Café & Drinks

1. Einn kaffibolla, takk

   A cup of coffee, please

   Usage

   Basic phrase for ordering a cup of coffee

   Grammar Note

   Orders use the accusative (kaffibolli becomes kaffibolla), and a final "takk" works as "please". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

2. Hvaða bjóra eruð þið með?

   What kinds of beer do you have?

   Usage

   Use it at a bar or restaurant to ask which beers are available

   Grammar Note

   "Vera með" is used for "have". The accusative plural of "bjór" is "bjóra". Staff are addressed with plural "þið". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

3. Mig langar í glas af víni

   I would like a glass of wine

   Usage

   A polite way to order a glass of wine

   Grammar Note

   "Langa í" means to want something and takes the accusative. "Af" takes the dative (vín becomes víni). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

4. Eruð þið með óáfengan bjór?

   Do you have non-alcoholic beer?

   Usage

   Use it to ask for alcohol-free beer, for example if you do not drink or are driving

   Grammar Note

   "Óáfengur" is the negative of "áfengur" (alcoholic). "Bjór" is masculine, so the accusative is "óáfengan bjór". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

5. Einn safa og eitt vatn, takk

   A juice and a water, please

   Usage

   Orders two drinks at once

   Grammar Note

   "Einn" agrees with the noun: "safi" (masculine) gives "einn safa" and "vatn" (neuter) gives "eitt vatn". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

6. Vínbúðin er lokuð í dag

   The state liquor store (Vínbúðin) is closed today

   Usage

   Says that the liquor store is closed today; in Iceland shops sell beer, wine and spirits only through the state-run liquor stores (apart from bars and restaurants)

   Grammar Note

   "Vínbúð" is feminine; as the name of the chain it is capitalised "Vínbúðin", and the adjective is the feminine "lokuð". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

7. Skál!

   Cheers!

   Usage

   Said together when raising glasses

   Grammar Note

   "Skál" literally means bowl and is also the toast

8. Eruð þið með heita drykki?

   Do you have hot drinks?

   Usage

   Use it on a cold day to ask for hot drinks

   Grammar Note

   The accusative plural of "drykkur" is "drykki", and the adjective takes the matching form "heita". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

9. Kranavatn

   Tap water

   Usage

   Use it to ask for tap water at a restaurant; tap water in Iceland is drinkable

   Grammar Note

   A neuter noun from "krani" (tap) and "vatn" (water). To order, say "Kranavatn, takk"

10. Án íss

    Without ice

    Usage

    Tells the server to leave the ice out of your drink

    Grammar Note

    "Án" takes the genitive, and the genitive of "ís" (ice) is "íss". It can follow a drink: "Kranavatn án íss"

11. Heitt vatn

    Hot water

    Usage

    Use it to ask for hot water, for example for tea

    Grammar Note

    "Vatn" is neuter, so the adjective is the neuter "heitt". "Heitt vatn, takk" asks for hot water

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