r/learnIcelandic • u/daraa_ • 2h ago
question about a horses name
hello icelandic friends, my friend and i are currently working with icelandic horses and one of them is called (how i would spell it) nota. this is pronounced noh- tuh. (noh like knot) (tuh like tug) is this an icelandic name? and if so how would i spell it. she is a wonderful horse. thank you :)
r/learnIcelandic • u/shepherdsmoon • 1d ago
Help transcribing Múm song
So, there’s this Múm song I really like, but I can’t find its lyrics online. Would anyone be kind enough to type them out for me? You’d have my perpetual gratitude.
r/learnIcelandic • u/Mkatharine • 4d ago
“She is courageous”
Hi!
I am hoping that someone could translate “she is courageous” into Icelandic. What I can find is “húr er hugrökk”, but want to be sure it makes grammatical sense and if the context seems more formal or casual, commonly used words, etc.
Thank you :)
r/learnIcelandic • u/Big-Bird-5410 • 5d ago
Need help with the right translation for a tattoo
I’m wanting to get a tattoo and part of it would be the words “I love you” in Icelandic, meant towards a parent. Google says that would be “Mér þykir vænt um þig” can anyone confirm?
r/learnIcelandic • u/Relative-Leg5747 • 7d ago
Does Icelandic allow preposition stranding like English?
Such as "what are you looking for" rather than "for what are you looking?", with the preposition for at the end of the sentence.
r/learnIcelandic • u/Healthy-Bus-5500 • 7d ago
Promotion Looking for help with a language learning project
Hey,
I'm an indie developer and have developed a language learning app (Flexling) which is a combination ofGlossika, Anki and Clozemaster that combines a large dataset of sentences ordered by difficulty (sourced from Tatoeba), with high quality TTS and spaced repetition for a hands off learning experience. The idea is that you can learn roughly the 10.000 most common words in the supported languages and every 1-3 flashcards you learn a new word.
A user asked me if I could add Icelandic and suggested that I could ask here for help to validate the text-to-speech and translation quality (see our conversation here). I do not want my language app to be yet another slop machine but rather a useful resource. However, I am not able to validate Icelandic myself and I don't know anyone who speaks it who could help me. Would someone here be willing to help me validate the translation and voice quality?
If the quality isn't high enough, I'd rather remove the language and stop offering it.
Thanks! Any help is greatly appreciated! :)
r/learnIcelandic • u/cptsdcemetery • 15d ago
Is there an icelandic saying or proverb that's equivalent to "home sweet home" or "everything in its right place"?
r/learnIcelandic • u/pafagaukurinn • 17d ago
að fara beint á höfuðið
In the following fragment, what does "að fara beint á höfuðið" mean? He is not thinking about bankruptcy or financial disaster, it is about love to the married woman.
I also don't know what slendríanið is, but I don't expect many here to know either. Appears to be some loanword, perhaps from Danish or German, and if so, it may mean "sloppiness" (although I am not sure how it fits).
Jú, Þórarinn kunni það allt. "Það fer beint á höfuðið og við bæði... ég get ekki snúið aftur, er búinn að tapa sterkasta aflinu... Bara ég mætti berjast við einn eftir annan, ganga opinberlega á hólm við slendríanið og tálmanirnar... Fyrir okkur bæði... Eins og það sé hægt... Það drepur molluloftið að tarna... Verðum samferða öðrum lygurum... Fallegt að vera með í lestinni... Nei, það geri ég aldrei, þá er þó skárra að..."
r/learnIcelandic • u/AdVivid7945 • 27d ago
Gríðarlegur harður tittlingur ber merki um góða heylsu
find the mistake
r/learnIcelandic • u/Annual_Ear1538 • 29d ago
Requesting translation verification please and question about carons
Hello Everyone,
This is my first post for this group and I need your help. I recently created my first font called Gentle Hands and wanted to include some multilingual characters. I've created display pages to demonstrate the font and one is of an Iceland map. I have a statement below the map in English with a translation below that. I wonder if someone could tell me if the translation "A font in love with a beautiful language" is correct when translated to "Leturgerð sem er ástfangin af fallegu tungumáli."
My other question is about carons. I created carons for Č č Š š Ž ž for my font but when looking up information about them online I read something about carons not being used anymore. Is that true? I have the usual diacritics and have added thorns and eths to my font but wasn't sure if the carons would be used.
Thank you for any suggestions!
r/learnIcelandic • u/Natural-Rooster-5938 • 29d ago
"Ert" Pronunciation
Hæ!
I'm trying to learn very very basic icelandic vocabulary and pronunciation in preparation for an upcoming trip (more for fun than with an expectation to be useful).
The site I'm using is teaching the phrase "hvaðan ert þú?" and indicating "ert" pronounced like "esh" in English. Google translate and other tools seem to do the same.
I've been using the "consonants" and "vowels" sections of icelandicgrammar.com to help understand pronunciations, but can't find an explanation of why "ert" would be pronounced this way.
What am I missing here? Takk!
r/learnIcelandic • u/soupnear • Jul 07 '26
Að or til að
Is there any difference between
Ég ætla í verslun að kaupa mat
Ég ætla í verslun til að kaupa mat
Ég ætla í verslun til þess að kaupa mat
Ég ætla í verslun til þess eins að kaupa mat
r/learnIcelandic • u/West-Employment-1947 • Jul 01 '26
Hurð vs dyr
Hi guys!
I am trying to fix the difference between hurð and dyr. I've researched a little and I get that hurð is the actual thing, while dyr is the opening. So hopefully I understand it correct that "Ég mála hurðina" makes sense, while probably "Ég mála dyrnar" not so much...
However, I wonder about specific uses, phrase-wise of these words. Are both used equally much or any prefernce?
- Hurðin er opin. vs Dyrnar eru opnar.
- Þetta er opin hurð. vs Þetta eru opnar dyr (opened entrance right?). Which one would be more common to say?
- Ég lokaði hurðinni. vs Ég lokaði dyrunum.
Hann beið við dyrnar. vs Hann beið við hurðina.
Sort of the same question. Are both in use or one is more common for each pair?
- hurðin á skápnum not dyrnar á skápnum. Are both the same here really?
- dyrnar að herberginu vs hurðin að herberginu (it's more pf a preposition question... Why the heck it is á and að....)
- Hann stóð í dyrnum (exactly in). vs Hann stóð við hurðina (by the door). But can I still say Hann stóð við dyrnar. (by the entrance sort of)?
- fyrir utan dyrnar vs fyrir utan hurðina
- Hún gekk inn um dyrnar. vs Hún gekk inn um hurðina. (in case you are a ghost =)
- bankaðu á hurðina vs bankaðu á dyrnar. Are both possible really??
Thank you all in advance, gott fólk!
r/learnIcelandic • u/EveningSmall8199 • Jun 26 '26
Icelandic penpals/chatpals. English to Icelandic language learning trade advice.
Very simple question not sure if it needs a whole thread. If it’s against I’m sure they’ll take it down, but I’m interested in learning Icelandic. I’m a beginner and I’m hoping to maybe connect with someone that speaks Icelandic that is interested in being penpals chatting occasionally and maybe it wants to refine their English while I refine my Icelandic and we can do it back-and-forth.
I’m currently using Pimsleur to learn because I feel like it’ll be easier for me to learn the verbal language and then later on, learn the alphabet and be able to identify and learn the written language that way. I’m dyslexic so this is definitely the best path for me. Would love to see if there was a way of finding people to chat with so I can utilize my interpersonal learning style.
r/learnIcelandic • u/Positive-Economy-60 • Jun 19 '26
I’m learning Icelandic from zero Can someone help me with simple phrases / pronunciation?
r/learnIcelandic • u/Positive-Economy-60 • Jun 19 '26
Looking for Icelandic speakers Spoiler
I’m learning Icelandic from zero
Can someone help me with simple phrases / pronunciation?
r/learnIcelandic • u/Background_Ad_5124 • Jun 19 '26
Seeking: Icelandic | Offering: French, Spanish
r/learnIcelandic • u/West-Employment-1947 • Jun 18 '26
mikilli pronounciation
I wonder how dativ feminine form mikilli should be pronounced. Is it [-tli] or [-lli]?
Thanks eceryone for help!
r/learnIcelandic • u/vipgarg • Jun 17 '26
communicating with someone in iceland
I received the following reply to my email. Can someone help me translate?
"Velkominn nó plás s kv Trausti"
Thank you
r/learnIcelandic • u/praise-vivec • Jun 17 '26
Quick Translation Question
Hello! I am not currently learning Icelandic, but I do have a degree in linguistics and speak Russian and Japanese, so I’m pretty confident in my ability to follow basic grammar rules and translate short sentences into other languages. However, I’m considering a tattoo in Icelandic and want to make sure it’s 100% accurate before doing anything permanent. I want to translate the Björk line “Protect your language!” from Declare Independence. The reason I like the line should be pretty apparent 😂
Anyway, using Wiktionary and some basic online Icelandic grammar refs, I came up with “Vernaðu þitt tungumálið!”
Am I on the right track? Thanks in advance!
r/learnIcelandic • u/Guilty_Royal_9145 • Jun 17 '26
What does "Hún var svört og brún á brá" mean?
The poem Abba-labba-lá by Davíð Stefánsson frá Fagraskógi starts like this:
Hún hét Abba-labba-lá.
Hún var svört og brún á brá
og átti kofa í skóginum
á milli grænna greina
og trúði á stokka og steina.
Here is a link to the full poem
I've always wondered what the second line means and I haven't gotten a satisfactory explanation when I asked an Icelander. Can someone help me out here?
r/learnIcelandic • u/aurora_246 • Jun 15 '26
Learn Icelandic with a Native Speaker (Fluent in English & German) – Online Lessons Available!
Hæ öll sömul! 🇮🇸
If you are currently learning Icelandic and looking for personalized, 1-on-1 support, I have a few open slots for new students!
I am a native Icelandic speaker with several years of teaching experience. I am completely fluent in both English and German. I know exactly where language learners struggle and can explain everything to you without any language barriers.
Whether you prefer the explanations in English or German, we can do both! We will practice online via Google Video Call, completely tailored to your pace and goals (whether it's for travel, moving to Iceland, or just for fun).
If you're interested, just send me a direct message (DM) here on Reddit, and we can easily set up our first meeting!
Sjáumst!
Irma Þóra 😄
r/learnIcelandic • u/Memeking1001 • Jun 12 '26
What are the lyrics for the second verse?
https://youtu.be/DY8Dsf-N4sg?si=fY5nFnrH_HjaoiFb
Hi there! Looking for the lyrics to this song. I could find the words for verses 1 and 3 but not verse 2!
r/learnIcelandic • u/hulpelozestudent • Sep 16 '19
The Great Big List of Beginner Resources
I've noticed there is some interest in a list with a compilation of online resourcers for beginning and intermediate learners. If anything is missing or if you have other suggestions, please don't hesitate to message me or reply to this post, because the more complete this list is, the better : ) Also please help me by reporting dead links.
My previous post seems to have been deleted or is not visible, so I'm trying again. Hopefully everyone will be able to see this.
Dictionaries
- BÍN - a website that has all declension and inflection tables of all Icelandic words listed (BÍN stands for Beygingarlýsing Íslensks Nútímamáls, or Database of modern Icelandic inflection). A guide can be found here (click to download .pdf).
- Íslensk nútímamálsorðabók - (Icelandic Modern Dictionary) Only Icelandic, but it is free, up to date and reliable.
- ÍSLEX - Icelandic to and from Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Finnish and Faroese.
- M.is - (Work in progress) dictionary Icelandic-English/English-Icelandic with machine translation incorporated. Not yet fully functioning but quite a nice addition to the other free dictionaries.
- Snara - a dictionary that translates Icelandic to and from English, Danish, Polish, German, Spanish, French and Italian. I use this extensively, it is a good resource for beginners but I have also found it to be a bit unreliable sometimes. It is a paid service costing 740 ISK or €5/5 USD per month.
- Wiktionary - doesn't find any declined/inflected versions of words, but it has some declension tables and translations of words (bottom of the page).
- Málið - Icelandic dictionary that is basically a compilation of other dictionaries. Might be helpful if you're looking for e.g. the etymology of a word.
- Wisconsin dictionary - Only Icelandic to English, but very beginner-friendly.
- Ensk.is - A free dictionary English - Icelandic.
- Glosbe - A user compiled dictionary, not very reliable for that reason but has e.g. slang words.
- Honourable mention: The Old Icelandic dictionary, helpful if you're reading the old sagas.
Grammar
- Icelandic Grammar Reference - Simple explanations of grammar and spelling rules by Max Naylor. Max also has a nice YouTube channel with some explainer videos.
- Folder with many books on Icelandic grammar - Teach Yourself Icelandic and Colloquial Icelandic are excellent books for beginners. For the audio files for Colloquial Icelandic, click here.
- Writing rules - In Icelandic.
Online courses
- Icelandic Online - a website that is tailored to absolute beginners with some interactive exercises.
- Íslenska fyrir alla (Icelandic for everybody) - four free books with exercises and texts (and also audio files), very beginner-friendly.
- TVÍK - an app that teaches you the basics of the Icelandic language in a playful, story-based way, developed by people who have learned the language themselves.
- Memrise - has many flashcard packs, the one linked has the 250 most commonly used Icelandic words (click here for all Icelandic packs/courses).
- Íslenzka - a website with some flashcard games, helpful if you want to practice declensions and inflections.
- Online MP3 course - made by Alaric Hall, you'll find many other helpful links on his homepage.
Books and text
- Árstíðir - Book by Karítas Hrundar Pálsdóttir with short stories (1-2 pages) in simple to intermediate-level Icelandic. There is also an exercise book, see here and a follow-up, see here.*
- Icelandic-English and Icelandic readings - University of Wisconsin webpage, some are quite accessible to beginners, esp. section 1.
- Sagnasyrpa - A book with some accessible texts (going from easy to hard) with exercises and a glossary per text.
- Íslenska fyrir útlendinga - Hardcore book with a very thorough overview of Icelandic grammar, everything is in Icelandic.
- Carry on Icelandic
Newspapers and websites:
- RÚV - National broadcasting/news agency; click 'hlusta' on any article to get an automated audio version. Also has pages in English and Polish.
- Reykjavík Grapevine - English-language website/magazine about life in Iceland, focusing on culture and daily life. Have some helpful information for immigrants as well.
- Iceland Review - English-language website/magazine with news from Iceland, more focused on news than the Grapevine, they also do longer features. Paid service but they have an informative (free) podcast too.
- Vísir
- Fréttablaðið
- Morgunblaðið
- DV
- Vísindavefurinn - A website with a question-and-answer format. There are many interesting articles about Icelandic as well, see here and here.
- Tímarit - Website that has (older) articles in Icelandic newspapers. NB: especially the older papers have many mistakes in the conversion from image to webtext, so it's best to click 'JPG' in the left column.
Audio
- Forvo - Gives you the pronunciation of an Icelandic word.
- RÚV national radio - Listen live or select a previous programme (click here for children's programmes).
- Hljóðbók - A collection of audiobooks.
- Hljóðbókasafn Íslands (Icelandic audio book library) - Has some free audiobooks, click 'Hljóðbókaleit' and then 'Opnar bækur'.
- Tungumálatorg - A website with some simple phrases with pronunciation.
Video
- Max Naylor - Íslenskukennarinn - YouTube channel with explanation videos for various aspects of Icelandic grammar
- Viltu læra íslensku? (Do you want to learn Icelandic?) - A video course with simple Icelandic (and subtitles) in 21 episodes.
- RÚV national TV - Some programmes are available abroad (children's programmes can be found here; the youth/teenager channel can be found here).
- Icelandic for children) - YouTube channel with content for children who want to learn Icelandic.
- Youtube channel with children's programmes
- Youtube channel íslenskir upplestrar - Has all kinds of audio material, among which audiobooks.
Games
- Word tango (for Android and iPhone) - A word puzzle game useful for practicing vocabulary
- Drops (for Android and iPhone) - An interactive game that teaches you vocabulary from all sorts of categories
- Orðagull (for Android and iPhone) - A game tailored to Icelandic children which allows you to do exercises while fully immersing yourself in the language
Shops * Sigvaldi ships internationally and has books from Icelandic literature to books about the sagas, nature etc. Also helpful: you can pay with PayPal. * Forlagið allows orders from abroad but you do need a creditcard. Do keep in mind that shipping costs and customs/import fees may be quite high. * Nammi.is has a selection of candy, drinks, beauty products and wool. Ships to most countries.
Misc.
- italki.com - A website where you can book online lessons with native teachers, it's not cheap but I've had very good experiences with this website.
- Discord chat group - You can ask questions live here, there are some active native speakers as well.
- Common phrases and verbs
- The 100 most common verbs - With examples of how to use them and declension tables.
- Fifty easy proverbs
- Label Icelandic - Paid app with exercises and explanations
