When you want to learn a language, the best place to start is with the alphabet. While you might be familiar with most letters, the Icelandic alphabet also has a unique set of characters, and knowing them can help you later on when you start learning new words!
This will be your first step toward reading signs, menus, and maybe even the famous sagas! It’s a great starting point for travelers, language lovers, and curious learners. We’ll walk you through every letter and show you how to pronounce each one.
The Icelandic Alphabet
Here are all the 32 letters of the Icelandic alphabet, along with helpful pronunciation tips:
| Capital | Lowercase | Sounds Like | Example (with English) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | a | ah | api (monkey) | |
| Á | á | ow (as in cow) | ást (love) | |
| B | b | b | bók (book) | |
| D | d | d | dagur (day) | |
| Ð | ð | th (soft, like in this) | auðvelt (easy) | |
| E | e | eh | eldi (fire) | |
| É | é | yeah | ég (I) | |
| F | f | f | fiskur (fish) | |
| G | g | g or k, depending on the word | gata (street) | |
| H | h | h | hestur (horse) | |
| I | i | ih | íslenskur (Icelandic) | |
| Í | í | ee | ís (ice cream) | |
| J | j | y | jól (Christmas) | |
| K | k | k | kona (woman) | |
| L | l | l | land (country) | |
| M | m | m | maður (man) | |
| N | n | n | nafn (name) | |
| O | o | aw | orð (word) | |
| Ó | ó | oh | óviss (uncertain) | |
| P | p | p | penni (pen) | |
| R | r | rolled r | rós (rose) | |
| S | s | s | sólin (the sun) | |
| T | t | t | tölva (computer) | |
| U | u | u (as in put) | undir (under) | |
| Ú | ú | oo | út (out) | |
| V | v | v (as in vase) | vísindamaður (scientist) |
Icelandic Vowels Explained
In Icelandic, vowels are very important. They are used in almost every word, and each one has a clear sound. The good news is that Icelandic vowels are much more regular than English vowels. Once you learn how each one sounds, you can read most words out loud correctly.
There are twelve vowels in the Icelandic alphabet. Check the table above to learn how to pronounce them!
A, Á, E, É, I, Í, O, Ó, U, Ú, Y, Ý
Each accented vowel is treated as a separate letter and usually has a different sound from its unaccented version. For example, Á is not just a fancy version of A. It is a different letter with its own sound.
Special Characters
Some letters in the Icelandic alphabet are completely new to most learners. They do not exist in English and can look a little strange at first. But don’t worry, once you learn how they sound, these letters will quickly become familiar.
These are the most unusual letters in Icelandic:
Ð Þ Æ Ö
Let’s look at each one and how you can pronounce it clearly.
Þ þ (thorn)
This letter looks like a mix between a P and a B, but it sounds like the th in ‘thing’. It is a voiceless sound, meaning your vocal cords do not vibrate when you say it.
Example: þoka (fog)
Try saying it like the beginning of ‘thunder’.
Ð ð (eth)
This one is softer. It sounds like the th in ‘this’ or ‘that’. It is voiced, so your vocal cords do vibrate when you say it. Think of it as the gentler cousin of Þ.
Example: auðvelt (easy)
Say it like the middle sound in feather.
Æ æ
This letter sounds like ‘eye’ or the letter I in English. It is a strong, open vowel and appears in many Icelandic words.
Example: ævi (lifetime)
Say it like the word my but short and clear.
Ö ö
Ö sounds like the ur in ‘fur’, but said more cleanly and with rounded lips. It does not exist in English, but if you have learned any other Germanic languages, like German or Swedish, it is similar to the Ö in those languages.
Example: öxl (shoulder)
To practice, say uh while rounding your lips.
Icelandic Letter Combinations
Icelandic is known for its compound words and letter clusters. While the language does not use silent letters in the same way English does, some combinations change how the letters sound when they appear together. These patterns are useful to recognize, especially when reading aloud.
Here are a few common ones:
- ll often sounds like tl
Example: fjall (mountain) - nn in the middle of a word may sound like tn
Example: Að kenna (to teach) - hv sounds like a breathy kv
Example: hvað (what) - ng is pronounced like the ng in sing
Example: langur (long)
Practice saying these aloud, and you will start to hear the rhythm of Icelandic more clearly.
The History Of The Icelandic Alphabet
Icelandic is one of the closest living languages to Old Norse, the language spoken by the Vikings. Because Iceland is an island far from the rest of Europe, the language has not changed much over the centuries. While other Scandinavian languages evolved and simplified, Icelandic stayed loyal to its roots.
That means Icelanders today can still read old Viking sagas written hundreds of years ago. It is like being able to read Shakespeare as if it were modern English.
But here is where it gets even cooler.
Before the Latin alphabet arrived in the North, the Vikings used runes. Runes were letters carved into wood, stone, or metal. They looked sharp and straight because curves were hard to carve into hard materials. Each rune had a name and stood for a specific sound.
The earliest runes were part of the Elder Futhark, which had 24 letters. Later, during the Viking Age, they switched to the Younger Futhark, which had only 16 letters.
So, why doesn’t Icelandic use runes today?
Over time, as Christianity spread across the region, the Vikings adopted the Latin alphabet. They kept some of the letters, which you can still find in modern Icelandic.
How Do You Say Alphabet In Icelandic?
The word for alphabet in Icelandic is stafróf .
Beginner Vocabulary To Practice the Icelandic Alphabet
To practice the Icelandic alphabet, it’s best to start with simple Icelandic phrases.
Here are some easy and useful words to get you started. Each one shows the English word first, then the Icelandic, plus a quick note to help you remember or pronounce it better.
| English | Icelandic | Notes | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| yes | já | Sounds like ‘yow’ | |
| no | nei | Sounds like ‘nay’ | |
| thank you | takk | Common phrase | |
| goodbye | bless | Casual way to say goodbye | |
| day | dagur | Helps practice D and simple vowels | |
| woman | konu | Example with K and O sounds | |
| man | maður | Includes the special letter ð | |
| friend | vinur | Great for practicing V and U | |
| fire | eldur | Shows the LL sound is unique to Icelandic | |
| sun | sól | Practice accented Ó and soft S | |
| mountain | fjall | Shows the LL sound unique to Icelandic | |
| horse | hestur | Includes H and U sounds | |
| fog | þoka | A good word for the thorn letter Þ | |
| ice cream | ís | Short and clear long Í sound | |
| rose | rós | Try rolling the R for a true Icelandic feel |
Want to start speaking right away? Learn basics like thank you in Icelandic (takk) to make a friendly impression.
Quick And Easy Tips For Learners
- If you see a vowel with an accent mark, say it a little longer and clearer. These accents usually mean the sound is stressed and different from the plain version.
- The Icelandic R is rolled, like in Spanish.
- Letters Y and Ý sound just like I and Í. In modern Icelandic, they are pronounced the same, but they are still written differently depending on the word.
- Set your phone or keyboard to have an Icelandic keyboard. This way, you can get used to the alphabet and more easily type special characters.
- Most Icelanders speak English as a second language, and many speak other languages too. But they will be very impressed if you can say a few Icelandic words, such as hello in Icelandic, especially if you know how to pronounce uncommon characters.
FAQs About The Icelandic Alphabet
How Do You Pronounce The Icelandic ð?
The letter ð sounds like the soft th in 'this' or 'feather'. It is a voiced sound
What Letters Are Unique To Icelandic?
The unique letters are Þ (thorn), Ð (eth), Æ (ash), and Ö (o-umlaut).
Are There Any Letters In The Icelandic Alphabet That Are Not Used?
The letters C, Q, W, and Z are not part of the Icelandic alphabet and rarely appear except in words of foreign origin.
How Common Is The Letter Þ In Icelandic?
The letter Þ is still commonly used in Icelandic, especially at the beginning of words like þoka (fog) and throughout everyday language.
What Did We Learn?
Here’s a quick recap: The Icelandic alphabet has 32 letters, including four unique characters that are not found in English: Þ, Ð, Æ, and Ö.
The alphabet has 12 vowels, many with accents that change their sound, and some letter combinations that affect how words are pronounced.
Getting to know these letters and how they sound is really important for reading Icelandic and understanding the language. And since Icelandic is closely related to Old Norse and Viking history, learning the language is a gateway to exploring ancient texts, rich traditions, and a unique cultural heritage.
Learn New Icelandic Words With The Ling App
You’ve mastered the Icelandic alphabet, now it’s time to start building your vocabulary!
Download the Ling app to start speaking Icelandic words, phrases, and pronunciation through quick, interactive 5-minute lessons.
Start with the basics, then build your way up to more complex topics. If you’re about to visit Iceland or are simply curious about the language, Ling can be the perfect tool to learn Icelandic and connect with the culture.
