Learning a new language is always an exciting journey, especially when it’s as unique and culturally rich as Icelandic. As you progress to the B1 level in Icelandic, you’ll find yourself navigating more complex conversations, understanding intermediate texts, and expressing your thoughts more fluently. This article aims to provide you with a comprehensive list of Icelandic words and phrases that are essential for B1 level learners. These words will help you enhance your vocabulary, improve your comprehension, and confidently engage in everyday conversations.
Everyday Vocabulary
When you reach the B1 level, you’re expected to handle most everyday situations with ease. Here are some essential words and phrases to help you navigate daily life in Iceland.
Common Nouns
1. **Matur** – food
2. **Bíll** – car
3. **Hús** – house
4. **Veður** – weather
5. **Bókasafn** – library
6. **Verslun** – store
7. **Peningar** – money
8. **Strætó** – bus
9. **Vinna** – work
10. **Skóli** – school
Adjectives
1. **Fallegur** – beautiful
2. **Skemmtilegur** – fun
3. **Erfiður** – difficult
4. **Mjúkur** – soft
5. **Góður** – good
6. **Slæmur** – bad
7. **Heitur** – hot
8. **Kaldur** – cold
9. **Hár** – tall
10. **Stuttur** – short
Verbs
1. **Að borða** – to eat
2. **Að keyra** – to drive
3. **Að lesa** – to read
4. **Að skrifa** – to write
5. **Að tala** – to speak
6. **Að hlusta** – to listen
7. **Að horfa** – to watch
8. **Að vinna** – to work
9. **Að fara** – to go
10. **Að koma** – to come
Conversational Phrases
At the B1 level, you’ll be engaging in more detailed and meaningful conversations. Here are some useful phrases to help you communicate effectively.
Greetings and Polite Expressions
1. **Góðan daginn** – Good day
2. **Gott kvöld** – Good evening
3. **Hvernig hefur þú það?** – How are you?
4. **Ég hef það gott, takk** – I’m fine, thank you
5. **Takk fyrir** – Thank you
6. **Gerðu svo vel** – You’re welcome
7. **Afsakið** – Excuse me
8. **Það var ekkert** – It was nothing
9. **Vinsamlegast** – Please
10. **Ég biðst afsökunar** – I apologize
Asking Questions
1. **Hvar er…?** – Where is…?
2. **Hvað er klukkan?** – What time is it?
3. **Geturðu hjálpað mér?** – Can you help me?
4. **Hversu mikið kostar þetta?** – How much does this cost?
5. **Hvenær opnar það?** – When does it open?
6. **Af hverju…?** – Why…?
7. **Hvernig…?** – How…?
8. **Hver…?** – Who…?
9. **Hvað…?** – What…?
10. **Hvenær…?** – When…?
Expressing Opinions and Emotions
1. **Mér finnst þetta…** – I think this is…
2. **Ég er sammála** – I agree
3. **Ég er ósammála** – I disagree
4. **Ég er ánægður** – I am happy
5. **Ég er leiður** – I am sad
6. **Ég er þreyttur** – I am tired
7. **Ég er spenntur** – I am excited
8. **Mér líkar þetta** – I like this
9. **Mér líkar þetta ekki** – I don’t like this
10. **Ég er hræddur** – I am scared
Travel and Directions
Traveling and asking for directions are common scenarios where you’ll need to use your Icelandic skills. Here are some essential words and phrases to help you get around.
Transportation
1. **Flugvél** – airplane
2. **Lest** – train
3. **Strætó** – bus
4. **Leigubíll** – taxi
5. **Bílastæði** – parking
6. **Ferja** – ferry
7. **Höfn** – harbor
8. **Flugvöllur** – airport
9. **Lestarstöð** – train station
10. **Strætóstöð** – bus station
Directions
1. **Til hægri** – to the right
2. **Til vinstri** – to the left
3. **Beint áfram** – straight ahead
4. **Bak við** – behind
5. **Fyrir framan** – in front of
6. **Við hliðina á** – next to
7. **Á horninu** – on the corner
8. **Í gegnum** – through
9. **Yfir** – over
10. **Undir** – under
Shopping and Dining
Shopping and dining are integral parts of daily life. Here are some useful words and phrases to enhance your shopping and dining experiences.
Shopping
1. **Verð** – price
2. **Afsláttur** – discount
3. **Reikningur** – bill
4. **Kreditkort** – credit card
5. **Reiðufé** – cash
6. **Verslunarvagn** – shopping cart
7. **Matur** – food
8. **Föt** – clothes
9. **Skór** – shoes
10. **Gjafabréf** – gift card
Dining
1. **Veitingastaður** – restaurant
2. **Matseðill** – menu
3. **Forréttur** – appetizer
4. **Aðalréttur** – main course
5. **Eftirréttur** – dessert
6. **Drykkur** – drink
7. **Vatn** – water
8. **Kaffi** – coffee
9. **Te** – tea
10. **Bjór** – beer
Health and Emergencies
Knowing how to express yourself during health-related situations and emergencies is crucial. Here are some key words and phrases to help you.
Health
1. **Læknir** – doctor
2. **Heilsugæslustöð** – health clinic
3. **Lyf** – medicine
4. **Apótek** – pharmacy
5. **Hiti** – fever
6. **Hósti** – cough
7. **Höfuðverkur** – headache
8. **Verkir** – pain
9. **Sjúkrahús** – hospital
10. **Sjúkraþjálfun** – physical therapy
Emergencies
1. **Hjálp!** – Help!
2. **Lögregla** – police
3. **Slökkvilið** – fire department
4. **Sjúkrabíll** – ambulance
5. **Slys** – accident
6. **Bráðamóttaka** – emergency room
7. **Eldur** – fire
8. **Þjófnaður** – theft
9. **Hjartastopp** – cardiac arrest
10. **Bráðatilvik** – emergency situation
Work and Education
As you advance in your Icelandic studies, you’ll likely encounter situations related to work and education. Here are some important words and phrases to help you in these contexts.
Work
1. **Starf** – job
2. **Laun** – salary
3. **Viðtal** – interview
4. **Ferilskrá** – resume
5. **Deild** – department
6. **Fundur** – meeting
7. **Yfirmaður** – boss
8. **Samstarfsmaður** – colleague
9. **Verkefni** – project
10. **Tölvupóstur** – email
Education
1. **Kennari** – teacher
2. **Nemandi** – student
3. **Kennslustund** – lesson
4. **Skólastofa** – classroom
5. **Námskeið** – course
6. **Próf** – exam
7. **Heimavinna** – homework
8. **Bókasafn** – library
9. **Grunnskóli** – primary school
10. **Háskóli** – university
Culture and Leisure
Understanding cultural and leisure-related vocabulary will enrich your experience and help you engage in conversations about hobbies and interests.
Culture
1. **List** – art
2. **Tónlist** – music
3. **Bók** – book
4. **Kvikmynd** – movie
5. **Leikhús** – theater
6. **Sýning** – exhibition
7. **Hátíð** – festival
8. **Söngvari** – singer
9. **Rithöfundur** – writer
10. **Leikari** – actor
Leisure Activities
1. **Íþróttir** – sports
2. **Sund** – swimming
3. **Gönguferð** – hiking
4. **Veiði** – fishing
5. **Skiða** – skiing
6. **Hjólreiðar** – cycling
7. **Ljósmyndun** – photography
8. **Garðyrkja** – gardening
9. **Borðspil** – board games
10. **Ferðalög** – traveling
Practice Makes Perfect
Reaching the B1 level in Icelandic is a significant milestone, and expanding your vocabulary is a crucial part of this journey. Here are some tips to help you practice and retain these new words and phrases:
1. **Flashcards:** Create flashcards with the Icelandic word on one side and the English translation on the other. Review them regularly to reinforce your memory.
2. **Language Apps:** Use language learning apps that offer vocabulary exercises and quizzes to test your knowledge.
3. **Conversations:** Practice speaking with native speakers or fellow learners to use the new vocabulary in context.
4. **Reading:** Read Icelandic books, articles, and newspapers to see how these words are used in real-life scenarios.
5. **Writing:** Write short essays, journal entries, or even social media posts in Icelandic to practice using the vocabulary actively.
Remember, consistency is key. Regular practice will help you become more comfortable with these words and phrases, enabling you to communicate more effectively and confidently in Icelandic. Enjoy the journey, and happy learning!