Signs

1. Inngangur

   Entrance

   Usage

   Displayed at the entrance of buildings and facilities; signs often set it in capitals as "INNGANGUR"

   Grammar Note

   "Inngangur" is a masculine noun. Signs use the bare nominative form

2. Útgangur

   Exit

   Usage

   Displayed at exits of buildings and facilities; on signs it reads "ÚTGANGUR"

   Grammar Note

   "Útgangur" is a masculine noun made from "út" (out) and "gangur" (passage)

3. Neyðarútgangur

   Emergency Exit

   Usage

   Marks the exit to use in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   "Neyðarútgangur" is a masculine compound of "neyð" (emergency) and "útgangur" (exit). Icelandic compounds are written as one word

4. Opið

   Open (door sign)

   Usage

   The "open" sign on the door of a shop or facility; on signs it reads "OPIÐ"

   Grammar Note

   "Opið" is the neuter nominative of the adjective "opinn". "Er opið?" is also the question "are you open?"

5. Lokað

   Closed (door sign)

   Usage

   The "closed" sign when a shop or facility is shut; on signs it reads "LOKAÐ"

   Grammar Note

   "Lokað" is the neuter past participle of "loka" and means "closed"

6. Tímabundið lokað

   Temporarily Closed

   Usage

   Posted on a facility that is shut for a limited time, for example for renovation

   Grammar Note

   "Tímabundið" is an adverb meaning "temporarily", modifying the following "lokað"

7. Karlar

   Men

   Usage

   Shown on the door of men's toilets and changing rooms; "karlar" simply means "men" and is not rude

   Grammar Note

   "Karlar" is the nominative plural of the masculine noun "karl". Toilet signs name the users in the plural

8. Konur

   Women

   Usage

   Shown on the door of women's toilets and changing rooms; "konur" simply means "women"

   Grammar Note

   "Konur" is the nominative plural of the feminine noun "kona"

9. Aðgangur bannaður

   No Entry

   Usage

   Posted where entry is not allowed; on signs it reads "AÐGANGUR BANNAÐUR"

   Grammar Note

   "Bannaður" is the masculine nominative adjective agreeing with the masculine noun "aðgangur" (access)

10. Reykingar bannaðar

    No Smoking

    Usage

    Posted where smoking is prohibited; on signs it reads "REYKINGAR BANNAÐAR"

    Grammar Note

    "Reykingar" is a feminine plural noun (smoking), so the adjective "bannaðar" is feminine plural nominative

11. Stigi

    Stairs

    Usage

    Marks a staircase or the way to it

    Grammar Note

    "Stigi" is a masculine noun (stairs, ladder), also seen in the plural "stigar"

12. Ýta

    Push

    Usage

    Posted on doors that open by pushing; on signs it reads "ÝTA"

    Grammar Note

    "Ýta" is the infinitive of "to push". Signs give instructions with the bare infinitive

13. Toga

    Pull

    Usage

    Posted on doors that open by pulling; on signs it reads "TOGA"

    Grammar Note

    "Toga" is the infinitive of "to pull"

14. Byggingarsvæði

    Construction Site

    Usage

    Posted around building works

    Grammar Note

    "Byggingarsvæði" is a neuter compound of "bygging" (construction) and "svæði" (area)

15. Bilað

    Out of Order

    Usage

    Posted on lifts, ticket machines or toilets that are not working

    Grammar Note

    "Bilað" is the neuter nominative of the adjective "bilaður" and means "broken"

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