Key Icelandic sounds, unique consonant clusters, and stress patterns, with plain-English pronunciation notes and minimal pairs. Front: the letter, letter combination, or sound pattern. Back: the meaning plus a pronunciation note.
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- þ (þorn)
- Pronounced like the voiceless "th" in English "think." Example: "þakka" (to thank).
- ð (eð)
- Pronounced like the voiced "th" in English "this." Example: "að" (to, that).
- hv
- Pronounced like "kv," not like English "wh." Example: "hvað" (what) sounds like "kvahd."
- ll
- Often pronounced like "tl," a distinctive Icelandic sound. Example: "allt" (everything) sounds close to "atlt."
- rl
- Pronounced with an inserted t-like sound, close to "rtl." Example: "karl" (man).
- æ
- Pronounced like the English word "eye." Example: "sæll" (hello, said to a man).
- ei / ey
- Pronounced like "ay" in "day." Example: "nei" (no) sounds like "nay."
- au
- Pronounced like a rounded diphthong close to German "eu." Example: "auga" (eye, the body part).
- Word stress
- Icelandic always stresses the first syllable of a word. Example: "Reykjavík" is stressed REYK-ja-vik.
- Aspirated p, t, k
- At the start of a word or stressed syllable, p, t, and k are strongly aspirated, with a puff of air. Example: "takk" (thanks).
- Pre-aspiration
- Certain double consonants (pp, tt, kk) are pronounced with a puff of air before the consonant rather than after, a distinctive Icelandic feature. Example: "takka" has a brief h-like sound before the k.
- g between vowels
- Often softens toward a "y" sound or nearly disappears between vowels. Example: "segja" (to say).
- f before l or n
- Pronounced like "p" or "b" rather than "f." Example: "nafn" (name) sounds closer to "nabn."
- r
- A trilled or tapped r, similar to Spanish or Scottish r. Example: "rauður" (red).
- Vowel: i vs í
- Short "i" is like "i" in "sit"; long "í" is like "ee" in "see." Example: "fiskur" (fish) has the short i.
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