Numbers

1. Einn, tveir, þrír

   One, two, three

   Usage

   The form used for plain counting

   Grammar Note

   The numbers 1 to 4 change with the gender and case of what is counted. Plain counting uses the masculine forms "einn, tveir, þrír, fjórir"; 5 and above do not change

2. Fjórir, fimm, sex

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Counting four to six

   Grammar Note

   "Fjórir" is masculine; the neuter is "fjögur" and the feminine "fjórar". "Sex" is the number six, spelled like the English word, but is the ordinary numeral

3. Sjö, átta, níu, tíu

   Seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Counting seven to ten

   Grammar Note

   Numbers from 5 up do not change for gender or case. "Níu" is 9 and "tíu" is 10

4. Tuttugu, þrjátíu, fjörutíu

   Twenty, thirty, forty

   Usage

   The tens; 50 continues as "fimmtíu" and 60 as "sextíu"

   Grammar Note

   The tens do not inflect. From 21, join with "og" as in "tuttugu og einn", and the final "einn" agrees with the counted noun in gender and case

5. Hundrað, þúsund

   Hundred, thousand

   Usage

   Big numbers for prices and years

   Grammar Note

   "Hundrað" is a neuter noun with the plural "hundruð", as in "tvö hundruð" (200). "Þúsund" is neuter too and the number before it is neuter: "þrjú þúsund" (3,000)

6. Það kostar tvö hundruð krónur

   It costs two hundred kronur

   Usage

   The currency is the "króna" (plural "krónur"), also written "kr."

   Grammar Note

   "Hundrað" is neuter, so the number is the neuter "tvö". The noun "króna" is plural after the number ("krónur"), but singular when the number ends in 1 (tuttugu og ein króna). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

7. Klukkan er hálf þrjú

   It's half past two

   Usage

   For telling the time; "hálf þrjú" is 2:30, counted as half toward three

   Grammar Note

   "Hálf" is followed by the next hour, so "hálf þrjú" is 2:30, not 3:30. "Klukkan er ..." is the standard frame for telling time. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

8. Fyrsti, annar, þriðji

   First, second, third

   Usage

   Ordinals for order and dates

   Grammar Note

   Ordinals decline like adjectives. These are masculine nominative forms; the feminine is "fyrsta, önnur, þriðja" and the neuter "fyrsta, annað, þriðja"

9. Ég þarf tvo miða

   I need two tickets

   Usage

   For asking for tickets for your party

   Grammar Note

   "Þurfa" takes the accusative and "miði" is masculine, so the masculine accusative "tvo" goes with the accusative plural "miða". "Tveir miðar" is the subject form. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

10. Hvert er heimilisfangið?

    What is the address?

    Usage

    For asking the address of a hotel or shop, or confirming it for a taxi

    Grammar Note

    "Heimilisfang" is neuter, so the question word is the neuter "hvert" ("which, what"), not "hver". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

11. Ég er tuttugu og sjö ára

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    For stating your age

    Grammar Note

    Age is "vera + number + ára", where "ára" is the genitive plural of "ár" (year). Numbers from 5 up do not inflect, so "sjö" stays as it is. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

12. Ég verð tuttugu og átta ára í ár

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    To say what age you reach this year

    Grammar Note

    "Verða" means "to become" and gives the future age. "Í ár" is "this year". The "átta" in "tuttugu og átta" does not inflect. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

Browse all TravelPhrases languages