Learn Icelandic with Drops in 5 minutes a day

Learn Icelandic – Fast, Fun & Effective

Set sail on a challenging, exciting language journey: learn Icelandic, the unique Nordic language of Iceland. With Drops, you'll quickly pick up basic Icelandic words and phrases through our visual games, helping you start to understand and use the language in no time.

Start learning

Why Learn Icelandic with Drops

The Icelandic language, also known as Íslenska, is spoken by more than 350,000 native speakers. It’s a North Germanic language closely related to Faroese and Western Norwegian, though they’re not mutually intelligible.

What makes Icelandic truly captivating is its preservation of the language, reaching back to Old Norse. Did you know? Written Icelandic hasn’t undergone major changes since the 11th century. So modern speakers can still understand tales from centuries ago with some effort!

Iceland's remote location in the North Atlantic limited Icelandic people’s contact with other languages and cultures for centuries. The Icelandic language tends to stay with its origins to this day, preferring to create new words from Icelandic or Norse roots instead of adopting foreign loanwords. Drops offers one of the best ways to learn Icelandic vocabulary: visual and fun exercises that are based on practical vocabulary.

Try our Icelandic language app for building a strong foundation through:

Engaging visual learning: Learn Icelandic words with memorable illustrations, proven to strengthen memorisation and recall.

Short and effective sessions: Even just five minutes a day helps you build a consistent habit and sets you up for success.

Curated vocabulary: We prioritize the words and Icelandic phrases you’ll actually need for real conversations. Choose and learn what’s important to you!

Join millions of learners who trust Drops, a leading Icelandic learning app (among 50+ other languages!).

Common Icelandic Words and Phrases - What You’ll Learn

Are you ready to learn practical everyday vocabulary? With Drops, you'll get started with a useful set of Icelandic words and basic Icelandic phrases that you can use in real life. We cover essential Icelandic language basics across various topics.

Learn words with native pronunciation, memorable visuals, and reinforce what you’ve learned with our review tools. Here’s a taste of the words and phrases you can expect to find when you start our Icelandic course:

Greetings and everyday phrases:

Start with the essentials: learn basic Icelandic phrases and common greeting,s and make a great first impression.

  • hi - hæ
  • How are you? - Hvernig hefur þú það?
  • please - vinsamlegast
  • Thanks for your help. - Takk fyrir hjálpina.
  • bye - bless

Travel and navigation:

Explore Iceland with confidence using key Icelandic words and phrases for traveling and directions.

  • Where is the supermarket? - Hvar er matvöruverslunin?
  • passport - Vegabréf
  • bus station - umferðarmiðstöð
  • the next station - næsta stöð
  • airport - flugvöllur

Food and drink:

Discover practical Icelandic phrases for grabbing lunch on the go or trying local culinary delights.

  • Menu, please! - Matseðil, takk!
  • delicious - ljúffengt
  • lunch - hádegismatur
  • drink - drykkur
  • Enjoy your meal! - Verði þér að góðu!

Numbers and essentials:

Master the most important Icelandic words for numbers, counting, and other Icelandic language basics.

  • Einn, tveir, þrír - (One, two, three)
  • Hjálp! - (Help!)
  • Excuse me! - Afsakið!
  • My name is Alex - Ég heiti Alex.
  • Yes / No - Já / Nei

Is Icelandic Hard to Learn?

It’s natural to wonder what you can expect if you decide to learn Icelandic. The beginning of the language learning process is riddled with questions. Is Icelandic hard to learn? How long does it take? And how should I learn Icelandic effectively?

While the answers to these questions depend on many, many different things (like your native language, time dedicated to learning, your goals, and so on), we promise it’s not an impossible task to learn Icelandic if you have the right approach and mindset.

You may have already heard about the Icelandic language’s reputation for difficulty. Icelandic grammar can indeed be tricky to understand due to its archaic and unique nature. There are several irregularities and rules to keep in mind with declensions and conjugation.

Still, while Icelandic is unique in many ways, it doesn’t mean that it’s unlike any other language. Rest assured, your language learning knowledge will come in handy when you’re learning it. Some vocabulary and even a few grammatical features might be familiar if you speak a language with Germanic roots (like English)! Scandinavian languages like Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian, in particular, also have grammatical points and categories that resemble Icelandic. If you don’t have experience with these languages, they’re a great point to start to familiarize yourself with certain concepts.

Drops is here to support you with the initial learning stages in two main ways:

Vocabulary first: We build your vocabulary with engaging visual aids, offering words and phrases so you get used to the sounds and patterns. You have control over what you learn, so you can focus on what you truly need.

Manageable sessions: Short, 5-minute lessons prevent you from getting overwhelmed. They help you stay consistent and motivated, which is key for tackling any challenging language.

Discovering how to learn Icelandic in a way that’s effective for you is a personal journey. With consistent effort and the right tools, mastering the fundamentals of Icelandic is an achievable goal. Not to mention incredibly rewarding!

Learn Icelandic for Travel & Culture

Famously known as the land of fire and ice, Iceland has become a highly popular tourist destination over the last decade. Its natural landscapes and unique culture already make for a memorable vacation. But just imagine taking it from memorable to something once in a lifetime!

Exploration and genuine connection with locals is where the magic happens. Exchanging a friendly “Góðan daginn!” (Good day) at the shop. Brightening your servers’ day by thanking them in their native language. Maybe even sharing a laugh, understanding a bit of local humor. Your key to unlocking an immersive travel experience is the Icelandic language.

Let’s have a look at some useful Icelandic phrases for traveling around Iceland!

Ordering local delicacies

Food is an important part of any culture. Try ordering some local Icelandic specialities, like Skyr or Kjötsúpa (lamb soup), when you visit!

  • I would like the pasta, please - Ég myndi vilja pastað, takk.
  • What’s this made of? - Úr hverju er þetta?
  • Cheers! - Skál!

Asking for directions

Besides the usual Icelandic travel vocabulary, it’s also useful to learn the names of natural features. Why? Because many Icelandic place names reference the landscape around them!

For instance, Ísafjörður consists of íss (meaning "ice") and fjörður (meaning "fjord"). Húsavík comes from hús, (meaning "house") and vík (meaning "bay").

  • Can you help me? - Getur þú aðstoðað mig?
  • Waterfall - foss
  • On the left. / On the right. - Til vinstri. / Til hægri.

Chatting with locals

While many Icelandic people speak English fluently, the effort to speak the local language is appreciated. A simple "takk fyrir" (thank you) can go a long way!

  • Good morning - Góðan daginn
  • What do you recommend? - Með hverju mælir þú?
  • Thanks for your help. - Takk fyrir hjálpina.

Every Icelandic phrase you learn and decide to use can lead to surprisingly warm moments and a much richer appreciation of the Icelandic language and culture.

Get Started Today

Ready to embark on your Icelandic language learning voyage? We’re here to cheer you on! Drops offers a free 5-minute daily session, so you can experience our engaging learning method firsthand. Once you’re ready for more, start our free Premium trial to see all that Drops has to offer.

Learn Icelandic FAQs

  • How long does it take to learn Icelandic?

Depending on your goals, experience, and time you set aside for learning, you can expect to understand some basic Icelandic in a few months’ time. Being able to speak at a beginner level would take closer to a year. Reaching conversational fluency will require several years and practice with other Icelandic speakers.

  • Can I learn Icelandic for free?

Yes! There are great resources online to learn Icelandic for free. Drops offers a free version that gives you short and fun daily sessions in Icelandic. Once you’re ready to make a larger commitment, you can unlock unlimited access and additional features with our Premium, but you can also keep learning for free.

  • Is Drops good for beginners?

Drops is an excellent Icelandic learning app for beginners. Our visual method focuses on essential vocabulary from the start, and short and engaging sessions are highly effective. Even if you have no prior experience with the Icelandic language, you can learn your first words and get an idea about what the language is like.


The Icelandic language, also known as Íslenska, is spoken by more than 350,000 native speakers. It’s a North Germanic language closely related to Faroese and Western Norwegian, though they’re not mutually intelligible.

What makes Icelandic truly captivating is its preservation of the language, reaching back to Old Norse. Did you know? Written Icelandic hasn’t undergone major changes since the 11th century. So modern speakers can still understand tales from centuries ago with some effort!

Iceland's remote location in the North Atlantic limited Icelandic people’s contact with other languages and cultures for centuries. The Icelandic language tends to stay with its origins to this day, preferring to create new words from Icelandic or Norse roots instead of adopting foreign loanwords. Drops offers one of the best ways to learn Icelandic vocabulary: visual and fun exercises that are based on practical vocabulary.

Try our Icelandic language app for building a strong foundation through:

Engaging visual learning: Learn Icelandic words with memorable illustrations, proven to strengthen memorisation and recall.

Short and effective sessions: Even just five minutes a day helps you build a consistent habit and sets you up for success.

Curated vocabulary: We prioritize the words and Icelandic phrases you’ll actually need for real conversations. Choose and learn what’s important to you!

Join millions of learners who trust Drops, a leading Icelandic learning app (among 50+ other languages!).

Common Icelandic Words and Phrases - What You’ll Learn

Are you ready to learn practical everyday vocabulary? With Drops, you'll get started with a useful set of Icelandic words and basic Icelandic phrases that you can use in real life. We cover essential Icelandic language basics across various topics.

Learn words with native pronunciation, memorable visuals, and reinforce what you’ve learned with our review tools. Here’s a taste of the words and phrases you can expect to find when you start our Icelandic course:

Greetings and everyday phrases:

Start with the essentials: learn basic Icelandic phrases and common greeting,s and make a great first impression.

  • hi - hæ
  • How are you? - Hvernig hefur þú það?
  • please - vinsamlegast
  • Thanks for your help. - Takk fyrir hjálpina.
  • bye - bless

Travel and navigation:

Explore Iceland with confidence using key Icelandic words and phrases for traveling and directions.

  • Where is the supermarket? - Hvar er matvöruverslunin?
  • passport - Vegabréf
  • bus station - umferðarmiðstöð
  • the next station - næsta stöð
  • airport - flugvöllur

Food and drink:

Discover practical Icelandic phrases for grabbing lunch on the go or trying local culinary delights.

  • Menu, please! - Matseðil, takk!
  • delicious - ljúffengt
  • lunch - hádegismatur
  • drink - drykkur
  • Enjoy your meal! - Verði þér að góðu!

Numbers and essentials:

Master the most important Icelandic words for numbers, counting, and other Icelandic language basics.

  • Einn, tveir, þrír - (One, two, three)
  • Hjálp! - (Help!)
  • Excuse me! - Afsakið!
  • My name is Alex - Ég heiti Alex.
  • Yes / No - Já / Nei

Is Icelandic Hard to Learn?

It’s natural to wonder what you can expect if you decide to learn Icelandic. The beginning of the language learning process is riddled with questions. Is Icelandic hard to learn? How long does it take? And how should I learn Icelandic effectively?

While the answers to these questions depend on many, many different things (like your native language, time dedicated to learning, your goals, and so on), we promise it’s not an impossible task to learn Icelandic if you have the right approach and mindset.

You may have already heard about the Icelandic language’s reputation for difficulty. Icelandic grammar can indeed be tricky to understand due to its archaic and unique nature. There are several irregularities and rules to keep in mind with declensions and conjugation.

Still, while Icelandic is unique in many ways, it doesn’t mean that it’s unlike any other language. Rest assured, your language learning knowledge will come in handy when you’re learning it. Some vocabulary and even a few grammatical features might be familiar if you speak a language with Germanic roots (like English)! Scandinavian languages like Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian, in particular, also have grammatical points and categories that resemble Icelandic. If you don’t have experience with these languages, they’re a great point to start to familiarize yourself with certain concepts.

Drops is here to support you with the initial learning stages in two main ways:

Vocabulary first: We build your vocabulary with engaging visual aids, offering words and phrases so you get used to the sounds and patterns. You have control over what you learn, so you can focus on what you truly need.

Manageable sessions: Short, 5-minute lessons prevent you from getting overwhelmed. They help you stay consistent and motivated, which is key for tackling any challenging language.

Discovering how to learn Icelandic in a way that’s effective for you is a personal journey. With consistent effort and the right tools, mastering the fundamentals of Icelandic is an achievable goal. Not to mention incredibly rewarding!

Learn Icelandic for Travel & Culture

Famously known as the land of fire and ice, Iceland has become a highly popular tourist destination over the last decade. Its natural landscapes and unique culture already make for a memorable vacation. But just imagine taking it from memorable to something once in a lifetime!

Exploration and genuine connection with locals is where the magic happens. Exchanging a friendly “Góðan daginn!” (Good day) at the shop. Brightening your servers’ day by thanking them in their native language. Maybe even sharing a laugh, understanding a bit of local humor. Your key to unlocking an immersive travel experience is the Icelandic language.

Let’s have a look at some useful Icelandic phrases for traveling around Iceland!

Ordering local delicacies

Food is an important part of any culture. Try ordering some local Icelandic specialities, like Skyr or Kjötsúpa (lamb soup), when you visit!

  • I would like the pasta, please - Ég myndi vilja pastað, takk.
  • What’s this made of? - Úr hverju er þetta?
  • Cheers! - Skál!

Asking for directions

Besides the usual Icelandic travel vocabulary, it’s also useful to learn the names of natural features. Why? Because many Icelandic place names reference the landscape around them!

For instance, Ísafjörður consists of íss (meaning "ice") and fjörður (meaning "fjord"). Húsavík comes from hús, (meaning "house") and vík (meaning "bay").

  • Can you help me? - Getur þú aðstoðað mig?
  • Waterfall - foss
  • On the left. / On the right. - Til vinstri. / Til hægri.

Chatting with locals

While many Icelandic people speak English fluently, the effort to speak the local language is appreciated. A simple "takk fyrir" (thank you) can go a long way!

  • Good morning - Góðan daginn
  • What do you recommend? - Með hverju mælir þú?
  • Thanks for your help. - Takk fyrir hjálpina.

Every Icelandic phrase you learn and decide to use can lead to surprisingly warm moments and a much richer appreciation of the Icelandic language and culture.

Get Started Today

Ready to embark on your Icelandic language learning voyage? We’re here to cheer you on! Drops offers a free 5-minute daily session, so you can experience our engaging learning method firsthand. Once you’re ready for more, start our free Premium trial to see all that Drops has to offer.

Learn Icelandic FAQs

  • How long does it take to learn Icelandic?

Depending on your goals, experience, and time you set aside for learning, you can expect to understand some basic Icelandic in a few months’ time. Being able to speak at a beginner level would take closer to a year. Reaching conversational fluency will require several years and practice with other Icelandic speakers.

  • Can I learn Icelandic for free?

Yes! There are great resources online to learn Icelandic for free. Drops offers a free version that gives you short and fun daily sessions in Icelandic. Once you’re ready to make a larger commitment, you can unlock unlimited access and additional features with our Premium, but you can also keep learning for free.

  • Is Drops good for beginners?

Drops is an excellent Icelandic learning app for beginners. Our visual method focuses on essential vocabulary from the start, and short and engaging sessions are highly effective. Even if you have no prior experience with the Icelandic language, you can learn your first words and get an idea about what the language is like.

Learn Icelandic in just 5 mins a day

Instant feedback on your language progress

Speak like a Native
Dive into language learning with Drops' crystal-clear audio. Our native speakers ensure you master perfect pronunciation while relishing every step of your journey. Listen, learn, and speak like a pro!

Instant feedback on your language progress

Stay Motivated
Easily form a language learning habit with our game-based features, enjoyable challenges, and personalized lesson recommendations. Our tailored lessons ensure you learn at the perfect level and pace for you.

Instant feedback on your language progress

Effective and Fun Learning Games
Brace yourself for an adventure of a lifetime! With Drops, learning becomes playtime. Engaging games, review modes, and interactive challenges transform language acquisition into a joyful expedition. Unleash your potential while having a blast!

Instant feedback on your language progress

Memorable Illustrations
Boost your memory retention with our captivating visuals and vibrant illustrations. Each word is accompanied by an eye-catching image, forging strong associations between the word and its meaning. Say goodbye to forgetfulness, and hello to seamless language recall!

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