stór
Big
Usage
The basic adjective for size
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "stór", feminine "stór", neuter "stórt"
lítill
Small
Usage
The basic adjective for smallness
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "lítill", feminine "lítil", neuter "lítið"; masculine plural "litlir"
þungur
Heavy
Usage
Use it for the weight of luggage and the like
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "þungur", feminine "þung", neuter "þungt"
léttur
Light (weight)
Usage
Use it for something light in weight
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "léttur", feminine "létt", neuter "létt"
dýr
Expensive
Usage
Says that a price is high. The noun "dýr" with the same spelling means "animal"
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "dýr", feminine "dýr", neuter "dýrt"; for prices the neuter "dýrt" is typical
ódýr
Cheap
Usage
Says that a price is low
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "ódýr", feminine "ódýr", neuter "ódýrt"; formed from "dýr" with the negative prefix "ó-"
heitur
Hot
Usage
For hot drinks, hot springs and things hot to the touch
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "heitur", feminine "heit", neuter "heitt"; the hot tub "heitur pottur" uses it
kaldur
Cold
Usage
For cold drinks, water and things cold to the touch
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "kaldur", feminine "köld", neuter "kalt"
nýr
New
Usage
Describes new things
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "nýr", feminine "ný", neuter "nýtt"
gamall
Old (thing)
Usage
Describes old things; it is also used for a person's age
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "gamall", feminine "gömul", neuter "gamalt"
ungur
Young
Usage
Describes young people
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "ungur", feminine "ung", neuter "ungt"
aldraður
Elderly
Usage
A respectful way to describe elderly people, gentler than "gamall"
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "aldraður", feminine "öldruð", neuter "aldrað"
hreinn
Clean
Usage
Describes cleanliness, e.g. of a hotel or room
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "hreinn", feminine "hrein", neuter "hreint"
óhreinn
Dirty
Usage
Describes something dirty
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "óhreinn", feminine "óhrein", neuter "óhreint"; formed from "hreinn" with the negative prefix "ó-"
góður
Good
Usage
The basic adjective for good
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "góður", feminine "góð", neuter "gott"; "góðan" in "Góðan daginn" is the masculine accusative
slæmur
Bad
Usage
Describes something bad
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "slæmur", feminine "slæm", neuter "slæmt"
nálægt
Near
Usage
Says that something is near
Grammar Note
An adverb/preposition that does not inflect: "Það er nálægt" ("It is nearby"), "nálægt hótelinu" ("near the hotel")
langt í burtu
Far
Usage
Says that something is far away
Grammar Note
"Langt" (far) and "burtu" (away) do not inflect. You can also ask "Er það langt?" ("Is it far?")
snemma
Early
Usage
Says that the time is early
Grammar Note
An adverb that does not inflect: "Það er snemma" ("It is early")
seint
Late
Usage
Says that the time is late
Grammar Note
An adverb that does not inflect: "Það er orðið seint" ("It is getting late"). The adjective "seinn" means "late/slow"
margir
Many
Usage
Says that the number is large; masculine plural
Grammar Note
Agrees with the noun: masculine plural "margir", feminine plural "margar", neuter plural "mörg"
fáir
Few
Usage
Says that the number is small; masculine plural
Grammar Note
Agrees with the noun: masculine plural "fáir", feminine plural "fáar", neuter plural "fá"
Það er heitt
It's hot (weather)
Usage
Says that the weather is hot
Grammar Note
The neuter "heitt" is used for weather. For how you feel say "Mér er heitt" (dative "mér")
Það er kalt
It's cold (weather)
Usage
Says that the weather is cold
Grammar Note
The neuter "kalt" is used for weather. For how you feel say "Mér er kalt" (dative "mér")
sætur
Cute
Usage
Praises people, animals or small things
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "sætur", feminine "sæt", neuter "sætt"; it also means "sweet"
flottur
Cool
Usage
Praises clothes, things or people
Grammar Note
The adjective agrees with its noun: masculine "flottur", feminine "flott", neuter "flott"; for things or events you can say "Flott!"
Þetta er gott
Delicious
Usage
The basic way to praise food; "gómsætt" is also used
Grammar Note
"Gott" is the neuter of "góður", matching the neuter "þetta"
Frábært
Amazing
Usage
Expresses delight or amazement
Grammar Note
The neuter of "frábær", used as an exclamation. As an adjective it agrees with its noun (frábær, frábær, frábært)
Þetta er skemmtilegt
Fun
Usage
Says that an activity or experience is fun
Grammar Note
"Skemmtilegt" is the neuter of "skemmtilegur", matching "þetta"
Meira
More
Usage
Use it to ask for more
Grammar Note
Does not inflect: "Meira, takk" ("More, please")
Bara smá
Just a little
Usage
Use it when you want only a small amount
Grammar Note
"Bara" means "just" and "smá" means "a little"; neither inflects
helmingur
Half
Usage
Use it for half of something
Grammar Note
A masculine noun, definite "helmingurinn"
allt
All / everything
Usage
Use it for everything together
Grammar Note
The neuter "allt" means "everything"; the masculine plural is "allir" and the feminine plural "allar"
Þetta er nóg
That's enough
Usage
Use it when you have enough or want no more
Grammar Note
"Nóg" means "enough" and does not inflect
More Icelandic phrases
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