How to Say Reykjavik Correctly

Being the capital city and the location of Iceland’s main international airport, Reykjavik is often the initial and final stop for visitors. It is essential to know the correct pronunciation of the city’s name, so let’s delve into that.

Reykjavik is actually pronounced with an “a” and “ee” sound, contrary to the “e” and “i” in its spelling. Phonetically, it is represented as RAYK-YAH-VEEK. The translation of the name roughly means “Smoke Cove,” reflecting the city’s nickname, Smoky Bay.

If you still have doubts about how to say Reykjavik, watching the video below might provide some assistance.

How to Say Eyjafjallajökull Correctly

When the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted in 2010, it caused widespread disruption, particularly affecting international air travel. Let’s not dwell on the details of that event.

What did capture attention during the eruption was the amusing attempts by news reporters and visitors to pronounce the volcano’s name: EYJA-FJALLA-JOKULL. Various examples of these attempts can be found in the accompanying videos.

However, is it really that challenging to pronounce Icelandic words? I believe it’s not, and I aim to simplify it for you as much as possible. To make it easier, I will provide translations and pronunciations in both Icelandic and English.

The Icelandic Alphabet

Starting with the basics, let’s dive into the pronunciation of the Icelandic alphabet. One common mistake to avoid is mispronouncing characters like Þ as a P or J as in English. Familiarizing yourself with the correct pronunciation is essential to reading and speaking Icelandic accurately. Stress falls on the first syllable, and all letters are pronounced, making enunciation key in mastering the language.

The Icelandic alphabet consists of 32 letters:

Aa

Áá

Bb

Dd

Ðð

Ee

Understanding the Icelandic Alphabet

H – h: The H in Icelandic is pronounced like a regular H in English, except when combined with a V, where it sounds like a K. This rule applies to question words like “hvað:” pronounced as kvath (what), “hver:” as kver (who or hot spring), “hvenær:” as kven-I-r (when), “hvernig:” as kvernig (how), and “af hverju:” as af kveryu (why).

J – j: The Icelandic J is pronounced like the English Y, although it can be confusing for some. For example, “jójó” (yo-yo) is pronounced the same way, while “Jól” (yule/Christmas) and “eyja” (island) are pronounced as “yol” and “A-ya.” The English word “jazz” is pronounced as “djass” in Icelandic.

L – l: When L appears singly in a word, it is pronounced the same as in English. However, double L, as in “jökull” (glacier), has a distinct click sound and can be best described as pronouncing it as TL (pronounced as yökutl – more details on Ö pronunciation later).

How to Pronounce Icelandic Letters

R – r: In Icelandic, the R is rolled. It is essential to roll it properly, especially when saying words like “Reykjavík,” pronounced as RAkyaveek (smoky bay).

V – v: The letter V in Icelandic is pronounced similarly to the English V or W sound. As there is no W in Icelandic, the distinction between V and W may go unnoticed by Icelanders. It can be fun to ask them to say words like videos, VCRs, and other V-based English terms.

Þ – þ: The famous Icelandic letter Þ can be found in many words, such as “Þingvellir” (parliament fields) on the Golden Circle route. It is crucial not to mistake it for a P, as it is actually pronounced like the TH in “thing” or “think.” An alternative spelling for Þingvellir is Thingvellir.

Æ – æ: The Icelandic letter Æ is consistently pronounced like an uppercase I. It can also be likened to the sound of “YE” in the word “bye” (bæ).

Ö – ö: The Ö in Icelandic is distinct from O and Ó. It is pronounced like the U in words such as “urn,” “murmur,” or “under.” This pronunciation sets it apart from the English O sounds.

Combinations of Letters

In Icelandic, certain letter combinations have unique sounds:

Au: When A combines with U to form AU, it has a distinct sound that resembles a mix of Ö and I (öi).

Ei / Ey

The combination of E and I (EI) or of E and Y (EY) sound the same, pronounced like a capital A or AY in the word “way.” An Icelandic example is “eyja,” which is pronounced as A-ya (island).

For further information on pronouncing the Icelandic alphabet, you can visit Wikibooks.

Icelandic Place Names: Decoded

So the challenging task of pronouncing Eyjafjallajökull becomes more manageable when you understand its breakdown, just like the word Islandmountainglacier might seem difficult in English if it were one word instead of three separate words.

Meanings Behind Icelandic Place Names

“Þingvellir” translates to “parliament fields,” combining “þing” (parliament) with “vellir” (fields).

”Kirkjubæjarklaustur” is a fusion of “kirkja” (church), the possessive form of “bær” (town), and “klaustur” (convent), meaning ChurchTown’sConvent.

The name “Jökulsárgljúfur” consists of the possessive form of “jökull” (glacier), the possessive form of “á” (river), and “gljúfur” (canyon), translating to Glacier’sRiver’sCanyon.

In the East of Iceland, the town “Egilsstaðir” signifies Egil’s place, with Egill denoting a man’s name.

Lastly, “Fjaðrárgljúfur” denotes FeatherRiverCanyon.

Insight into Icelandic Naming Conventions

Most Icelandic place names are transparent in their meanings. Eyjafjallajökull indeed describes a glacier on a mountain on an island. The gathering of the parliament used to occur at the fields of Þingvellir. Additionally, a convent was once present at Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Exploring Word Combinations in Different Languages

Not only Icelandic but also other languages like German exhibit the tendency to combine words into longer ones, as seen in “kugelschreiber” (Icelandic: kúlupenni, English: ball-pen). English, too, features combined words, although typically limited to two terms like blacksmith, cheesemonger, and heartache.

Welsh holds the record for the longest place name in Europe and the second-longest single-word place name globally. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch stands out, attracting attention for its length, with news reporters potentially struggling to pronounce it.

Shared Words: Icelandic and English

There are numerous resemblances between Icelandic and English. Notably, Icelandic has given rise to globally recognized words like “Geyser” and “Saga.” The term “geyser” stems from Iceland’s renowned geyser, Geysir, located on the Golden Circle. Additionally, the Icelandic Sagas, dating back to the 1200s, exemplify epic narratives, with “saga” simply translating to “story” in Icelandic.

Besides these, there exist many more parallels between Icelandic and English vocabulary. Familiar examples include “dóttir” for daughter, “jól” for yule, “gefa” for give, and “vegur” for way.

Historical Icelandic sagas recount that during the Viking era, centuries ago, communication between Icelandic, Scandinavian, and English populations was remarkably fluid, indicating a shared linguistic understanding.

Language Similarities Between English And Icelandic

Iceland is an isolated country, preserving a language close to its roots, resembling Old Norse. In contrast, English shows influences from various languages like French, German, Latin, and Greek, as seen in words like Rendez-vous, déjà-vu, Zeitgeist, biology, philosophy, zoology, and curriculum vitae.

Evolution of Language

The Icelandic language shares similarities with old English words. For instance, the shift from using “thou,” “thy,” and “thee” to “you” in English was influenced by French, while Icelandic maintained words such as “þú” and “þér,” showing close linguistic ties.

Politeness in Icelandic

In modern Icelandic, there is no formal way of addressing people like in German or French. Everyone uses the word “þú” and is addressed by their first name rather than surname, reflecting a culture of informality.

Etymology of Words

The Icelandic word “ey” for “island” is reflected in the names of places like the Orkney Islands, Jersey, and Guernsey, showcasing the linguistic connection between Icelandic and English.

Word Origins

The English term “husband” has similarities with the Icelandic word “húsbóndi,” meaning “house farmer” or “man of the house.” However, the modern Icelandic term for husband is “eiginmaður,” illustrating the evolution of language over time.

Place Name Connections

English place names often share similarities with Icelandic words, like mountains with the term “fell,” reminiscent of the Icelandic word for mountain, “fjall.” This linguistic overlap highlights the historical connections between the two languages.

There are numerous other terms associated with fishing and the ocean, like “gangvegur” (gangway), “skip” (ship), “bátur” (boat), “fiskur” (fish), “akkeri” (anchor), “sjór” (sea), and more.

Origin of Icelandic Words

The word for computer, “tölva” is derived from the combination of the old term “völva” meaning fortune teller and the T from the word “tala” meaning number. Therefore, in Icelandic, “computer” translates to “numeric teller.”

The word “sjónvarp” meaning television, is a fusion of “sjón” for sight and “varp” for projection. Similarly, “Rafmagn” representing electricity, consists of “raf” for electron and “magn” for mass. Many Icelandic words reveal their meaning when dissected, such as “ísskápur” (ice closet = fridge) or “frystikista” (frozen chest = freezer).

The Appeal of the Icelandic Language

The Icelandic language holds a special place in the hearts of its speakers, who take immense pride in its uniqueness and beauty. In Iceland, the literacy rate stands at a remarkable 100%, reflecting the nation’s deep connection to its language.

Furthermore, Iceland boasts a rich literary tradition with a wealth of books waiting to be explored. Surprisingly, statistics show that one out of every five Icelanders will author a book at some point in their lives. Notably, as the Christmas season approaches, there is a notable influx of new book releases, a phenomenon known as “jolabokarflod” or “YuleBookFlood.”

Icelandic Expressions and Proverbs

Iceland boasts a variety of unique and entertaining phrases and sayings, with old sayings often hidden inside Easter eggs for added delight. It’s not uncommon for locals to find more pleasure in unraveling these expressions than in the chocolate itself.

Many Icelanders take pride in speaking their language accurately and staying informed about new terminology. An intriguing TV show named Orobragd, which aired in 2013, delved into Icelandic words and language intricacies, garnering enough popularity to merit a second season in 2015.

Moreover, Icelandic language enthusiasts can discover new words printed on their milk cartons. This language is replete with words that carry multiple meanings, making wordplay a common feature in the humor of Icelandic (and often untranslatable) jokes.

Essential Icelandic Phrases for First-Time Travelers

Halló – Hello

Hæ – Hi

Bless – Goodbye

Já – Yes

Nei – No

Góðan daginn – Good day

Góða nótt – Good night

Gaman að kynnast þér – Nice to meet you

Sjáumst (seinna) – See you (later)

Takk fyrir síðast – Thanks for last time

Takk sömuleiðis – Thanks, likewise

Takk – Thank you

Takk fyrir mig / Takk fyrir matinn – Thank you for dinner

Verði þér að góðu – You’re welcome

Velkomin / Velkominn – Welcome

Hvað kostar þetta? – How much does this cost?

Hvar er næsti hraðbanki? – Where is the nearest ATM?

Einn bjór, takk – One beer, thanks

Skál – Cheers

Ég ætla að fá … – I plan to have …

Gæti ég fengið vatnsglas? – Could I have a glass of water?

Ég er að læra íslensku – I am learning Icelandic

Ég tala reiprennandi íslensku – I speak fluent Icelandic

Hvernig berðu þetta fram? – How do you pronounce this?

Ég heiti … – My name is …

Ég er frá … – I am from …

Hvar er ráðhúsið / Harpa / Hallgrímskirkja? – Where is the city hall / Harpa / Hallgrímskirkja?

Mælir þú með góðum veitingastað / bar? – Do you recommend a good restaurant / bar?

Hvað er fiskur dagsins? – What’s the fish of the day?

Hvað er réttur dagsins? – What’s the dish of the day?

Veistu símanúmerið hjá …? – Do you know the phone number for …?

Ég elska Ísland / Björk / Sigur Rós / þig – I love Iceland / Björk / Sigur Rós / you