Blue Jellyfish Press. Learn Icelandic. íslensku. íslenska. Free learning page. The bare necessities, essential phrases, minimum. Beginners. For travellers. For tourists.

Essential Icelandic Phrases
Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases.
All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get
what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Icelandic words and phrases you need
to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum.
If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases,
Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...
The Top 10 ...

Halló.
Hello.
Bless.
Goodbye.
Talar þú ensku?
Do you speak English?
Ég skil ekki.
I don't understand.
Smávegis.
A little.
Já. Nei.
Yes. No.
Hvað kostar?
How much is it?
Of dýrt. Allt í lagi.
Too expensive. OK.
Takk. Gætirðu.
Please.
Takk (kærlega).
Takk fyrir.
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you
make new friends and ask for directions.
The Top 20 ...

Hvað heitir þú?
What is your name?
Ég heiti ...
My name is ...
Hvernig hefur þú það?
How are you?
Fínt. En þú?
Fine. And you?
Hvar er ...?
Where is ...?
Hvar er klósettið? Karlar/Konur
Where is the toilet? Men/Women
Fyrirgefðu. Afsakið.
Sorry. Excuse me.
Ekkert mál.
No problem.
Ég vil ...
I want ...
Ég vil ekki ...
I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a
little more conversation and to get around.
The Top 30 ...

Hvaðan ertu?
Where are you from?
Ég er frá Ástralíu.*
I am from Australia.
Reikninginn, takk.
The bill, please.
Ég er týndur. (man)
Ég er týnd. (woman)
I'm lost.
Hættu! Bíddu!
Stop! Wait!
Hér, þar.
Here, there.
Taxi. Hótel. Flugvöllur. Strætóstoppistöð.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Bus stop.
Mér líkar ...
I like ...
Mér líkar ekki ...
I don't like ...
einn, tveir, þrír, fjórir, fimm.
one, two , three, four, five.
sex, sjö, átta, níu, tíu.
six, seven, eight, nine, c.
*Or choose your country:
frá Ameríku - from America
frá Kanada - from Canada
frá Englandi - from England
frá Írlandi - from Ireland
frá Nýja-Sjálandi - from New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful,
especially if you have dietary needs or allergies.
Useful extras ...

Skál!
Cheers!
góður / vondur
good / bad
stór / lítill
big / small
nálægt / langt
near / far
minni / meira
less / more
annar / nógur
another / enough
Ég er grænmetisæta.
I am vegetarian.
Ég borða ekki kjöt.
I don't eat meat.
... kjúkling.
... chicken.
... fisk.
... fish.
Ég er með ofnæmi fyrir hnetum.
I am allergic to nuts.
... jarðhnetum.
... peanuts.
... fiski.
... fish.
... fiski og skelfiski.
... seafood.
... eggjum.
... eggs.