takk

Thanks (Takk)

Level 1

Takk means thanks. Add fyrir and a thing to say what you are thankful for: Takk fyrir kaffið (thanks for the coffee).

How It Works

Takk and takk fyrir both mean thanks and fit almost anywhere. To make it stronger, say takk kærlega or takk kærlega fyrir (thank you very much). In writing you will also see kærar þakkir (many thanks).

Saying what for. Put the thing after fyrir. It goes in the accusative, so a noun with the article often ends differently from its dictionary form: hjálpin → Takk fyrir hjálpina (thanks for the help), kaffið → Takk fyrir kaffið.

A fuller thank you. Þakka þér fyrir means thank you. The person you thank is in the dative: þér for one person and ykkur for several, as in dative pronouns.

Visits and meals. Icelanders thank their host when they finish a meal or leave:

  • Takk fyrir matinn. Thanks for the food.
  • Takk fyrir mig. Thanks for having me.

The host answers Verði þér að góðu (to one person) or Verði ykkur að góðu (to several). It means roughly may it do you good.

Answering thanks. The usual reply is Ekkert að þakka (don't mention it). When you meet someone you last saw at a nice get-together, you can say Takk fyrir síðast (thanks for last time), and they answer Sömuleiðis (same to you).

Examples (6)

  1. Takk fyrir hjálpina!

    Thanks for the help!

    Word by Word: Thanks for the-help!

    Hjálpin becomes hjálpina after fyrir.

  2. Takk kærlega fyrir kaffið.

    Thank you very much for the coffee.

    Word by Word: Thanks dearly for the-coffee.

  3. Þakka þér fyrir.

    Thank you.

    Word by Word: Thank you(dative) for.

    Þér is the dative of þú.

  4. Takk fyrir matinn. – Verði þér að góðu.

    Thanks for the food. – You're very welcome.

    Word by Word: Thanks for the-food. – May-it-become you to good.

  5. Takk fyrir mig!

    Thanks for having me!

    Word by Word: Thanks for me!

  6. Takk fyrir síðast! – Sömuleiðis!

    Thanks for last time! – Same to you!

    Word by Word: Thanks for last! – Likewise!

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the thing you thank for in its dictionary form after fyrir.

    Takk fyrir hjálpin.
    Takk fyrir hjálpina.

    Fyrir puts a noun in the accusative here. The accusative of hjálpin is hjálpina.

  • Putting the person in the accusative after þakka.

    Þakka þig fyrir.
    Þakka þér fyrir.

    Þakka takes the person in the dative, so use þér for one person and ykkur for several.

How It Connects

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

takkLevel 1Thanks (Takk)

Learn This First

takk is learned with the first greetings.

Words in This Pattern

takk fyrirtakk kærlegatakk fyrir migekkert að þakkaverði þér að góðuþakka