Can we get by as English speakers visiting Iceland?
We're going to Iceland for the first time in September. Will we be able to get around ok just speaking English, or should we try to learn some rudimentary Icelandic? And is that even what their language is called?
Best Answer
An Icelander will usually start speaking English with you before you have a chance to open your mouth. This is very disappointing to people like me that go to Iceland to learn the language. Other students I know will resort to wearing a sign around their neck that begs people to stick to Icelandic.
The language name in their own language is Íslenska. So you'd say (or write on a card) Ég tala ekki íslensku. Which will be obvious as soon as you open your mouth :-)
Better than learning phrases--unless you are a foreign language hobbyist, I'd learn other factoids, such as the emergency number is 112.
Enjoy your trip.
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Can you get by in Iceland with English?
There is virtually no language barrier for English-speaking visitors to Iceland. Icelandic business executives and government officials are fluent in English and almost all Icelanders speak English to some degree.Is Iceland good for English speakers?
Why are Icelanders so Fluent in English? This is something that comes up with all the Nordic countries \u2013 they all have very high rates of English fluency and proficiency, with a very high percentage of the population in all the Scandinavian/Nordic countries being conversational or fluent in English.Is Iceland easy to learn for English speakers?
In fact, Icelandic has been consistently ranked as one of the hardest languages for English speakers to learn as a result of the archaic vocabulary and complex grammar.How long does it take for an English speaker to learn Icelandic?
Above are just a part of the European languages classified as tier 4 FSI....Tier 4: Languages that are profoundly different from English.Polish1100 hours or 44 weeksTurkish1100 hours or 44 weeksIcelandic1100 hours or 44 weeks6 more rows•Apr 18, 2018Do they speak English in Iceland?
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Answer 2
I visited Iceland in June 2009 and met very few non-English speakers. Even in some very small villages, we easily ordered meals, hotel rooms, and asked questions of which attractions we should see. Most people were very friendly and eager to chat with us.
Answer 3
Recently, I did a volunteering project in Iceland and enjoyed it thoroughly. Most of the people there do speak English, specially if you are friendly and respect their culture/customs/traditions. Also, I found that most of 'em are friendly and approachable.
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