Do They Speak English in Iceland?

Yes, they do speak English in Iceland. The official language of Iceland is Icelandic, however many Icelanders speak both Icelandic and English fluently. Iceland has a relatively small population of around 376,000 people, and around 98% of Icelanders speak English as a second language.

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Where is English spoken in Iceland?

English is commonly spoken throughout the entire country of Iceland. You likely won’t have any difficulties traveling Iceland and only speaking English. English is especially common in the capital city of Reykjavík, due to the large amount of international visitors that come to the city.

We travelled around the entire country of Iceland, and even in more remote areas the Icelanders we met spoke English.

Even though English is commonly spoken, it is still good to know that the main language of Iceland is Icelandic. Elderly people and people living in remote areas of the country may speak less English compared to Icelanders that commonly interact with tourists or live in the larger towns such as Reykjavík.

Why is English so common in Iceland?

English is commonly spoken in Iceland because of Iceland’s tourism industry and because it is one of the most spoken international languages. Due to this, English is taught in Icelandic schools so that children in Iceland learn English from an early age.

English is also commonly found in TV and films. While there are TV shows, films, and news in Icelandic, there are also TV shows and movies that were filmed in English that are commonly watched in Iceland. Additionally, social media, video games, and music may be in English. All of this contributes to English being commonly used throughout the country of Iceland.

English is also common due to English being an international language. Iceland receives millions of tourists each year, especially from the United States and other countries in Europe. Since Icelanders commonly speak English with tourists, it makes English more common throughout the country.

What is the official language of Iceland?

The official language of Iceland is Icelandic. Like English, Icelandic originally was derived from a subset of Germanic languages.

Icelandic is very unique modern day language, because it is the most similar to the Old Norse language that was spoken in Scandinavia during the Viking age.

This is because unlike other Scandinavian languages that changed over time, the Icelandic language stayed quite similar due to the small and isolated population speaking the language. In fact, many Icelanders can easily read Icelandic sagas that were written in the 13th and 14th centuries.

What other languages are spoken in Iceland?

Icelandic and English are by far the most common languages in Iceland. However, other languages that may be spoken by small amounts of the population include other Scandinavian languages, such as Danish. This is because in Iceland students will typically learn some Danish or another Scandinavian language in primary school.

Iceland also gets many visitors from Europe, meaning that you may hear people speaking German, French, or Spanish in Iceland.

Can you live in Iceland and only speak English?

Icelandic is the official language of Iceland, but for native English speakers this can be a difficult language to learn!

If you are planning to be an expat in Iceland, the good news is that since English is so commonly spoken you should have no issues living in Iceland and speaking English. However, it is always recommended to try to learn some basic Icelandic words as well.

Are Icelanders Friendly?

Icelanders are very friendly. During my travels around Iceland, all the Icelanders I encountered were extremely welcoming and friendly. In fact, in my opinion Iceland had some of the friendliest people out of all the places I have travelled to.

Do I need to Speak Icelandic in Iceland?

Technically, no you won’t need to speak any Icelandic during your trip to Iceland. English is commonly spoken throughout the country, so you shouldn’t have any difficulties with communication.

However, it is always a great idea to learn a few basic words of the native language when you are traveling internationally. Even in a country such as Iceland, where the majority of the population speaks fluent English, it is respectful to take time to understand a few words of the language.

Basic Icelandic Words to Know for Your Trip

Learning a few basic words in Icelandic before your trip is a great way to learn more about Iceland and can definitely be useful on your trip.

Below are some basic Icelandic words that are good to know for your trip to Iceland:

Halló – Hello

Halló is pronounced Hal-low and is a way of saying Hello in Icelandic. It is very similar to the English term, except for it accents the “ah” instead of the “el” as we do in English.

Takk – Thanks

Takk is a short way of saying “Thanks” in Icelandic, and is always a good word to know. You can pronounce it in English by saying Ta-kth.

Bless – Goodbye

Bless is a way of saying Goodbye or Bye in English. Unlike many Icelandic words, this one is actually very easy to pronounce because it is the same pronunciation as how we say “Bless” in English.

Foss – Waterfall

Foss is equivalent to waterfall in English. You may not use this in conversation, but it may be helpful to recognize the term for when you are looking at Google Maps.

Iceland is a land of thousands of waterfalls, and so when you see a name like Seljalandsfoss or Skogafoss, you can recognize that it may be a waterfall as there is a foss at the end.

In Conclusion: Do They Speak English in Iceland?

Yes, English is very commonly spoken throughout Iceland. Icelandic is the official language of Iceland, but English is spoken by around 98% of people living in Iceland. Therefore, it is very easy to travel around Iceland if you only speak English.

Planning an upcoming trip to Iceland? Make sure to include the beautiful South Iceland on your next itinerary to see some of the most beauty Iceland has to offer. Check out our guide to visiting Vik, Iceland to see all that South Iceland has to offer!