Icelandic at Our Table

Sayings and Phrases

VARÚÐ – Warning

Takk – Thanks

Takk, takk fyrir and takk fyrir mig are all versions of saying thank you, increasing in thanks intensity.

Hvað segir þú? – How are you?

Fyrirgefðu – Forgive me

Hvert eruð þið að fara, strákar?
Where are you going, boys?

Pabbi – Dad

Goðan Daginn – Good day/hello

Já – Yes

Þetta reddast – It will work out

A very Icelandic experession: we will work it, things will work out, there will be a solution in time. It’s a mindset and a very common phrase.

Eiginmaður – Husband

Eiginkona mín – My wife

Mamma – Mom/Mum

Goðan Daginn meistari – Good Day sir

Used mostly when speaking to someone skilled or knowledgeable when the conversation will be about said skill, or someone to show respect to.

Nei – No

Ég samhryggist – I share your sorrow

Its the Icelandic way to say “I’m sorry for your loss”

Strákar – Boys

Talar þú ensku? – Do you speak English?

This isn’t the only way to say this; it depends upon the gender, or genders, of the person, or persons, you are speaking to.

Sautjánda júní -17th June

June 17th is Iceland’s day of independence.

Place Names

Reykjavík

Selfoss

Landeyjarhöfn

Skógafoss

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Nesjahverfi

Þorlákshöfn

Hella

Vestmannaeyjar

Skeiðflötur

Fagurhólsmýri

Höfn

Hveragerði

Hvólsvöllur

Seljalandsfoss

Vík

Jökulsárlón

Landspítali

Icelandic Names

Icelanders usually have patronymic surnames, with a few choosing to have matronymic or family surnames. This means that a child will have a surname that is their father, or less commonly their mother’s first name, in the genative case followed by son (son), dóttir (daughter) or bur (child of).

Icelanders also love their nicknames, with many establish nicknames based on their first name.

Jón “Nonni” Huginsson