Planning a trip to Reykjavik gives you the perfect opportunity to learn a few basic Icelandic phrases.

Most locals in Iceland speak excellent English, but they always appreciate it when visitors make an effort to speak their language.

Learning just a handful of expressions will make your interactions at cafes, shops, and tours much more rewarding.

I’ll show you the exact phrases you need for your first visit to Iceland.

Greetings and pleasantries

Saying hello is the easiest way to break the ice in Reykjavik.

The most common greeting you’ll hear everywhere is hæ.

You can also say halló which sounds very similar to English.

If you want to be slightly more formal, you can use góðan daginn.

This literally translates to “good day” and is used from morning until late afternoon.

When you’re leaving a store or saying goodbye, you can just say bless.

Most Icelanders say it twice in a row.

Being polite

Manners go a long way in Iceland.

The most important word to know is takk, which means “thank you”.

You can add kærlega to the end of it to say “thank you very much”.

If you bump into someone on Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main street, you’ll want to say excuse me.

When someone thanks you, it’s polite to reply with “you’re welcome”.

This phrase literally translates to “it’s nothing”.

Ordering food and drinks

Reykjavik has fantastic bakeries and coffee shops.

When you walk up to the counter, you can ask for what you want using the phrase ég ætla að fá.

This translates to “I intend to get” and is the standard, polite way to order in Icelandic.

You might also want to order a beer after a long day of sightseeing.

If you’re asking for the bill at a restaurant, you just need one short word.

Getting around Reykjavik

Reykjavik is highly walkable, but you might still need to ask a local for directions.

You can start by asking if they speak English just in case you get stuck.

If you’re looking for a specific place, you can ask where it’s located.

You can replace the word for restroom with any tourist landmark.

Summary of essential phrases

I’ve put together a quick reference table for you to save for your trip.