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TIME For Kids - Around The World
A golden statue of Buddha in front of an ancient temple.

Iceland

Native Lingo

Icelandic is based on Old Norse. This is the language that Iceland's first settlers spoke. The Icelandic alphabet has 36 letters. Try to say the words and phrases below. They are written in our alphabet.


Hello
Hallo (hah-low)
     

How are you?
Hvernig hefurdu thad? (krev-nig hayv-ur-thoo thahth)
     

I am hungry.
Eg er svöng.
(When spoken by a female)
     

I am hungry.
Eg er svangur. (yeh air swan-gur)
(When spoken by a male)
     

I am thirsty.
Eg er thyrst.
(When spoken by a female)
     

I am thirsty.
Eg er thyrstur.
(When spoken by a male)
     

What is your name?
Hvad heitir thu? (kuh-vahth hey-teer thoo)
     

Where are you from?
Hvadan ert thu? (kwah-thon airth thoo)
     

How old are you?
Hvad ert thu gomul?
(When spoken by a female)
     

How old are you?
Hvad ertu gamall? (kwahth airth-too gahm -ahth)
(When spoken by a male)
     

My name is...
Eg heiti...
     

I can speak Icelandic.
Eg get talad islensku.
     

Good night
Goda nott (go-the note)
     

See you later.
Sjaumst sidar. (shau-oomst see -thar)
     

Goodbye.
Bless.
     


Special thanks to Heidrun Juliusdottir for making the sound clips possible.

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