SamskiptiA1

Everyday Expressions

Essential everyday expressions: greetings, introductions, politeness, shopping, directions

Learning Goal

Can use essential Icelandic greetings, introductions, and polite expressions in everyday situations

Exam Skills:VISC-A1

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Góðan daginn! Hvernig hefur þú það?

Good day! How are you?

Takk fyrir! Bless bless!

Thank you! Bye bye!

Afsakið, hvað kostar þetta?

Excuse me, how much does this cost?

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Helstu daglegar setningar í íslensku:

Kveðjur:

ÍslenskaEnglish
Halló! / Hæ!Hello! / Hi!
Góðan daginn!Good day! (formal)
Bless! / Bæ!Goodbye! / Bye!
Takk (fyrir)!Thank you!
Gerðu svo vel.You're welcome. / Here you go.
Afsakið.Excuse me.
Fyrirgefðu.I'm sorry. / Forgive me.

Kynning:

ÍslenskaEnglish
Hvað heitir þú?What's your name?
Ég heiti...My name is...
Hvernig hefur þú það?How are you?
Ég hef það gott, takk.I'm fine, thanks.
Gaman að kynnast þér.Nice to meet you.

Í verslun:

Hvað kostar þetta?How much does this cost?
Ég ætla að fá...I'd like to have...
Reikninginn, takk.The bill, please.
Using English-calqued phrases instead of Icelandic conventions. 'How are you?' is Hvernig hefur þú það? (literally: How have you it?), not *Hvernig ertu? 🇬🇧 English speakers: Bless means goodbye (not 'bless you'!). Góðan daginn is accusative (not *góður dagur).

Góðan daginn! Hvernig hefur þú það?

Good day! How are you?

Góðan daginn is in accusative case. Hefur þú það = 'have you it'.

Takk fyrir! Bless bless!

Thank you! Bye bye!

Bless = goodbye (not 'bless you'!). Bless bless is casual.

Afsakið, hvað kostar þetta?

Excuse me, how much does this cost?

Afsakið = polite 'excuse me'. Hvað kostar = how much costs.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course
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