Question Words

1. Hvað?

   What?

   Usage

   A one-word question; also used to ask someone to repeat

   Grammar Note

   The verb follows the question word directly ("Hvað er þetta?"). "Hvað" is the neuter interrogative pronoun

2. Hvar?

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks about a place

   Grammar Note

   "Hvar" asks for a location; "Hvert" asks for a destination and "Hvaðan" for an origin

3. Hvenær?

   When?

   Usage

   Asks about time

   Grammar Note

   Placed first with the verb right after: "Hvenær kemur strætóinn?" ("When does the bus come?")

4. Hver?

   Who?

   Usage

   Asks about a person

   Grammar Note

   "Hver" declines for gender and case; the neuter counterpart is "hvað"

5. Af hverju?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason

   Grammar Note

   "Hvers vegna?" means the same and sounds slightly more formal. "Af hverju" literally means "of what"

6. Hvernig?

   How?

   Usage

   Asks about the way or state of something

   Grammar Note

   Also used in "Hvernig hefurðu það?" ("How are you?")

7. Hversu mörg?

   How many?

   Usage

   Asks for the number of things

   Grammar Note

   Agrees with the counted noun: neuter plural "mörg", masculine "margir" (people: "Hversu margir?"), feminine "margar"

8. Hvað kostar þetta?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Ask the price when shopping

   Grammar Note

   "Kosta" means "to cost". The answer uses the plural of "króna": "Það kostar fimm þúsund krónur"

9. Hvað er þetta?

   What is this?

   Usage

   Point at something unfamiliar and ask

   Grammar Note

   "Þetta" is the neuter demonstrative for "this/that"

10. Hvar er salernið?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    One of the most useful questions

    Grammar Note

    "Salerni" is neuter and takes the suffixed article "-ið" ("salernið"). Signs may also say "Snyrting"

11. Hvað er klukkan?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Ask the time

    Grammar Note

    "Klukkan" is "the clock/time". The answer is "Klukkan er tvö" (it is two o'clock). Note "hálf þrjú" is 2:30, not 3:30

12. Eigið þið þetta til?

    Do you have this?

    Usage

    Ask in a shop whether an item is in stock

    Grammar Note

    "Eiga ... til" means "to have in stock". "Þið" addresses the staff as a group; for one person say "Áttu þetta til?". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

13. Er það hægt?

    Is it possible?

    Usage

    Ask whether something can be done

    Grammar Note

    "Hægt" means "possible". The pattern "Er hægt að ...?" means "Is it possible to ...?". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

14. Kostar það eitthvað?

    Is there a charge?

    Usage

    Ask whether entry or use is charged

    Grammar Note

    Literally "does it cost something?". "Eitthvað" means "something". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

15. Er þetta ókeypis?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Check whether something is free of charge

    Grammar Note

    "Ókeypis" does not inflect in this use. "Frítt" is also heard in speech. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

16. Er það í lagi?

    Is this OK?

    Usage

    Check whether something is acceptable

    Grammar Note

    "Í lagi" means "OK". The pattern "Er í lagi að ...?" asks "Is it OK to ...?". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

17. Er þetta bannað?

    Is this forbidden?

    Usage

    Check whether something is forbidden

    Grammar Note

    "Bannað" means "forbidden". To ask for permission use "Má ég ...?" ("May I ...?"). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

18. Er allt í lagi með þig?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Check on someone who looks unwell

    Grammar Note

    "Með þig" gives "with you" in the sense of "how you are". "Þig" is the accusative of "þú". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

19. Í alvöru?

    Really?

    Usage

    Show surprise and ask for confirmation

    Grammar Note

    "Alvara" is "seriousness"; the phrase literally means "in earnest"

20. Ertu viss?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Double-check what someone said

    Grammar Note

    "Viss" means "sure"; the form is the same for a man and a woman

21. Hvaðan ertu?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    Ask where someone comes from

    Grammar Note

    "Hvaðan" means "from where". Answer with "frá" plus the dative: "Ég er frá Japan"

22. Hvað heitirðu?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    Ask someone's name; Icelanders use first names even with strangers

    Grammar Note

    "Heitirðu" is "heitir þú" contracted. Answer with "Ég heiti ..."

23. Hvað ertu gamall?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Ask someone's age; not usual with strangers

    Grammar Note

    To a man say "gamall"; to a woman say "gömul" ("Hvað ertu gömul?"). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

24. Getum við tekið mynd saman?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    Ask a local or another traveller for a photo together

    Grammar Note

    "Geta" agrees with its subject, so "við" takes "getum". "Mynd" is a feminine noun; "taka mynd" means "to take a picture". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker

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