One of the most common questions about learning Icelandic is, “Where do I even begin?”

Unlike Spanish or French, you won’t find Icelandic on massive platforms like Duolingo or Babbel. Because the population of Iceland is so small, mainstream language companies often skip it entirely.

There’s actually a wealth of incredible free and paid resources out there if you know where to look. Whether you want to master the grammar, build your vocabulary, or just understand the locals on your next trip to Reykjavík, you can absolutely learn this language independently.

By the way, if you’re wondering about regional dialects, Icelandic has very few regional variations. The main difference you might hear is harðmæli (hard speech) in northern Iceland, where people pronounce consonants like p, t, and k a bit harder. However, all the resources below teach standard Icelandic, which is understood everywhere.

Here’s an ultimate guide to the best tools for learning Icelandic on your own.

Free online courses and websites

If you’re starting from zero, you need a structured course to guide you through the basics. Luckily, the best complete course for Icelandic is completely free.

Icelandic Online (University of Iceland) This is the absolute gold standard for independent learners. Created by the University of Iceland, Icelandic Online offers courses ranging from complete beginner (Survival) to advanced levels. It uses interactive exercises, videos, and reading materials. It can feel a little old-school in its design, but the curriculum is unbeatable-and it costs absolutely nothing.

Tungumálatorgið (The Language Plaza) This is another great free resource run by the Icelandic government. It offers a video course called Viltu læra íslensku? (Do you want to learn Icelandic?). The video series follows daily life situations in Iceland and is perfect for picking up practical phrases and listening to native pronunciation.

Best apps for learning Icelandic

While Duolingo might be out of the picture, there are still some fantastic mobile apps that support Icelandic.

Drops (Paid/Free version) If you want to build your vocabulary quickly, Drops is my top recommendation. It’s a highly visual, beautifully designed app that teaches you words and short phrases through fast-paced mini-games. You won’t learn grammar here, but it’s the best way to memorize food, travel, and daily life vocabulary.

Clozemaster (Paid/Free version) Once you know some basic words, you need to see them in context. Clozemaster gamifies learning by showing you thousands of Icelandic sentences with one word missing. Your job is to fill in the blank. It’s fantastic for intermediate learners who want to naturally absorb Icelandic sentence structure.

Label Icelandic (Paid) Label Icelandic is an audio-focused app that breaks down the sounds of Icelandic. Pronunciation in Icelandic can be tricky (especially with sounds like ll and rn), and this app is incredibly helpful for getting your tongue around the unique phonetics.

Dictionaries and grammar tools

Icelandic grammar is famous for its complexity, especially when it comes to changing word endings (declensions and conjugations). You’ll definitely need some reference tools.

Here’s a quick summary table of the best reference tools you should bookmark right now:

BÍN (Beygingarlýsing íslensks nútímamáls) If you only save one link from this article, make it BÍN. This database shows you every single form of an Icelandic word. If you find a noun and need to know how to spell it in the dative case, or you need the past tense of a weird verb, BÍN has the exact chart you need. It’s a lifesaver.

University of Wisconsin Digital Dictionaries Since Google Translate is notoriously bad at Icelandic, I highly recommend using the UW Madison online Icelandic-English dictionary. It gives you reliable translations and shows you the gender of the nouns, which is essential for learning the grammar correctly.

Listening and immersion resources

To get comfortable with the rhythm and speed of native speakers, you need to surround yourself with the language.

RÚV (The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service) RÚV.is is the holy grail for immersion. It’s Iceland’s national TV and radio broadcaster. You can watch live TV, the nightly news, and local Icelandic shows for free on their website. Many of their shows offer Icelandic subtitles, which is a fantastic way to match the written word with the spoken sound.

Podcasts Podcasts are perfect for learning on the go. Check out Íslenska með Olly (Icelandic with Olly) or the Sögur (Stories) section on the RÚV app. Listening to children’s stories is actually a brilliant way to start, as the vocabulary is simple and they speak clearly.

Finding tutors and conversation practice

You can study textbooks forever, but eventually, you have to open your mouth and speak!

italki (Paid) When you’re learning independently, the missing piece is usually a conversation partner. italki is an online platform where you can hire freelance language tutors for 1-on-1 video lessons.

There are always several native Icelandic speakers on italki offering affordable conversation practice. Even if you only book one hour a week, having a real human correct your mistakes and guide you is the single fastest way to improve.

Summary

You don’t need to live in Iceland or attend a formal university to learn this beautiful language.

By taking the free courses at Icelandic Online, memorizing words with Drops, using BÍN for your grammar charts, and watching RÚV for immersion, you’ll have a complete, well-rounded curriculum.