How to say hello in Icelandic
The easiest way to say hello in Icelandic is “hæ”, which sounds just like the English “hi”. Below are the greetings you’ll hear most, roughly how to say them, and a few other words that are handy on a trip.
Hæ, the everyday hello
Hæ is pronounced like “hi”, and it’s the greeting you’ll hear most in Iceland. You can say it to anyone: the barista, your guide, your friend’s grandmother. Friends often double it to “hæhæ”. It’s also the word on our logo, because it’s the first thing we say when we meet you.
Iceland is small and informal. People use first names with almost everyone, and the phone book has long been sorted by first name. A relaxed “hæ” is fine in most situations.
Other ways to say hello
The English spellings of the sounds below are only rough guides. Icelandic has sounds English doesn’t, so listening to a native speaker helps more than any spelling.
| Icelandic | Say it like | Means | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hæ | “hi” | Hi | Anytime, with anyone |
| Halló | “HAH-loh” | Hello | Anytime. It’s also how Icelanders answer the phone |
| Góðan daginn | “GOH-than DYE-in” | Good day / good morning | A polite daytime greeting, common in shops |
| Gott kvöld | “got kvuhld” | Good evening | In the evening |
| Sæll | “sightl” | Hello, said to a man | Friendly and a bit more personal |
| Sæl | “sile” | Hello, said to a woman | Friendly and a bit more personal |
| Bless | “bless” | Bye | When you leave, often twice: “bless bless” |
Ten more words for your trip
- Takk (“tahk”): thanks. Takk fyrir means thank you, and takk kærlega (“tahk KAIR-leh-ga”) is thank you very much.
- Skál! (“skowl”): cheers! Used for any toast, with or without alcohol.
- Já / Nei (“yow” / “nay”): yes / no.
- Afsakið (“AF-sah-kith”): excuse me, or sorry.
- Vinsamlegast (“VIN-sam-leh-gast”): please. In shops and cafés people often keep it short instead, for example “eitt kaffi, takk” (one coffee, thanks).
- Ekkert að þakka (“EH-kert ath THAH-ka”): you’re welcome.
- Hvað segirðu? (“kvath SEH-yir-thu”): how are you? The usual answer is allt gott (“alt got”), all good.
- Takk fyrir mig (“tahk FIR-ir mih”): thanks for having me. You say it after a meal or a visit.
- Góða nótt (“GOH-tha noht”): good night.
- Eina með öllu (“AY-na meth UHT-lu”): “one with everything”, which is how you order an Icelandic hot dog.
Do you need to speak Icelandic in Reykjavík?
No. Almost everyone here speaks good English, and you’ll manage fine without a word of Icelandic. Still, a “hæ” as you walk into a café and a “takk” on the way out get noticed. People appreciate the effort, even if the conversation carries on in English.
Good places to practise: a food tour with a local guide, the bakery counter, or the hot tub at a city swimming pool, where a lot of everyday chatting happens. And when you order your first hot dog, you’ll already know what to say.
Quick answers
How do you say hello in Icelandic?
Most people just say “hæ”, pronounced like the English “hi”. “Halló” (hello) is common too, and “góðan daginn” means good day.
How do you pronounce “hæ”?
Exactly like “hi”. The Icelandic letter æ sounds like the “i” in “hi”.
How do you say thank you in Icelandic?
“Takk” (sounds like “tahk”) means thanks. “Takk fyrir” means thank you, and “takk kærlega” is thank you very much.
How do you say goodbye in Icelandic?
“Bless”, and people often say it twice: “bless bless”. Younger people also say “bæ”.
How do you say please in Icelandic?
The word is “vinsamlegast”. In shops and cafés people often just add “takk” (thanks) to a short request instead.
Sources
Written by Elfar Tjörfi Steinason. We checked the facts in this article against these sources on 19 October 2026:
