Many of Iceland’s tourists come from English-speaking countries, like the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. As a result, many of these tourists wonder if they will easily be able to communicate in English with Icelandic locals. So – does everyone speak English in Iceland?

The simple answer is yes. While not everyone in the country of Iceland speaks fluent English, the majority of Icelandic citizens do. And those who aren’t fluent still typically have a firm grasp of the English language – certainly enough to communicate with visitors and answer questions you have about directions or other basic questions you might have.

If you’re planning a trip to Iceland and you are concerned about being able to communicate with the locals, you really shouldn’t worry. Particularly in the service and tourism industry (servers, tour guides, taxi drivers, etc) speak English incredibly well.

This means you won’t have to worry when you’re trying to tell your taxi driver where it is you want to go or when you’re trying to place your dinner order. As a rule, Icelanders speak English very well. Some Icelanders may not be very confident in their ability to speak English, but they are usually happy to try and help.

Icelandic Language

The Icelandic language is actually quite fascinating and has changed very little since Iceland was settled in the 9th century AD. Due to Iceland’s isolated location, the Icelandic language is classed as an Insular language. This means that it has not been influenced much by other languages throughout history, meaning that Icelandic is purer in comparison to other European countries. In fact, Icelandic has changed so little that most Icelanders can read ancient texts like the Sagas, or the histories of Iceland’s early settlers.

Another point to raise is that Icelandic and English are both Germanic languages, meaning that if you go back far enough, these languages share the same roots. This can make it much easier for Icelanders to quickly learn English because, in many ways, there are a lot of similarities between the two languages – even though it may not always sound like it! While the languages may have similar roots, the pronunciation of the alphabet of each language is actually very different. This is why it is so difficult for native English speakers to learn Icelandic as a second language.

Icelanders are very good at learning different languages in general, and many locals speak many other languages – not just Icelandic and English!

Speaking Icelandic 

Foreigners admire the Icelandic language, however, almost everyone that tries to speak it can agree that it is difficult to learn, particularly when pronouncing names and places. When in Iceland, whilst not essential, it is always good cultural practice to try speaking the native language, even if you do get it wrong. Here are some common phrases that you can try using during your time in Iceland. 

English	Icelandic	Pronounciation
Hello	Halló / Hæ	hi / hah-low
Thank you!	Takk / Takk fyrir / Þakka þér	tah-k / tah-k fih-r-ih-r / thah-kah th-yeh-r
Yes	Já	y-ow
No	Nei	ney
Excuse me	Afsakið / Fyrirgefðu	af-sah-kith / fih-r-ih-r-gef-thu
I don’t speak Icelandic	Ég tala ekki íslensku	yeg ta-la ek-ki ees-len-skoo

Discover 10 Common Phrases in Icelandic You Should Learn Before You Visit.

 

How Many People Speak English in Iceland?

Iceland currently has a population of 376,248 people, of whom around 98% speak English. This means that 368,723 of the Icelandic population can speak English.

This figure is very high in comparison to some other countries across Europe. Here are just a couple of the reasons why so many Icelanders can speak English. 

• TV & Film - Due to the mass of TV & film recorded in English, many Icelanders will watch popular shows and movies in the English language. Alongside this, many TV channels available on satellite are echoed in English, making Icelanders naturally learn it as a second language. 
• Education - Iceland is well-known for offering a high level of education. At many schools across the country, Icelanders are taught fluent English from a young age. Being a global language, learning English at school will help Icelanders communicate with tourists that visit the country. 
• Origin - Icelandic and English are both Germanic languages, meaning that if you go back far enough, these languages share the same roots. This can make it much easier for Icelanders to quickly learn English because, in many ways, there are a lot of similarities between the two languages – even though it may not always sound like it! 

While the languages may have similar roots, the pronunciation of the alphabet of each language is actually very different. This is why it is so difficult for native English speakers to learn Icelandic as a second language.

 

What Other Languages Do They Speak In Iceland?

Icelanders are very good at learning different languages in general, and many locals speak many other languages – not just Icelandic and English! Here are some of the other languages that are spoken in the country:

• Polish (2.7%)
• Lithuanian (0.4%)
• German (0.3%)
• Danish (0.3%)
• Portugese (0.3%)
• Filipino  (0.2%)
• Thai (0.1%)

If you are planning an unforgettable trip to Iceland, you will want a car to get you around comfortably. Take a look at our selection of rental cars, from 4x4s to minibuses!