Long and Short Vowels

Level 1

Count the consonants after a stressed vowel. One consonant or none makes the vowel long: koma (come), þú (you). Two usually make it short: komma (comma).

How It Works

A stressed vowel, including the accented vowels and vowel pairs, is long:

  • at the end of a word: þú (you), nei (no), fá (get);
  • before a single consonant: koma (come), vinur (friend), matur (food), ég (I);
  • before p, t, k or s followed by j, v or r: betra (better), akrar (fields), vökva (to water), Esja (the mountain).

A stressed vowel is short:

  • before a double consonant: komma (comma), vinna (work), takk (thanks);
  • before most other clusters: standa (stand), loft (air), hestur (horse);
  • before ng and nk, where the vowel also changes. See vowels before ng and nk.

Unstressed vowels are always short, and stress is always on the first syllable. See first-syllable stress.

Length can be the only difference between two words, so the single or double consonant in the spelling matters: koma and komma, vinur and vinna. Before pp, tt and kk the vowel is short and gets a breath after it. See pre-aspiration.

Examples (5)

  1. Viltu koma með?

    Do you want to come along?

    Word by Word: Want-you come with?

    o in koma is long, before a single m.

  2. Hér vantar kommu.

    A comma is missing here.

    Word by Word: Here lacks comma.

    o in kommu is short, before a double m.

  3. Vinur minn er í vinnunni.

    My friend is at work.

    Word by Word: Friend my is in the-work.

    i is long in vinur and short in vinnunni.

  4. Maturinn er góður.

    The food is good.

    Word by Word: The-food is good.

    a in maturinn is long, before a single t.

  5. Þetta er miklu betra.

    This is much better.

    Word by Word: This is much better.

    e in betra is long, because t followed by r does not shorten it.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing a single consonant where the word has a double one.

    Hér vantar komu.
    Hér vantar kommu.

    komu is a different word (arrival). The double m makes the o short and gives the word komma (comma).

  • Writing a double consonant where the word has a single one.

    Hann er góður vinnur.
    Hann er góður vinur.

    vinur (friend) has one n and a long i. vinnur means works or wins.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Long and Short VowelsLevel 1

Learn This First

Vowel length builds on stress and the vowel letters.