Hvar get ég skilað flöskunum fyrir skilagjald?
Where can I return the bottles for the deposit?
Usage
Asking where to hand in drink containers to get the deposit back
Grammar Note
"Skila" takes the dative, hence "flöskunum" (dative plural of "flaska" with article). "Skilagjald" is the deposit refunded when containers are returned. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Viltu gefa skilagjaldið til góðgerðarmála?
Would you like to give the deposit to charity?
Usage
What staff might ask about donating the refund
Grammar Note
"Viltu" is the contraction of "vilt þú". "Til" takes the genitive, hence "góðgerðarmála" (genitive plural of "góðgerðarmál", charity). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Er skilagjald á þessari dós?
Is there a deposit on this can?
Usage
Checking whether a container carries a deposit
Grammar Note
"Dós" is a feminine noun (can); "á" takes the dative, so "þessari dós" is feminine dative. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Við tökum bara við kortum.
We only accept cards.
Usage
What staff say when only card payment is possible
Grammar Note
"Taka við" means "to accept" and takes the dative, hence "kortum" (dative plural of "kort"). "Bara" means "only". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Get ég borgað með reiðufé?
Can I pay with cash?
Usage
Checking whether cash is accepted
Grammar Note
"Get ég borgað" is "get" plus the supine. "Með" takes the dative, and "reiðufé" (cash) has the same form in the dative. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Viltu poka? Hann kostar aukalega.
Do you need a bag? It costs extra.
Usage
What a cashier says about a paid bag
Grammar Note
"Poki" (bag) is masculine; the accusative is "poka" and the pronoun is the masculine "hann". "Aukalega" means "extra". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Hversu sterkan bjór má ég kaupa hér?
How strong a beer can I buy here?
Usage
Asking how strong a beer you may buy in a shop. Strong alcohol in Iceland is sold in the state liquor stores (Vínbúðin)
Grammar Note
"Hversu" means "how". "Sterkan bjór" is masculine accusative with the adjective agreeing. "Má ég kaupa" means "am I allowed to buy". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Má ég sjá skilríki?
May I see some ID?
Usage
What staff say when checking ID, for example when selling alcohol
Grammar Note
"Skilríki" is a neuter plural noun (ID papers) with the same form in the accusative. "Sjá" takes the accusative. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Get ég notað sjálfsafgreiðslukassann?
Can I use the self-checkout?
Usage
Asking whether the self-checkout can be used
Grammar Note
"Nota" takes the accusative, and "sjálfsafgreiðslukassann" is the accusative of the masculine noun with the article. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Gætirðu hitað þetta?
Could you heat this up?
Usage
Asking staff to heat up food you bought
Grammar Note
"Gætirðu" is the contraction of "gætir þú", the polite subjunctive of "getur". "Hita" means "to heat", and the object "þetta" is accusative. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Eina pylsu í brauði og kaffi, takk.
One hot dog and a coffee, please.
Usage
Ordering a snack and coffee
Grammar Note
"Pylsa" is feminine, so the numeral "ein" becomes the accusative "eina". "Í brauði" means "in bread" (dative). "Takk" does the work of "please". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Get ég sótt pakkann minn hér?
Can I collect my parcel here?
Usage
Collecting a parcel left for pickup at a shop
Grammar Note
"Sækja" means "to collect" and takes the accusative. "Pakkann minn" is the masculine accusative of "pakki" with the article, and "minn" agrees. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Seljið þið strætómiða?
Do you sell bus tickets?
Usage
Asking whether a shop sells bus tickets
Grammar Note
"Selja" takes the accusative, and "strætómiða" is the accusative plural of "strætómiði". Public transport in Iceland is built around buses (strætó), not trains. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Ég er búinn að taka eldsneyti á dælu númer þrjú.
I have filled up at pump three.
Usage
Telling the cashier which pump you used before paying
Grammar Note
"Búinn" is the masculine form; a woman says "búin". "Taka eldsneyti" means "to refuel". "Dæla" (pump) is feminine and takes the accusative "dælu" after "á"; "númer þrjú" means "number three". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Er opið allan sólarhringinn?
Are you open around the clock?
Usage
Checking whether a shop is open at all hours
Grammar Note
"Allan sólarhringinn" is masculine accusative: "the whole day and night". Expressions of duration take the accusative. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
More Icelandic phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
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- Adjectives
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