To learn Icelandic, start with the letters English doesn't have, then learn the gender of every new noun and listen for how its endings change. About 390,000 people speak Icelandic, and most of them live in Iceland.

How to Learn Icelandic, Step by Step

The first three steps are about reading and sound. Steps 4 to 6 build your grammar and your speaking.

Learn þ and ð FirstÞ is the th of “think,” and ð is the th of “this.” The short word það (it) has both.
Learn What the Accent Marks DoAn accent mark gives a vowel a different sound, so vín (wine) and vin, a form of vinur (friend), sound different.
Stress the First SyllableIcelandic always stresses the first syllable, as in barn (child), where rn is said with a t between the r and the n.
Learn Nouns With Their GenderEvery noun is masculine, feminine or neuter. Kona (woman) is feminine, so learn the word and its gender together.
Notice the Case EndingsVinur (friend) can also be vin, vini or vinar, and each form has its own job in a sentence. Learn the form you meet first, as in Þú ert vinur minn (You are my friend).
Talk Early, Even Onlineitalki lists only five Icelandic tutors, so book one early or practice with an online partner. Try everyday questions like Hvað segirðu? (How are you?).

For steps 1 and 2, Bubblegum's Icelandic alphabet course plays each new word when you tap it. Ylhýra is a free collection of Icelandic texts with help for every word, and the University of Iceland's Icelandic Online lets anyone join for free. To learn how other methods compare, read the best way to learn Icelandic, and to see which parts of Icelandic take practice, read the easiest way to learn Icelandic.

Find Where You Are

Bubblegum is a language app with Icelandic lessons at six levels, plus a course for the letters. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes each lesson with audio. If þ and ð are new to you, begin with the first row.

Start With the Alphabet
I can't read the Icelandic alphabet yet.
Work through the letters course, and tap each word to hear how its letters sound.
Icelandic alphabet course
Level 1
I'm just starting out or know only a few words.
Read a short lesson, and write each new noun down with its gender.
Level 2
I can read simple sentences.
Read Ylhýra's beginner texts, and check a word's translation only when the sentence stops making sense.
Level 3
I can read short stories and messages.
Read RÚV Auðskilið, and practice retelling one story with an online partner.
Level 4
I can read longer texts about everyday life.
Listen to the Icelandic Immersion podcast, and note the case of each noun in one short part.
Level 5
I can follow complex topics, but miss some details.
Listen to RÚV radio, and write down one sentence from each show to look up later.
Level 6
I can read almost anything.
Read Icelandic novels, and notice how writers use the dative and the genitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does It Take to Learn Icelandic?

The U.S. Foreign Service Institute's list doesn't include Icelandic, so there is no official class-hour figure to plan by. The guide to learning Icelandic fast sets out a weekly study budget instead.

How Many Cases Does Icelandic Have?

Four: nominative, accusative, dative and genitive. Wiktionary shows all four for a word like vinur, so check its table when a form surprises you.

Which Icelandic App Should a Beginner Choose?

If you are serious about learning Icelandic, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. The Icelandic app comparison lists more courses and tutor sites.

Is Bubblegum Free?

Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.

How to Learn Icelandic, Step by Step