Essential Icelandic Vocabulary for Clothing
Basic Garments
Here are some of the most common clothing items you’ll encounter:
- Skyrta – Shirt
- Buxur – Pants
- Gallabuxur – Jeans
- Kjóll – Dress
- Peysa – Sweater/Jumper
- Jakki – Jacket
- Bolur – T-shirt
- Stuttbuxur – Shorts
- Pils – Skirt
- Ullarpeysa – Wool sweater (a staple in Iceland!)
Outerwear and Footwear
Given Iceland’s climate, outerwear vocabulary is particularly useful:
- Úlpa – Coat
- Regnjakki – Raincoat
- Vindjakki – Windbreaker
- Skór – Shoes
- Stígvél – Boots
- Sandalar – Sandals
- Íþróttaskór – Sneakers
Accessories
Accessorize your Icelandic with these words:
- Hattur – Hat
- Húfa – Beanie/Cap
- Vettlingar – Mittens
- Hanskar – Gloves
- Trefill – Scarf
- Belti – Belt
- Sólgleraugu – Sunglasses
- Bakpoki – Backpack
- Taska – Bag
Fashion and Style Vocabulary
Describing Clothing
When talking about fashion, you might want to describe what you or others are wearing:
- Litur – Color
- Stærð – Size
- Mynstur – Pattern
- Efni – Material/Fabric
- Stíll – Style
- Þægilegur – Comfortable
- Smart – Stylish
- Formlegur – Formal
- Óformlegur – Casual
- Nýtt – New
- Gammelt – Old
Shopping for Clothes
Useful phrases and words for shopping in Icelandic:
- Hvar finn ég…? – Where can I find…?
- Hvað kostar þetta? – How much does this cost?
- Er þetta til í minni/stærri stærð? – Is this available in a smaller/larger size?
- Má ég máta þetta? – Can I try this on?
- Fataverslun – Clothing store
- Afsláttur – Discount
- Kaupa – To buy
Tips for Practicing Clothing and Fashion Vocabulary
- Label Your Clothes: Put sticky notes with Icelandic names on your clothes at home to reinforce learning.
- Practice Conversations: Use Talkpal’s AI-powered chat to simulate shopping or describing outfits in Icelandic.
- Watch Icelandic TV: Observe what people are wearing and try to describe their outfits in Icelandic.
- Go Shopping: If you’re in Iceland, practice using these words in real-life situations at clothing stores or markets.
Conclusion
Mastering the vocabulary for clothing and fashion in Icelandic opens doors to richer conversations and a deeper understanding of Icelandic culture. Regular practice and real-life usage are key, so make use of resources like the Talkpal AI language learning blog to keep expanding your word bank. Whether you are preparing for a trip, shopping, or simply wanting to express your style in Icelandic, these words will serve you well on your language journey.
