If there’s one thing that jet setters know, it’s that language builds bridges. And in Iceland, a simple goodbye makes your travel smoother, way more fun, and opens doors to more genuine connections.
Whether you’re chatting with a local baker or leaving your tour group, learning how to say goodbye in Icelandic spells the difference. Let’s learn how Icelanders bid farewell!
Goodbye In Icelandic Language
When you’re traveling around Iceland, you’ll commonly hear locals say Bless! (pronounced bles). It’s like their go-to goodbye word, but it is actually the short form for Guð blessi þig, which means “God bless you.”
Being a classic Icelandic farewell, you can use bless in any situation. It’s short, not overly formal, and polite. This is the easiest of the basic Icelandic phrases that you can start using right away.
But bless isn’t the only way Icelanders say goodbye. Depending on the situation, there are other phrases that better fit formal settings, and there are some that are more suitable for casual or informal settings.
Other Ways To Say Goodbye In Icelandic Language
To go beyond the basic Icelandic phrases like “good morning” and “thank you,” you also have to learn the best ways to end conversations in the language. While Icelanders certainly prefer to use simple yet heartfelt phrases to bid farewell, there are a few more goodbye phrases you can use.
It just depends on how casual or formal the setting is.
1. Bye-Bye – Bless Bless
Like the English “bye-bye,” bless bless adds warmth and familiarity, casually bidding goodbye to friends, family members, or anyone you’re in friendly terms with. It’s usually said with a cheerful tone and a wave.
2. Bye – Bæ
Another of the casual farewells used by Icelandic native speakers is bæ. You can use this similarly to bless bless, but this is shorter and reserved for bidding a casual farewell to close friends or people your age.
3. See You – Sjáumst
Literally means “see you,” sjáumst is the Icelandic phrase you can use when you bid farewell to someone you’re expecting to meet again soon. It’s also versatile, as you can use it for both casual and semi-formal settings.
4. See You Later – Sjáumst Síðar
Sjáumst Síðar, which means “see you later,” is the longer version of sjáumst. This phrase is a slightly longer goodbye to people you’re meeting again soon.
5. Until Next Time – Þangað Til Næst
Þangað til næst, which literally means “until next time,” is a friendly Icelandic goodbye with a hopeful tone to it. You use this when you’re planning to see someone in the future, like how you say “until we meet again” in English.
This is a great phrase to use after meeting fellow travelers in Iceland.
6. Take Care – Farðu Varlega
This is the Icelandic phrase you’ll use when you’re saying goodbye to someone who is driving home or is going out on a journey through rough weather. It’s a heartfelt farewell that translates to “go carefully” or “take care” in English.
7. Be Happy – Vertu Sæll/Vertu Sæl
Both vertu sæll and vertu sæl are respectful Icelandic goodbyes that wish someone well. Though both phrases literally translate to “be happy,” the difference is that vertu sæll is said to a man, while vertu sæl is said to a woman.
You’ll mostly hear these phrases in more formal situations (ending conversations or when thanking a host after a dinner) or among older generations.
8. Be Blessed – Vertu Blessaður / Vertu Blessuð
Though this Icelandic phrase for goodbye is also used among older Icelanders, vertu blessaður (to a man) and vertu blessuð (to a woman) are more traditional and more formal than the usual bless. Since it feels like a respectful blessing, use these phrases when heartily bidding farewell or during formal introductions.
9. Good Luck – Gangi Þér Vel
Another simple phrase you can use when thoughtfully parting ways is gangi þér vel. Literally means “good luck,” use this when you wish someone well who’s going on a journey or doing a task.
It may not be a direct “goodbye,” but it’s a great phrase for encouraging that person.
10. Farewell – Kveðja
Out of all the phrases used for goodbye in Icelandic, kveðja is more suited for written use. Literally translating to “farewell,” you’ll more likely see this phrase in letters, speeches, or emails rather than in casual chats.
Think of it as the Icelandic equivalent of signing off with a “sincerely” or “kind regards.”
11. Good Night – Góða Nótt
Góða nótt, which translates to “good night,” is a time-specific Icelandic phrase to use when wishing someone a good night. You usually use this expression at bedtime or when parting ways in the evening.
12. Good Weekend – Góða Helgi
Another of the more time-specific ways of saying goodbye in Icelandic is góða helgi, or “good weekend.” It’s commonly said before the weekend starts, on Fridays.
However, keep this in mind when choosing a goodbye phrase: Icelanders value directness and friendliness above anything else.
How Do You Say Goodbye In Icelandic?
The Icelandic language has a variety of ways to say goodbye, depending on how formal a setting is or relationship closeness. The most common and most casual goodbye in Icelandic is bless, which simply means “goodbye” or “bye.”
But, you can repeat this as bless bless (bye-bye) to make it sound more friendly or affectionate.
Icelandic Goodbye Cheat Sheet For Every Situation
Ending a conversation won’t be as awkward as before with these basic phrases for bidding goodbye in Icelandic:
| English | Icelandic | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Goodbye | Bless | Bles |
| Bye-bye | Bless bless | Bles bles |
| Bye (to close friends) | Bæ | Bai |
| See you | Sjáumst | Syowmst |
| See you later | Sjáumst síðar | Syowmst see-thar |
| Until next time | Þangað til næst | Thawn-gath til naist |
| Take care | Farðu varlega | Far-thu var-le-ga |
| Be happy (to a man) | Vertu sæll | Vair-tu sail |
| Be happy (to a woman) | Vertu sæl | Vair-tu sile |
| Be blessed (to a man) | Vertu blessaður | Vair-tu ble-sath-ur |
| Be blessed (to a woman) | Vertu blessuð | Vair-tu ble-suth |
| Good luck | Gangi þér vel | Gong-ee ther vel |
| Farewell (formal situations) | Kveðja | Kveh-thya |
| Good night | Góða nótt | Go-tha noht |
| Good weekend | Góða helgi | Go-tha HEL-yee |
Must-Remember Tips For Icelandic Farewells
Icelanders are known for being down-to-earth and kind, but reserved. Thus, politeness is a big part of Icelandic culture. But to make a positive impression, you don’t have to be elaborate. Simply using the proper tone and your effort is enough to show your respect.
To make a lasting impression, whether in formal or informal situations, here are some friendly tips to remember before your upcoming trip to Iceland:
- Bidding goodbye in Icelandic is often done in a warm and relaxed manner. With Icelanders being casual people, bless bless or sjáumst is more than enough in most social situations.
- Though Icelandic is under the North Germanic languages (with Faroese and Norwegian), it has developed a few distinct features from the two. Some of these features you can find in the Icelandic alphabet, one of which is consistent pronunciation rules for both vowels and consonants.
- Icelandic is one of the many modern languages that sound musical due to its consistent stress patterns (always on the first syllable) and rhythm. Once you catch the flow, pronunciation becomes easier. While you can do this by listening to locals, apps like Ling can help you reach your goal faster. With its Dialogue feature, you can hear the separate pronunciation of double consonants or the proper vowel sounds for different words. But you don’t have to rush — locals admire your efforts more than perfection.
- Sincerity is highly valued in Iceland. Apart from tone, eye contact, and the proper gestures, always show how sincere you are with the person you’re talking to. A wave, a nod, or a handshake (in formal settings) would often suffice, but a smile is always the best way to let them feel the warmth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saying Goodbye In Icelandic
How Do I Say Bye Bye In Icelandic?
The most common way to say “bye bye” in Icelandic is bless bless. It’s one of the friendliest and casual ways to say goodbye among friends and family. Apart from this, you can also say Bless for a simple “bye” or Sjáumst to say “See you” or “See you later.” But if you’re saying “bye bye” in formal settings, either say Vertu blessaður to a male or Vertu blessuð (to a female), which literally means “Be blessed.”
What Does Jæja Mean?
Jæja is an iconic and versatile Icelandic word that doesn’t have a direct English translation. But jæja can mean “Well,” “Alright then,” “Let’s go,” or “So, what’s next?” Depending on the tone, it can signal a pause, transition, or even impatience. You use this Icelandic phrase alone as it already conveys meaning without having to explain further.
Is It Takk Or Tack?
The correct Icelandic word for saying “thank you” is Takk (with a double “k”), a commonly used Icelandic word in both formal and informal settings. Tack, though, isn’t used in Icelandic since it is more associated with the Swedish language.
Saying Bless To Iceland – For Now!
Saying goodbye in Icelandic doesn’t mean simply repeating a phrase. It’s your way of showing your appreciation to a culture that welcomed you. Whether Bless or Vertu sæll, they reflect the respect and curiosity that you have for Iceland’s way of life.
But your Icelandic adventure doesn’t have to end with a plane ticket home. Now that you have learned to say goodbye in Icelandic, you can keep exploring and practicing new words and Icelandic phrases daily. This way, when you find your way back to the “Land of Fire and Ice,” you can expand your goodbyes into confident Reykjavik café talks.
Master Icelandic The Smart And Fast Way With Ling!
Why stop at learning to say goodbye in Icelandic when you can learn so much more with Ling? From greetings, phrases, to the proper way of pronouncing words, Ling’s got short yet immersive lessons that come packed with real-world examples.
Apart from its gamified lessons, you can save Icelandic words that you commonly encounter in “My Vocabulary,” and even review them later through “Flashcards.” Plus, you’ll also learn to speak those words and phrases naturally with the “Dialogue” feature.
So, if you’re traveling to Iceland soon, download the Ling app and start its 7-day free trial to learn Icelandic in the most fun way!
