Convenience Store

15 phrases · Icelandic with romanization, English and audio

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

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