term for someone literal job it is to save people. (E.g: fireman, ambulance driver etc.) This word is by now of course very Icelandic, but it is definitely a danish loan word.

[@evefreyasyrenathegoddessev4016]

In Dutch, it can also be used to mean to manage (oneself better) like, om mezelf beter te redden (to manage myself better) and it looks like it comes from the same word! I am advanced level in Dutch (over 8.000 base words) and intermediate level in Norwegian and Swedish (over 3.500 words) and, I just started learning Icelandic more seriously like yesterday, and today I even studied the alphabet and some of the numbers and verbs etc, and I saw this expression in many videos - I immediately thought of the Dutch word, plus its main meaning in Dutch is also to save! I guess it could also be translated as ‘oh well, it is what it is’ as a way to accept a certain situation or something like that!

[@chrissyboo7903]

Wow, I didn't know that Icelandic was a language. Good to see you're doing well.

[@hollymalone2092]

That really helped my mom and me Iearn Islandic THANK YOU Sincerly Millie :)

[@drewalhanifa4452]

Your videos are so positive and informational. Thank you much from the States.

[@eliasg.thomas8423]

I was thinking, maybe the phrases used in supermarkets by the cashier for instance, like "Do you want a bag/the receipt?". It's important to be able to say things, but also to understand what is being said to us, especially in situations like that, where the person will use Icelandic first before realising we don't speak it.

[@jerryodell1192]

I spent two years in Iceland, 1973, 1974. Learning to speak. Young. This brought back ancient memories for me 👍 I remember the ships they burnt, just old enough. Each year like Vikings 💪⚒️ Racks and racks of drying fish, heavy winds, and black sand. Whale bay and Keff Katy (stink). Thank you for this video Ice 🧊 & 🔥

[@GeekFurious]

Always greet everyone with, "Haltu kjafti!" Icelanders love that. /s As a side note, you have a very good Icelandic pronunciation for an American. Top tier.

[@AllThingsIceland]

Lol good point and definitely one to add to the list. Thank you! 🤗

[@GeekFurious]

@@AllThingsIceland I think the most difficult thing to learn for native English speakers is the AU sound & the double-L sound & ending a word in the letter i because nothing in English uses those sounds/schemes.

[@bettyboadwine4890]

Icelandic numbers? Yes please!!

[@AllThingsIceland]

Awesome!! Thank you for letting me know

[@hollymalone2092]

PERFECT VIDEO for first time visitors, thank you so much! Sincerely, Millie's Mom ⬇

[@Game-in-tosh]

Since it is similar to the Norwegian language as pronunciation 😍

[@philippbosnjak4183]

I love Icelandic you can do more Icelandic language videos.

[@AllThingsIceland]

😊

[@lanilok3696]

Thanks so much Jewells. I’ll be in Iceland in. Few days. Getting excited to see a different environment that is not Polynesian and hot!

[@AllThingsIceland]

My pleasure. I hope you have an amazing time!! 🤗

[@lanilok3696]

@@AllThingsIceland Bless Bless

[@marcobiondi7574]

I have spent two weeks in Iceland last August. One week in Reykjavik for work and one roaming around :) Now I am in love with Iceland, the Icelanders and the Icelandic language (which I cannot speak, by the way) :) I also love your videos :)

[@carlosbonilla9159]

Thanks for working through these words syllable by syllable - one of the big problems I've having with many other youtube videos is that when the native speakers are speaking faster, with words flowing into each other, my English based ears keep misinterpreting the different sounds that are available in Icelandic.

[@nyakaisikijamila0]

Thanks for teaching us❤❤

[@Gizemkorkmaz01]

I should learn this language cause I fell in love a 🇮🇸🧍🏻‍♂️🤭😂

[@AllThingsIceland]

🥳🥳

[@pedroantoniomoreno1258]

Thanks so Much,takk

[@jimcyrus3070]

Jules, this was amazing! So interesting. I have friends in Iceland, daughters ex girlfriend and her family. I usually have to use Google translate to speak to the mom as she doesn't speak much English. Would love to learn some to be able to actually speak with her. Looking forward to more like this. Thanks!!!!

[@AllThingsIceland]

So glad to hear that you enjoyed this. Definitely working on more Icelandic related content.

[@jneum33224]

Extremely helpful

[@kennethputland4752]

Takk 👍

[@Beorn19]

You are so charismatic! Thanks for the tips :D

[@Sindrijo]

As an Icelander I've realized that the way we ask for forgiveness (grammatically) is usually by 'demanding' it. 'Fyrirgefðu' is short for 'Fyrirgef þú' which is short for 'Fyrirgef þú mér' which is 'Forgive me' which really is more of a command/demand than an actual request for forgiveness. It's obvious that Icelandic needs a bit more nuance in the ways you can apologize, and 'apologize' to the point that Sorrí (Sorry) has entered the language. We use it when we're sorry but not really sorry, e.g. 'too bad'. "Æ sorrí þetta gerðist bara". (Oh sorry, it just happened.)

[@rachelscott7828]

Thanks for this! My husband and I are going to Iceland in Sept/Oct for our honeymoon and I want to learn as much as I can before then!

[@mariamcphaull2835]

What a great video and timely as I will be visiting Iceland in November. I hope to see the Northern lights :)

[@Just_Vryatt]

There are some words when spoken that sound like Afrikaans (but of course mean different things) I found that very interesting and helped me with pronunciation a bit 🤷‍♀️

[@111Nicolette]

This is so great! Thank you!! Excited to see more videos like this :)

[@AllThingsIceland]

Yay and my pleasure!!

[@MarkisCouch_1WhatJustHappened]

WOW! Your fluent in the language. Great video!

[@juni_purr]

Thank you, Jewells. I love learning about languages,. I liked the phrases you chose, and also enjoyed the pink/orange/red color scheme of the setting. I'm curious about Icelandic vocabulary for various foods/produce and cooking terms. Also, and forgive me if you already did a video about this, what is grocery shopping like?

[@jhonaraujo6225]

I would like to know If possible that you can help us with a phonetic icelandic video. I'm from Venezuela.

[@arlenemaxwellcopeland1644]

Interesting. When you break it down like that, I can actually recognize the words/sense.

[@AllThingsIceland]

Yay!! Glad this is helpful.

[@sayachangudmundsdottir1208]

Takk fyrir ✨

[@kaleaj]

Just to double check, at 6:45 youre saying where youre originally from but to say where you live its eg by (sorry i know theres supposed to be accents i dont have the icelandic keyboard on)

[@a.torresdewitt8041]

Excellent ! Congratulations and thank you. How long did it take you to speak so well?

[@DogSullivan99]

Yes, yes, yes... PHONETICS! For those of us whose ears are not so sharp.

[@readmore2019]

Super helpful!!! Going to Iceland in few days and I can’t be excited more ❤❤❤ Takk takk ❤

[@AllThingsIceland]

Yay!! So glad to hear that. Mín er ánægjan!!

[@meipan1979]

such a beautiful language! Thanks for this wonderful video!!! you are a such cute teacher too!!

[@AllThingsIceland]

Thank you 🤗

[@cdiqueen]

This is a really great video, thank you!

[@AllThingsIceland]

My pleasure 😊

[@cdiqueen]

@@AllThingsIceland we just came home from Iceland and really used a lot of your advice!

[@yanaghanem1738]

really thank you for the help the video it was so good for me because i want learn Iecland

[@AllThingsIceland]

So glad to hear that.

[@heatherdaly6949]

This was great! I named my puppy Skuggi following a trip several years ago to Iceland. I want to teach him his commands in Icelandic, so have been trying to pull his commands off of google translate- not always super successful. Would you do an episode of words/phrases for dog training? (Then the next time I come over I can talk to the dogs too!). Thanks!

[@R.L.Buick.]

Super great presentation! Like the explanation of accented "a" = ow It would be helpful to have funny character letters and their sound explained, too. Like: crossed d/t = th(?) upper extended p = th(?) Your efforts bring the Icelandic language to a personal level. Big thanks!

[@skinmachine]

The letter that looks like a crossed "D" is called "eth" or "eð". The one that looks like a "P" with the loop falling down is called "thorn" or "Þórn". Both letters were actually used in Old English as well, but fell out of use by the late 15th century. The preservation of these letters in modern Icelandic actually helps to show how closely related English and Icelandic are, or were- they're both members of the Germanic family of languages.

[@gracesj03]

Thanks so much for this great video!! I was wondering what resources you used for learning Icelandic? I’m also an American girl with an Icelandic partner so I’m looking to hopefully learn Icelandic fluently for him one day. Any tips or referrals would be greatly appreciated! 😊 Looking forward to more great content from you!

[@apriljem]

I plan on traveling to Europe frequently via stopovers in Iceland, so I would love to learn more phrases. Takk fyrir!

[@AllThingsIceland]

Awesome to hear that. 😊

[@user-mrfrog]

Takk fyrir frábæra íslenskukennslu! Bless bless!

[@AllThingsIceland]

Mín er ánægjan 😊

[@katherinemcconico982]

Saved in my playlist titled, “Icelandic Language for Dummies”, lol…. Awesome job Jewells!

[@AllThingsIceland]

LOL My pleasure!

[@kenriopat1530]

Pls help me more to how speak on icelandic words🥺

[@farahsamer353]

Iam eygptiion teenager 13 years old I want to travel to island really live everything here but I haven't get out from my eygpt 😅 I want to learn icelandic but I can't find good resources as English is not my native language All love to. Iceland and Icelanders 💖

[@AllThingsIceland]

It’s great that you want to travel to Iceland and I hope you do one day. In the future, I will share some Icelandic learning resources to aid you and others in learning the language. 😊

[@farahsamer353]

@@AllThingsIceland Oh so nice from you 💖

[@ladylamb1328]

Thank you! I’ve been to Iceland 8 times and have dear Icelandic friends yet I still learned something from your video 😊 I’d love to know how to say… “Have a good day” “Nice to meet you” “See you soon” “See you later”

[@AllThingsIceland]

Awesome, and thank you for the great suggestions for more phrases!

[@ericzeb9103]

As Jewells mentioned, Have a good day is Góðan daginn (Go-than Die-inn. See you later is sjáumst (syowmst) or við sjáumst (veeth syowmst)

[@calummunn]

Are you able to translate English to icelandic for an important tattoo to my heart? Any help would be amazing. Love from scotland

[@kaleaj]

is there a reason they use petta instead of pennan at 5:16? it could be that the icelandic course I found is faulty, but doesnt pennan meant that [thing]?

[@EstebanEscobarPalacios]

Please teach us the numbers! ❤️

[@AllThingsIceland]

Ok 😊

[@TA97553]

I love this video! I'm heading to Iceland in November, and I was hoping to pick up a few phrases. I may have to watch this video a hundred times because I sound horrible. LOL. BTW, thanks for creating this channel. I've learned so much about Iceland's culture and what to expect when I get there.

[@mv_n6203]

For the most part especially in the heavy tourist area, they speak English. I definitely scored brownie points with the locals @ the mall & gas station & made them smile inserting Islensku here & there. I would also recommend listening to Icelandic music & watching Icelandic movies.

[@TA97553]

@@mv_n6203 thanks!

[@user-yq6bp3ms6f]

How long does it take to learn the Greenlandic language?

[@skinnner]

Mjög gott hjá þér Jewells!

[@AllThingsIceland]

Takk kærlega fyrir! 🤗

[@DanielleModelCitzen]

Imma give this a try next time we are on the phone with Mommy

[@AllThingsIceland]

🥳🥳😂😂❤️❤️

[@Overbacon609]

Já þá þetta er í alvöru gott/ yea this is really goodJESUS CRHIST THIS GOOD

[@AllThingsIceland]

Takk 🤗

[@cydnicolquitt3429]

Are you fluent in the Icelandic language?

[@manugarciazu5273]

Halló...

[@AllThingsIceland]

Hæ hæ

[@TheCovenant2]

WHen I was younger I really wanted to learn Icelandic because I was so fascinated with the viking era and mythology... I ended up learning norwegian instead because more people speak it.. you can communicate with danish and swedish people aswell and icelandic is just so horribly hard to pronounce XDDD (I'm german, so even tho we have words that are hard to pronounce for many other people too, I still cant figure out how to frikkin add this "heavy breathing" in for example "Takk" ... in the other scand. languages its just takk without the "h" inbetween xD) So basically: its hard and just not "worth" to learn for me, if im not actually living there xDD

[@AllThingsIceland]

Yea, that’s totally understandable. 😊

[@brandosbucket]

Why is america Bandarikjunum, but south america is sudur amerika?

[@BJ247259]

Maybe in the next one you could add in how to order a hotdog in Icelandic, could come in handy for people. Also, your pronunciation is really good!

[@AllThingsIceland]

Great suggestion and thank you!

[@AllThingsIceland]

Great suggestion and thank you!

[@schoolingdiana9086]

Takk! I actually picked up some pointers. I’ve heard Valur (Reykjavik Grapevine) talk in Icelandic before and couldn’t understand how the heck those vowels worked!

[@rochellek5327]

Numbers please 🙏🏽

[@AllThingsIceland]

Will do 😊

[@patrickquinlan7594]

I noticed you pronounce Ég as "yeg." Shouldn't the "g" be pronounced more like the way Darth Vader's breathes? Unfortunately the sound doesn't exist in the English language, and hence the analogy.

[@chinaarlene7035]

Has anyone ever told you that you look like Kandy Burruss

[@AllThingsIceland]

This is the first time I’ve ever heard that. 😊

[@chinaarlene7035]

@@AllThingsIceland you guys have the exact same smile 😃

[@bombay3201]

GET OUT!