Now let’s learn some basic Icelandic conversation. This lesson will teach you how to introduce yourself, as well as simple words and phrases like yes, no, excuse me and I don’t understand. Learn these and you’ll be ready to conduct short conversations in Icelandic.

This lesson is part of the chapter “Learning Icelandic“.

Basic Icelandic words & phrases: conversations

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Basic conversation

EnglishIcelandicPronunciation
(Audio)
yesjá
nonei
please / you’re welcometakk
ekkert að þakka
you’re very welcomegjörðu svo vel
thank youtakk fyrir
thank you very muchþakka þér kærlega fyrir
thankstakk
Excuse me!Afsakið!

Communication

EnglishIcelandicPronunciation
(Audio)
I understand.Ég skil.
I don’t understand.Ég skil ekki.
Hello? (on the phone) / I beg your pardon?Halló?
Hvað segirðu?
What does that mean?Hvað þýðir það?
I don’t know.Ég veit það ekki.
I don’t speak Polish.Ég tala ekki pólsku.
I speak a little Polish.Ég tala smá pólsku.
Do you speak English? (informal)Talarðu ensku?
Do you speak English? (formal)Talarðu ensku?
Yes, I do speak English.Já, ég tala ensku.
No, I don’t speak English.Nei, ég tala ekki ensku.

Making acquaintances

EnglishIcelandicPronunciation
(Audio)
Please talk more slowly!Talaðu hægar, takk!
Nice to meet you!Gaman að kynnast þér!
How are you?Hvernig hefur þú það?
Good, thank you!Gott, takk!
I’m well, thanks!Ég hef það gott, takk!
Not bad, thanks!Fínt, takk!
very badmjög slæmt
What’s your name?Hvað heitir þú?
My name is [...].Ég heiti [...].
What’s your first name?Hvað heitir þú? [4]
My first name is [...]Ég heiti [...].
How old are you?Hvað ertu gamall? (m), Hvað ertu gömul? (f)
I’m [...] years old.Ég er [...] ára.
What are your hobbies?Hvað gerirðu í frítíma þínum?
What do you like doing?Hvað finnst þér gaman að gera?
What are you doing (at the moment)?Hvað ertu að gera (í augnablikinu)?
Where do you live?Hvar býrðu?
I live in [...].Ég bý í [...] (m), Ég bý á [...]. (f)
I’m from EnglandÉg er frá Englandi
I’m EnglishÉg er enskur (m), Ég er ensk (f)

Notes:

1 Icelanders always use first names, so this is not a question anyone would ask in Iceland.

Vocabulary trainer: Conversations in Icelandic

How do you say
please / you’re welcome
in Icelandic?

Correct answers: 0Wrong answers: 0

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