Icelandic (Íslenska)

Icelandic is a Northern Germanic language spoken mainly in Iceland (Ísland), and also in Canada (Kanada) and the USA (Bandaríki Norður-Ameríku).

In 2017 the population of Icelandic was 338,349 [source], the vast majority of whom speak Icelandic. In 2013 there were approximately 15,000 native speakers of Icelandic outside Iceland: including 8,000 in Denmark, 5,000 in the USA, and 1,400 in Canada, especially in Manitoba [source]. The total number of Icelandic speakers is about 350,000.

Icelandic at a glance

  • Native name: íslenska ['iːs(t)lɛnska]
  • Language family: Indo-European, Germanic, North Germanic, West Scandinavian, Insular Scandinavian
  • Number of speakers: c. 350,000
  • Spoken in: Iceland, Denmark, USA and Canada
  • First written: AD 1100
  • Writing system: Latin script
  • Status: official language in Iceland

Icelandic is the closest of the Northern Germanic languages to Old Norse, and it is possible for Icelandic speakers to read the Old Norse sagas in the original without too much difficulty. It is closely related to Faroese and western dialects of Norwegian, and less closely related to Danish and Swedish.

The first permanent settlement in Iceland was established by Vikings from Norway and Celts from the British Isles in 870 AD. The main language of the settlers was Old Norse or the Dǫnsk tunga (Danish tongue). A number of great literary works - the sagas - were written by Icelanders during the 12th and 13th centuries. These sagas, many of which were the work of unknown authors, were written in a language very much like Old Norse. The greatest known authors from this period were Ari the Learned (1068-1148) and Snorri Sturlson (1179-1241).

From 1262 until the 15th century, Iceland was governed by Norway, then the Danes took over. During the periods of Norwegian and Danish rule, Norwegian and Danish were used in Iceland, to some extent.

In 1944 Iceland gained its independence and Icelandic was revived as an official and literary language. Today there is a flourishing publishing industry in Iceland and Icelanders are probably the keenest readers and writers in the world.

Icelandic alphabet (íslenska stafrófið)

Icelandic pronunciation

The letters C (se), Q () and W (tvöfalt vaff) are also used, but only in foreign loanwords. The letter Z (seta) is no longer used in Icelandic, except in the newspaper Morgunblaðið

Icelandic Pronunciation

Icelandic pronunciation

Notes

Download an alphabet chart for Icelandic (Excel)

Hear how to pronounce the Icelandic letters with example words:

Sample text in Icelandic

Hver maður er borinn frjáls og jafn öðrum að virðingu og réttindum. Menn eru gæddir vitsmunum og samvisku, og ber þeim að breyta bróðurlega hverjum við annan.

A recording of this text by Marc Volhardt

A recording of this text by Alexander Jarl

A recording of this text by Stefan Steinsson

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample videos

Information about Icelandic | Phrases | Numbers | Colours | Family words | Time | Terms of endearment | Idioms | Tongue twisters | Tower of Babel | Learning materials

Links

Information about the Icelandic language and pronunciation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_language

Online Icelandic lessons
http://icelandiconline.is
http://www.digitaldialects.com/Icelandic.htm
http://www.101languages.net/icelandic/
http://mylanguages.org/learn_icelandic.php
http://www.ielanguages.com/icelandic.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QKAdCZEkcY
http://tungumalatorg.is/viltu_laera_islensku/en

Learn Icelandic with Glossika

Icelandic Grammar
http://www.dettifoss.org
http://www.language-learning-advisor.com/support-files/icelandicprimer.pdf

Icelandic phrases
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/quickfix/icelandic.shtml
http://odin.bio.miami.edu/norse/icetrans.html
http://wikitravel.org/en/Icelandic_phrasebook
http://www.linguanaut.com/english_icelandic.htm

Online Icelandic dictionaries
http://www.ordabok.is/index.asp?mal=en
http://www.hugtakasafn.utn.stjr.is
http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/IcelOnline/
http://www.ling.upenn.edu/~kurisuto/germanic/oi_cleasbyvigfusson_about.html#images

Online Icelandic radio
http://www.ruv.is
http://www.bylgjan.is
http://www.utvarpsaga.is

Online Icelandic newspapers
http://www.bb.is
http://www.visir.is
http://www.mbl.is

Germanic languages

Afrikaans, Alsatian, Bavarian, Cimbrian, Danish, Dutch, Elfdalian, English, Faroese, Flemish, Frisian (East), Frisian (North), Frisian (Saterland), Frisian (West), German, Gothic, Gottscheerish, Gronings, Hunsrik, Icelandic, Limburgish, Low German, Luxembourgish, Mòcheno, Norn, Norwegian, Old English, Old Norse, Pennsylvania German, Ripuarian, Scots, Shetland(ic), Stellingwarfs, Swabian, Swedish, Swiss German, Transylvanian Saxon, Värmlandic, Wymysorys, Yiddish, Yola, Zeelandic

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 09.06.24

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