Money & Exchange

1. Takið þið við kortum?

   Do you accept cards?

   Usage

   Use it in a shop or restaurant to check whether card payment is possible

   Grammar Note

   "Taka við" means to accept and takes the dative (kort becomes kortum). Addressing the staff with plural "þið" is natural. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

2. Hvað kostar þetta?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   The most common way to ask the price of something

   Grammar Note

   The currency is the króna (plural krónur). An answer sounds like "Það kostar fimm hundruð krónur"

3. Hvar er næsti hraðbanki?

   Where is the nearest ATM?

   Usage

   Use it to find the nearest cash machine

   Grammar Note

   "Hraðbanki" is masculine, so the adjective takes the masculine form "næsti". It literally means "fast bank". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

4. Get ég fengið kvittun?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Use it to ask for a receipt after paying

   Grammar Note

   A request built from "get ég" plus the past participle "fengið" of "fá" (to get). "Kvittun" is feminine

5. Getum við skipt reikningnum?

   Can we split the bill?

   Usage

   Use it at a restaurant when a group wants to divide the bill

   Grammar Note

   "Skipta" (to divide) takes the dative, so "reikningur" becomes "reikningnum" with the suffixed article. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

6. Ég vil skipta gjaldeyri

   I want to exchange money

   Usage

   Use it at a bank or exchange counter to change foreign currency

   Grammar Note

   "Skipta" also means to exchange money and takes the dative: gjaldeyrir becomes gjaldeyri. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

7. Hvert er gengið í dag?

   What is the exchange rate today?

   Usage

   Use it at an exchange counter or bank to ask for the day's rate

   Grammar Note

   "Gengi" is neuter, so the question word is the neuter "hvert"; "gengið" carries the suffixed article. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

8. Er virðisaukaskattur innifalinn?

   Is VAT included?

   Usage

   Use it to check whether the displayed price includes VAT

   Grammar Note

   "Innifalinn" agrees with the masculine subject "virðisaukaskattur". It is often abbreviated "VSK" in writing. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

9. Ég fékk of mikið til baka

   I received too much change

   Usage

   Use it to tell a cashier honestly that you were given too much change

   Grammar Note

   "Fékk" is the past tense of "fá" (to get). "Til baka" means back, here the money handed back to you. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

10. Innborgun

    Deposit

    Usage

    Down payment paid in advance for a booking or purchase; point to it on a price list or form

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun. In a sentence you can say "Þarf ég að greiða innborgun?" (Do I have to pay a deposit?)

11. Endurgreiðsla

    Refund

    Usage

    Show it when asking for your money back after a return or cancellation

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun built from "endur-" (again) and "greiðsla" (payment). To ask, say "Get ég fengið endurgreiðslu?"

12. Tryggingarfé

    Security deposit

    Usage

    Refers to a refundable security deposit, for example on a rental

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun: the genitive of "trygging" (security) plus "fé" (money). Icelandic writes such compounds as one word

13. Fyrirframgreiðsla

    Prepayment

    Usage

    Use it when asked to pay in advance or when you want to prepay

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun from "fyrirfram" (in advance) and "greiðsla" (payment)

14. Aukagjald

    Extra charge

    Usage

    Point to it on a bill when there is an unexpected extra

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun from "auka-" (extra) and "gjald" (charge). "Hvað er þetta aukagjald?" asks what the extra charge is

15. Þjónustugjald

    Service fee

    Usage

    Point to it to check whether a service fee is added to the bill

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun: "þjónusta" (service) in its genitive stem plus "gjald" (charge)

16. Reiðufé

    Cash

    Usage

    Show it when you want to pay in cash or ask whether cash is accepted

    Grammar Note

    A neuter singular noun. "Get ég borgað með reiðufé?" asks whether you can pay in cash

17. Greiðslukort

    Card (payment card)

    Usage

    Show it at the till to say you will pay by card

    Grammar Note

    A neuter noun from "greiðsla" (payment) and "kort" (card). A credit card is also called "kreditkort"

18. Hver fyrir sig

    Separately (split the bill)

    Usage

    Tells the staff that each person pays for themselves

    Grammar Note

    "Hver fyrir sig" means each on their own. The masculine "hver" is used for people. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

19. Allt saman

    All together (one bill)

    Usage

    Use it when you want everything on a single bill

    Grammar Note

    "Allt saman" means all of it together; "Allt saman, takk" is natural at the till

20. Skiptimynt

    Change (money returned)

    Usage

    Point to it when change is missing or when you need small coins

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun from "skipti" (exchange) and "mynt" (coin); it mainly means coins and small change

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