How to read and say Icelandic

Although Icelandic looks very formidable with its strange characters "þ" and "ð" and many accented vowels, once the basic rules have been learned, pronunciation is fairly straightforward. Note that stress always falls on the first syllable of any word.

Vowels

Some vowels in Icelandic can have accent marks which modify the sound of each vowel. Vowels can come in long or short forms. In Icelandic, all vowels can be long or short. Vowels are long when they are in single syllable words, or when they form the penultimate syllable in two syllable words.

A a

(Short) like "a" in "land", (long) like "a" in "car"; or like "ow" in "now" when followed by "ng" or "nk".

Á á

Like "ow" in "now".

E e

(Short) like "e" in "met", (long) like "ea" in "bear".

É é

Like "ye" in "yes".

I i

(Short) like "i" in "bit", (long) same "i" but lengthened; or like "ee" in "meet" when followed by "ng" or "nk".

Í í

Like "ee" in "meet".

O o

(Short) like "o" in "hot", (long) like "or" in "door".

Ó ó

Like "o" in "snow".

U u

(Short) like "u" in "put", (long) the same short "u" but lengthened; or like "oo" in "moon" when followed by "ng" or "nk".

Ú ú

Like "oo" in "moon".

Y y

Same as Icelandic "i": (short) like "i" in "bit", (long) same "i" but lengthened; or like "ee" in "meet" when followed by "ng" or "nk".

Ý ý

Same as Icelandic "í": like "ee" in "meet".

Æ æ

Like "i" in "mile".

Ö ö

(Short) like "ur" in "fur" but shorter, (long) like "ur" in "fur"; (do not pronounce the "r").

Consonants

B b

Always like "p" in "speak".

D d

Always like "t" in "sting".

Ð ð

Like "th" in "that", (only occurs in medial or final position).

F f

Like "f" in "fish", or like "v" in "van" when between vowels; or when before "l" or "n", like "p" in "speak".

G g

Like "k" in "skill", but similar to Hungarian "gy" when before e, i, æ, j, or y; it is lost after "á", "ó", "u" when followed by "a" or "u" in the next syllable or when at word end.

H h

Like "h" in "hat", or like "k" when before a consonant; (never silent like "honour").

J j

Like "y" in "yes".

K k

Like "k" in "kill" when word-initial, but similar to Hungarian "ty" with a puff of air when before e, i, æ, j, or y as word-initial; otherwise like the usual case for "g".

L l

Like "l" in "like".

M m

Like "m" in "me".

N n

Like "n" in "nurse".

P p

Like "p" in "push" when word-initial, or like "f" in "far" when before "s", "k", or "t"; otherwise pronounced like "b"

R r

Trilled, like Spanish and Italian "r".

S s

Like "s" in "sun"; (never like "z" in "zero").

T t

Like "t" in "take".

V v

Like "v" in "value".

X x

Like "x" in "axe".

Þ þ

Like "th" in "thing" (never occurs at the end of a word).

Common diphthongs and letter combinations

au

Like "ur" in "fur" (do not pronounce the r) followed by "ee" in "see" but with no intervening "r" - "u(r)-ee", similar to "oy" in "boy".

ei, ey

Like "ay" in "say".

gi, gj

Like "gy" in "drag-you" at word start; like "y" in "yes" in word middle or at word end.

hv

Like "kv" in "lock vent".

kk

Like "chk" in Scottish "Loch Carron".

ll

Like "tl" in "settle". Similar to Welsh "ll" (double L) but more aspirated (has more air to it).

ng

Like "nk" in "thinker", not "ng" in "finger".

nn

Like "dn" in "hard-nosed" when after "á", "é", "í", "ó", "ú", "ý", "æ", "au", "ei", or "ey"; or like "nn" in "tunnel" after "a", "e", "i", "o", "u", "y" or "ö".

pp

Like "h" and "p" fused together, similar to "hop" without the "o".

rl

Like "dl" in "riddle" similar in form to Welsh "ll" (double L) but said harder.

rn

Like "dn" in "hard-nosed".

tt

Like "h" and "t" fused together, similar to "hut" without the "u".