A tribute to Iceland — Land of Fire and Ice
🇮🇸 Gleðilegan þjóðhátíðardag! 🇮🇸
Icelandic is a remarkably conservative language. A thousand years of isolation means that modern Icelanders can read the medieval sagas with minimal difficulty. The language has resisted foreign loanwords, preferring to create new terms from old roots.
| Icelandic | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Halló | ha-LO | Hello (informal) |
| Góðan dag | GO-than dahg | Good day (formal) |
| Takk (fyrir) | tahk (FI-rir) | Thank you / Thanks (for) |
| Bless | bless | Goodbye (from "bless you") |
| Já / Nei | yow / nay | Yes / No |
| Skál! | skowl | Cheers! (toast) |
| Velkomin | VEL-ko-min | Welcome |
| Ísland | EES-land | Iceland (lit. "Ice-land") |
| Þjóðhátíðardagur | THYOTH-how-teeth-ar-DAH-gur | National Day |
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gluggaveður | "Window-weather" — weather that looks nice from inside but is too cold or windy to enjoy outdoors |
| Þetta reddast | "It will work out" — the national philosophy; a relaxed confidence that things will be okay |
| Jólabókaflóð | "Christmas book flood" — the tradition of giving books on Christmas Eve and reading all night |
| Sólarhringur | "Sun-ring" — a full 24-hour day, from the sun's circular path |
| Heimska | Stupidity or ignorance, but specifically the kind that comes from never having left home |
Rather than borrow words, Icelandic creates new ones from native roots:
| Icelandic | Literal Meaning | Actual Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Tölva | Number-prophetess | Computer |
| Sími | Thread, wire | Telephone |
| Rafmagn | Amber-power | Electricity |
| Sjónvarp | Sight-caster | Television |
| Þota | Whoosher | Jet (aircraft) |
| Geimfari | Space-traveler | Astronaut |
Icelandic uses two letters not found in English:
These were once used in Old English too — hence the ye in "Ye Olde Shoppe" (the 'y' was a misreading of þ).