View source for Icelandic orthography

{{Short description|Icelandic alphabet and spelling}}
{|style="float:right" cellspacing=0 border=0
|-valign="top"
|[[File:Latin letter Ð.svg|120x120px|thumb|[[Eth]]|left]][[File:Latin letter Þþ.svg|75x75px|thumb|[[Thorn (letter)|Þorn]]]]
|-
|[[File:Icelandic handwriting.JPG|300px|thumb|A handwriting extract; the Icelandic letters {{vr|ð}} & {{vr|þ}} are visible.|center]]
|}
The '''Icelandic orthography''' uses a [[Latin-script alphabet]] including some letters duplicated with [[acute accent]]s; in addition, it includes the letter [[eth]] ({{vr|ð}}, capital {{vr|Ð}}), [[transliterated]] as {{vr|d}}, and the [[runic]] letter [[Thorn (letter)|thorn]] ({{vr|þ}}, capital {{vr|Þ}}), transliterated as {{vr|th}} (see picture); {{vr|[[æ]]}} and {{vr|[[ö]]}} are considered letters in their own right and not a [[Typographic ligature|ligature]] or [[diacritic]]al version of their respective letters. Icelanders call the ten extra letters (not in the [[English alphabet]]), especially thorn and eth, {{wikt-lang|is|séríslenskur}} ("specifically Icelandic" or "uniquely Icelandic"), although they are not. Eth is also used in [[Faroese language|Faroese]] and [[Elfdalian]], and while thorn is no longer used in any other living language, it was used in many historical languages, including [[Old English]]. Icelandic words never start with {{vr|ð}}, which means the capital version {{vr|Ð}} is mainly just used when words are spelled using [[all caps|all capitals]]. <!-- List more exceptions, e.g. none starting with X, or ending with þ? http://vigfusina.is/themu/enska/ord/Ord%20sem%20byrja%20a%20x.htm -->

The alphabet consists of the following 32 letters:

{{Listen
|filename=Is-Icelandic alphabet.oga
|title=Icelandic alphabet
|description=An Icelandic speaker reciting the alphabet in Icelandic
|format=Ogg
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; width: 50em; text-align: center; border-collapse:collapse;"
! style="background: #efefef; font-weight: normal;" colspan="32" | '''[[Capital letters|Majuscule forms]] (also called uppercase or capital letters''')
|- lang="is"
| [[A]] || [[Á]] || [[B]] || [[D]] || [[Eth|Ð]] || [[E]] || [[É]] || [[F]] || [[G]] || [[H]] || [[I]] || [[Í]] || [[J]] || [[K]] || [[L]] || [[M]] || [[N]] || [[O]] || [[Ó]] || [[P]] || [[R]] || [[S]] || [[T]] || [[U]] || [[Ú]] || [[V]] || [[X]] || [[Y]] || [[Ý]] || [[Thorn (letter)|Þ]] || [[Æ]] || [[Ö]]
|-
! style="background: #efefef; font-weight: normal;" colspan="32" | '''[[Lower case|Minuscule forms]] (also called lowercase or small letters''')
|- lang="is"
| a || á || b || d || ð || e || é || f || g || h || i || í || j || k || l || m || n || o || ó || p || r || s || t || u || ú || v || x || y || ý || þ || æ || ö
|}

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Names of letters
!Letter
!Name
![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
!Frequency<ref>{{cite web|url=https://practicalcryptography.com/cryptanalysis/letter-frequencies-various-languages/icelandic-letter-frequencies/ |title=Icelandic Letter Frequencies |publisher=Practical cryptography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531023228/http://practicalcryptography.com/cryptanalysis/letter-frequencies-various-languages/icelandic-letter-frequencies/ |archive-date=2023-05-31}}</ref>
|-
|Aa || {{lang|is|a}} || {{IPA-is|aː|}}||10.11%
|-
|Áá || {{lang|is|á}} || {{IPA-is|auː|}}||1.8%
|-
|Bb || {{lang|is|bé}} || {{IPA-is|pjɛː|}}||1.04%
|-
|Dd || {{lang|is|dé}} || {{IPA-is|tjɛː|}}||1.58%
|-
|Ðð || {{lang|is|eð}} || {{IPA-is|ɛːθ|}}||4.39%
|-
|Ee || {{lang|is|e}} || {{IPA-is|ɛː|}}||6.42%
|-
|Éé || {{lang|is|é}} || {{IPA-is|jɛː|}}||0.65%
|-
|Ff || {{lang|is|eff}} || {{IPA-is|ɛfː|}}||3.01%
|-
|Gg || {{lang|is|ge}} || {{IPA-is|cɛː|}}||4.24%
|-
|Hh || {{lang|is|há}} || {{IPA-is|hauː|}}||1.87%
|-
|Ii || {{lang|is|i}} || {{IPA-is|ɪː|}}||7.58%
|-
|Íí || {{lang|is|í}} || {{IPA-is|iː|}}||1.57%
|-
|Jj || {{lang|is|joð}} || {{IPA-is|jɔːθ|}}||1.14%
|-
|Kk || {{lang|is|ká}} || {{IPA-is|kʰauː|}}||3.31%
|-
|Ll || {{lang|is|ell}} || {{IPA-is|ɛtːl̥|}}||4.53%
|-
|Mm || {{lang|is|emm}} || {{IPA-is|ɛmː|}}||4.04%
|-
|Nn || {{lang|is|enn}} || {{IPA-is|ɛnː|}}||7.71%
|-
|Oo || {{lang|is|o}} || {{IPA-is|ɔː|}}||2.17%
|-
|Óó || {{lang|is|ó}} || {{IPA-is|ouː|}}||0.99%
|-
|Pp || {{lang|is|pé}} || {{IPA-is|pʰjɛː|}}||0.79%
|-
|Rr || {{lang|is|err}} || {{IPA-is|ɛr̥ː|}}||8.58%
|-
|Ss || {{lang|is|ess}} || {{IPA-is|ɛsː|}}||5.63%
|-
|Tt || {{lang|is|té}} || {{IPA-is|tʰjɛː|}}||4.95%
|-
|Uu || {{lang|is|u}} || {{IPA-is|ʏː|}}||4.56%
|-
|Úú || {{lang|is|ú}} || {{IPA-is|uː|}}||0.61%
|-
|Vv || {{lang|is|vaff}} || {{IPA-is|vafː|}}||2.44%
|-
|Xx || {{lang|is|ex}} || {{IPA-is|ɛks|}}||0.05%
|-
|Yy || {{lang|is|y}} || {{IPA-is|ɪː|}}||0.9%
|-
|Ýý || {{lang|is|ý}} || {{IPA-is|iː|}}||0.23%
|-
|Þþ || {{lang|is|þorn}} || {{IPA-is|θɔrtn̥|}}||1.45%
|-
|Ææ || {{lang|is|æ}} || {{IPA-is|aiː|}}||0.87%
|-
|Öö || {{lang|is|ö}} || {{IPA-is|œː|}}||0.78%
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Obsolete letter
!Letter
!Name
![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
!Frequency
|-
|Zz
|{{lang|is|seta}}
|{{IPA-is|ˈsɛːta|}}
|-
|}

The names of the letters are [[grammatical gender|grammatically]] neuter (except the now obsolete {{vr|z}} which is grammatically feminine).

The letters {{vr|a}}, {{vr|á}}, {{vr|e}}, {{vr|é}}, {{vr|i}}, {{vr|í}}, {{vr|o}}, {{vr|ó}}, {{vr|u}}, {{vr|ú}}, {{vr|y}}, {{vr|ý}}, {{vr|æ}} and {{vr|ö}} are considered [[vowel]]s, and the remainder are [[consonant]]s.

{{vr|c}} ({{lang|is|sé}}, {{IPA-is|sjɛː|}}), {{vr|q}} ({{lang|is|kú}}, {{IPA-is|kʰuː|}}) and {{vr|w}} ({{lang|is|tvöfalt vaff}}, {{IPA-is|ˈtʰvœːfal̥t ˌvafː|}}) are only used in Icelandic in words of foreign origin and some proper names that are also of foreign origin. Otherwise, {{vr|c}}, {{vr|qu}}, and {{vr|w}} are replaced by {{vr|k/s/ts}}, {{vr|hv}}, and {{vr|v}} respectively. (In fact, {{vr|hv}} etymologically corresponds to [[Latin language|Latin]] {{vr|qu}} and English {{vr|wh}} in words inherited from [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]]: Icelandic {{lang|is|hvað}}, Latin {{lang|la|quod}}, English ''what''.)

{{vr|z}} ({{lang|is|seta}}, {{IPA-is|ˈsɛːta|}}) was used until 1973, when it was abolished, as it was only an etymological detail. It originally represented an [[affricate]] {{IPAblink|t͡s}}, which arose from the combinations {{vr|t}}+{{vr|s}}, {{vr|d}}+{{vr|s}}, {{vr|ð}}+{{vr|s}}; however, in modern Icelandic it came to be pronounced {{IPA-is|s|}}, and since it was a letter that was not commonly used, it was decided in 1973 to replace all instances of {{vr|z}} with {{vr|s}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hvers vegna var bókstafurinn z svona mikið notaður á Íslandi en því svo hætt? |url=https://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=192 |trans-title=Why was the letter z used so much in Iceland but then stopped? |first=Guðrún |last=Kvaran |date=2000-03-07 |access-date=2023-05-24 |website=Vísindavefurinn |language=is}}</ref> However, one of the most important newspapers in [[Iceland]], [[Morgunblaðið]], still uses it sometimes (although very rarely), a hot-dog chain, {{lang|is|[[Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur]]}}, and a secondary school, [[The Commercial College of Iceland|Verzlunarskóli Íslands]] have it in their names. It is also found in some proper names (e.g. {{lang|is|Zakarías}}, {{lang|is|Haralz}}, {{lang|is|Zoëga}}), and loanwords such as {{lang|is|pizza}} (also written {{lang|is|pítsa}}). Older people who were educated before the abolition of the {{vr|z}} sometimes also use it.

While {{vr|c}}, {{vr|q}}, {{vr|w}}, and {{vr|z}} are found on the [[Icelandic keyboard]], they are rarely used in Icelandic; they are used in some proper names of Icelanders, mainly family names (family names are the [[Icelandic name|exception]] in Iceland). {{vr|c}} is used on [[road signs in Iceland|road signs]] (to indicate [[city centre]]) according to European regulation, and cm is used for the [[centimetre]] according to the [[International System of Units|international SI system]] (while it may be written out as ''sentimetri''). Many{{who?|date=December 2022}} believe these letters should be included in the alphabet, as its purpose is a tool to [[collate]] (sort into the correct order), and practically that is done, i.e. computers treat the alphabet as a superset of the [[English alphabet]]. The alphabet as taught in schools up to about 1980{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} has these 36 letters (and computers still order this way): a, á, b, c, d, ð, e, é, f, g, h, i, í, j, k, l, m, n, o, ó, p, q, r, s, t, u, ú, v, w, x, y, ý, z, þ, æ, ö.

== History ==
The modern Icelandic alphabet has developed from a standard established in the 19th century, by the Danish linguist [[Rasmus Rask]] primarily. It is ultimately based heavily on an orthographic standard created in the early 12th century by a document referred to as ''[[First Grammatical Treatise|The First Grammatical Treatise]]'', author unknown. The standard was intended for the common [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic language]], [[Old Norse]]. It did not have much influence, however, at the time.

The most defining characteristics of the alphabet were established in the old treatise:

* Use of the [[acute accent]] (originally to signify [[vowel length]]).
* Use of {{vr|þ}}, also used in the [[Old English language|Old English]] alphabet as the letter [[thorn (letter)|thorn]].

The later Rasmus Rask standard was basically a re-enactment of the old treatise, with some changes to fit concurrent [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]] conventions, such as the exclusive use of {{vr|k}} rather than {{vr|c}}. Various old features, like {{vr|ð}}, had actually not seen much use in the later centuries, so Rask's standard constituted a major change in practice.

Later 20th century changes are most notably the adoption of {{vr|é}}, which had previously been written as {{vr|je}} (reflecting the modern pronunciation), and the replacement of {{vr|z}} with {{vr|s}} in 1973.<ref>{{cite web |first=Eiríkur |last=Rögnvaldsson |title=Stafsetning og greinarmerkjasetning |trans-title=Spelling and punctuation |url=https://notendur.hi.is/~eirikur/av/stafsetn.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423013159/https://notendur.hi.is/~eirikur/av/stafsetn.htm |archive-date=2021-04-23 |language=is |quote=2. og 3. grein fjalla um bókstafinn z, brottnám hans úr íslensku, og ýmsar afleiðingar þess. z var numin brott úr íslensku ritmáli með auglýsingu menntamálaráðuneytisins í september 1973 (ekki 1974, eins og oft er haldið fram).}}</ref>

== Function of symbols ==
This section lists [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] letters and letter combinations, and how to pronounce them using a narrow [[International Phonetic Alphabet]] transcription.<ref name="thrainsson">{{cite encyclopedia|first=Höskuldur |last=Þráinsson|title=Icelandic |encyclopedia=The Germanic Languages |date=2002 |editor1-last=König |editor1-first=Ekkehard |editor2-last=van der Auwera |editor2-first=Johan |pages=142–152 |series=Routledge Language Family Descriptions |isbn=0-415-05768-X |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Germanic_Languages/rp0hYcAjlIoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA142 |orig-date=1994}}</ref><ref name="Einarsson 1949">{{cite book|first=Stefán |last=Einarsson |title=Icelandic: Grammar, Texts, Glossary |orig-date=1949 |publisher=Johns Hopkins Press |location=Baltimore |pages=1–25 |isbn=9780801863578 |year=2001}}</ref>

=== Vowels ===
Icelandic vowels may be either long or short, but this distinction is only relevant in stressed syllables: unstressed vowels are neutral in quantitative aspect. The vowel length is determined by the consonants that follow the vowel: if there is only one consonant before another vowel or at the end of a word (i.e., '''CV'''CV or '''CVC'''# syllable structure), the vowel is long; if there are more than one ('''CVC'''CV), counting geminates and pre-aspirated stops as CC, the vowel is short. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule:

# A vowel is long when the first consonant following it is {{IPA-is|p t k s|}} and the second {{IPA-is|v j r|}}, e.g. {{lang|is|esja}}, {{lang|is|vepja}}, {{lang|is|akrar}}, {{lang|is|vökvar}}, {{lang|is|tvisvar}}.
# A vowel is also long in monosyllabic substantives with a genitive {{lang|is|-s}} whose stem ends in a single {{IPA-is|p t k|}} following a vowel (e.g. {{lang|is|ráps}}, {{lang|is|skaks}}), except if the final {{IPA-is|p t k|}} is assimilated into the {{IPA-is|s|}}, e.g. ''báts''.
# The first word of a compound term preserves its long vowel if its following consonant is one of the group {{IPA-is|p t k s|}}, e.g. {{lang|is|matmál}}.
# The non-compound verbs {{lang|is|vitkast}} and {{lang|is|litka}} have long vowels.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Vowels
|-
! rowspan="2" | Grapheme
! colspan="4" | Sound ([[Help:IPA|IPA]])
! rowspan="2" | Examples
|-
! Long
! Short
! Before<br>{{vr|gi}} {{IPA-is|jɪ|}}<ref name="ipv">{{cite web |title=A Short Overview of the Icelandic Sound System Pronunciation Variants and Phonetic Transcription: IPA Version |year=2020 |first=Eiríkur |last=Rögnvaldsson |url=https://notendur.hi.is/eirikur/ipv.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314122609/https://notendur.hi.is/eirikur/ipv.pdf |archive-date=2022-03-14}}</ref>
! Before<br>{{vr|ng}} or {{vr|nk}}
|-
! a
| {{IPA-is|aː|}}
| {{IPA-is|a|}}
| {{IPA-is|ai|}}
| {{IPA-is|au|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|taska}} {{IPA-is|ˈtʰaska||Is-taska.oga}} "handbag"<br>{{lang|is|kaka}} {{IPA-is|ˈkʰaːka||Is-kaka.oga}} "cake"<br>{{lang|is|svangur}} {{IPA-is|ˈsvauŋkʏr̥|}} "hungry"
|-
! á
| {{IPA-is|auː|}}
| colspan="3" | {{IPA-is|au|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|fár}} {{IPA-is|fauːr̥||Is-fár.oga}} "disaster"
|-
! au
| {{IPA-is|œyː|}}
| colspan="3" | {{IPA-is|œy|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|þau}} {{IPA-is|θœyː||Is-Þau.oga}} "they"
|-
! e
| {{IPA-is|ɛː|}}
| {{IPA-is|ɛ|}}
| colspan="2" | {{IPA-is|ei|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|skera}} {{IPA-is|ˈscɛːra|}} "to cut"<br>{{lang|is|drekka}} {{IPA-is|ˈtrɛʰka||Is-drekka.oga}} "to drink"<br>{{lang|is|drengur}} {{IPA-is|ˈtreiŋkʏr̥|}} "boy"
|-
! é
| {{IPA-is|jɛː|}}
| colspan="3" | {{IPA-is|jɛ|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|ég}} {{IPA-is|jɛːx||Is-ég.oga}} "I"
|-
! ei, ey
| {{IPA-is|eiː|}}
| colspan="3" | {{IPA-is|ei|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|skeið}} {{IPA-is|sceiːθ||Is-skeið.oga}} "spoon"<br>{{lang|is|hey}} {{IPA-is|heiː|}} "hay"
|-
! i, y
| {{IPA-is|ɪː|}}
| {{IPA-is|ɪ|}}
| colspan="2" | {{IPA-is|i|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|sin}} {{IPA-is|sɪːn||Is-sin.oga}} "sinew"<br>{{lang|is|syngja}} {{IPA-is|ˈsiɲca|}} "to sing"
|-
! í, ý
| {{IPA-is|iː|}}
| colspan="3" | {{IPA-is|i|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|íslenska}} {{IPA-is|ˈistlɛnska||Is-Íslenska.oga}} "Icelandic"
|-
! o
| {{IPA-is|ɔː|}}
| {{IPA-is|ɔ|}}
| {{IPA-is|ɔi|}}
| {{IPA-is|ou|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|lofa}} {{IPA-is|ˈlɔːva||Is-lofa.oga}} "to promise"<br>{{lang|is|dolla}} {{IPA-is|ˈtɔtla|}} "pot"
|-
! ó
| {{IPA-is|ouː|}}
| colspan="3" | {{IPA-is|ou|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|rós}} {{IPA-is|rouːs||Is-rós.oga}} "rose"
|-
! u
| {{IPA-is|ʏː|}}
| {{IPA-is|ʏ|}}
| {{IPA-is|ʏi|}}
| {{IPA-is|u|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|hundur}} {{IPA-is|ˈhʏntʏr̥||Is-hundur.oga}} "dog"<br>{{lang|is|munkur}} {{IPA-is|ˈmuŋ̊kʏr̥|}} "monk"
|-
! ú
| {{IPA-is|uː|}}
| colspan="3" | {{IPA-is|u|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|þú}} {{IPA-is|θuː||Is-Þú.oga}} "you"
|-
! æ
| {{IPA-is|aiː|}}
| colspan="3" | {{IPA-is|ai|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|læsa}} {{IPA-is|ˈlaiːsa||Is-Læsa.ogg}} "lock"
|-
! ö
| {{IPA-is|œː|}}
| {{IPA-is|œ|}}
| colspan="2" | {{IPA-is|œy|}}
| style="text-align: left;" | {{lang|is|ör}} {{IPA-is|œːr||Is-ör.oga}} "scar"<br>{{lang|is|hnöttur}} {{IPA-is|ˈn̥œʰtʏr̥|}} "globe"<br>{{lang|is|öngull}} {{IPA-is|ˈœyŋkʏtl̥|}} "hook"
|}

=== Consonants ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Consonants
|-
! Grapheme
! Phonetic realization ([[Help:IPA|IPA]])
! Examples
|-
! rowspan="2" |b
| between {{vr|m}} and {{vr|d, t, s, g}}:
: {{IPA|∅}}
| {{lang|is|kembt}} {{IPA-is|cʰɛm̥t|}} "combed [past participle]"
|-
| in most cases:
: {{IPA-is|p|}} unaspirated [[voiceless bilabial stop]]
| {{lang|is|bær}} {{IPA-is|paiːr̥||Is-Bær.ogg}} "town"
|-
! rowspan="2" |d
| between {{vr|l}} or {{vr|n}} and {{vr|g, n, l, k, s}}:
: {{IPA|∅}}
| {{lang|is|lands}} {{IPA-is|lans|}} "land's [genitive]"
|-
| in most cases:
: {{IPA-is|t|}} unaspirated [[voiceless dental stop]]
| {{lang|is|dalur}} {{IPA-is|ˈtaːlʏr̥||Is-dalur.oga}} "valley"
|-
! rowspan="3" | ð
| between vowels, between a vowel and a voiced consonant, word finally:
: {{IPA-is|ð̠|}} [[Voiced alveolar fricative#voiced alveolar non-sibilant fricative|voiced alveolar non-sibilant fricative]]
| {{lang|is|eða}} {{IPA-is|ˈɛːða||Is-eða.oga}} "or"<br>{{lang|is|bað}} {{IPA-is|paːð||Is-bað.ogg}} "bath"
|-
| before a [[voiceless consonant]] and before a pause:
: {{IPA-is|θ̠|}} [[Voiceless alveolar fricative#Voiceless alveolar non-sibilant fricative|voiceless alveolar non-sibilant fricative]]
| {{lang|is|maðkur}} {{IPA-is|ˈmaθkʏr̥||Is-maðkur.oga}} "worm"
|-
| between {{vr|r}} and {{vr|n}}, and between {{vr|g}} and {{vr|s}}:
: {{IPA|∅}}
| {{lang|is|harðna}} {{IPA-is|ˈhartna|}} "to harden"<br>{{lang|is|bragðs}} {{IPA-is|praxs|}} "trick's [genitive], flavour's [genitive]"
|-
! rowspan="4" | f
| word initially or before a voiceless consonant, and when doubled:
: {{IPA-is|f|}}
| {{lang|is|fundur}} {{IPA-is|ˈfʏntʏr̥|}} "meeting"<br>{{lang|is|haft}} {{IPA-is|haft|}} "had [past participle]"
|-
| between vowels, between a vowel and a voiced consonant, or word finally:
: {{IPA-is|v|}}
| {{lang|is|lofa}} {{IPA-is|ˈlɔːva||Is-lofa.oga}} "to promise"<br>{{lang|is|horfa}} {{IPA-is|ˈhɔrva|}} "look"
|-
| between {{vr|ó}} and a vowel:
: {{IPA|∅}}
| {{lang|is|prófa}} {{IPA-is|ˈpʰr̥ou.a||is-prófa.ogg}} "test"<br>{{lang|is|gulrófa}} {{IPA-is|ˈkʏlˌrou.a||is-gulrófa.ogg}} "rutabaga"
|-
| before {{vr|l}} or {{vr|n}}:
: {{IPA-is|p|}}
| {{lang|is|Keflavík}} {{IPA-is|ˈcʰɛplaˌviːk||is-keflavík.ogg}} "[[Keflavík]]"
|-
! fnd
| {{IPA-is|mt|}}
| {{lang|is|hefnd}} {{IPA-is|hɛmt||is-hefnd.ogg}} "revenge"
|-
! fnt
| {{IPA-is|m̥t|}} (voiceless)
| {{lang|is|nefnt}} {{IPA-is|nɛm̥t||Is-nefnt.oga}} "named"
|-
! rowspan="6" | g
| word finally, before a consonant or {{vr|a}}, {{vr|á}}, {{vr|é}}, {{vr|o}}, {{vr|ó}}, {{vr|u}}, {{vr|ú}} or {{vr|ö}}; or between vowel and {{vr|l}} or {{vr|n}}:
: {{IPA-is|k|}} unaspirated [[voiceless velar stop]]
| {{lang|is|glápa}} {{IPA-is|ˈklauːpa||Is-glápa.oga}} "to stare"<br>{{lang|is|logn}} {{IPA-is|lɔkn̥||Is-logn.ogg}} "windstill"
|-
| word initially, before {{vr|e}}, {{vr|i}}, {{vr|í}}, {{vr|j}}, {{vr|y}}, {{vr|ý}}, {{vr|æ}}, {{vr|ei}} or {{vr|ey}}:
: {{IPA-is|c|}} unaspirated [[voiceless palatal stop]]
| {{lang|is|geta}} {{IPA-is|ˈcɛːta||Is-geta.oga}} "to be able"
|-
| between a vowel and {{vr|a, u, ð, l, r}}; or word finally:
: {{IPA-is|ɣ|}} [[voiced velar fricative]]
| {{lang|is|fluga}} {{IPA-is|ˈflʏːɣa||Is-fluga.oga}} "fly"<br>{{lang|is|lag}} {{IPA-is|laːɣ||Is-lag.oga}} "layer"
|-
| before {{vr|t}} or {{vr|s}} or before a pause:
: {{IPA-is|x|}} [[voiceless velar fricative]]
| {{lang|is|dragt}} {{IPA-is|traxt|}} "suit"
|-
| between a vowel and {{vr|j}} or {{vr|i}}:
: {{IPA-is|j|}} [[palatal approximant]]
| {{lang|is|segja}} {{IPA-is|ˈsɛjːa|}} "to say"
|-
| between {{vr|á, ó, ú}}, and {{vr|a, o, u}}:
: {{IPA|∅}}
| {{lang|is|fljúga}} {{IPA-is|ˈfljuː.a|}} "to fly"
|-
! gj
| {{IPA-is|c|}} unaspirated voiceless palatal stop
| {{lang|is|gjalda}} {{IPA-is|ˈcalta|}} "to pay"
|-
! h
| {{IPA-is|h|}} [[voiceless glottal fricative]]
| {{lang|is|hár}} {{IPA-is|hauːr̥|}} "hair"
|-
! hj
| {{IPA-is|ç|}} [[voiceless palatal fricative]]
| {{lang|is|hjá}} {{IPA-is|çauː|}} "next to"
|-
! hl
| {{IPA-is|l̥|}} voiceless [[alveolar lateral approximant]]
| {{lang|is|hlýr}} {{IPA-is|l̥iːr̥|}} "warm"
|-
! hn
| {{IPA-is|n̥|}} [[voiceless alveolar nasal]]
| {{lang|is|hné}} {{IPA-is|n̥jɛː|}} "knee"
|-
! hr
| {{IPA-is|r̥|}} [[voiceless alveolar trill]]
| {{lang|is|hratt}} {{IPA-is|r̥aʰt|}} "fast"
|-
! hv
| {{IPA-is|kʰv|}} ({{IPA-is|xv|}} among some older speakers in southern Iceland)
| {{lang|is|hvað}} {{IPA-is|kʰvaːθ||Is-hvað.oga}} "what"
|-
! j
| {{IPA-is|j|}}
| {{lang|is|já}} {{IPA-is|jauː|}} "yes"
|-
! rowspan="6" | k
| word initially, before a consonant or {{vr|a}}, {{vr|á}}, {{vr|é}}, {{vr|o}}, {{vr|ó}}, {{vr|u}}, {{vr|ú}} or {{vr|ö}}:
: {{IPA-is|kʰ|}}
| {{lang|is|kaka}} {{IPA-is|ˈkʰaːka||Is-kaka.oga}} "cake"
|-
| word initially, before {{vr|e}}, {{vr|i}}, {{vr|í}}, {{vr|y}}, {{vr|ý}}, {{vr|æ}}, {{vr|ei}} or {{vr|ey}}:
: {{IPA-is|cʰ|}} aspirated voiceless palatal stop
| {{lang|is|keyra}} {{IPA-is|ˈcʰeiːra|}} "to drive"
|-
| other contexts, before {{vr|a}}, {{vr|á}}, {{vr|é}}, {{vr|o}}, {{vr|ó}}, {{vr|u}}, {{vr|ú}} or {{vr|ö}}:
: {{IPA-is|k|}}
| {{lang|is|skarfur}} {{IPA-is|ˈskarvʏr̥|}} "cormorant"<br>{{lang|is|haka}} {{IPA-is|ˈhaːka|}} "chin"
|-
| other contexts, before {{vr|e}}, {{vr|i}}, {{vr|í}}, {{vr|y}}, {{vr|ý}}, {{vr|æ}}, {{vr|ei}} or {{vr|ey}}:
: {{IPA-is|c|}} unaspirated [[voiceless palatal stop]]
| {{lang|is|skip}} {{IPA-is|ˈscɪːp|}} "boat"<br>{{lang|is|hroki}} {{IPA-is|ˈr̥ɔːcɪ|}} "arrogance"
|-
| before {{vr|l, m, n}}:
: {{IPA-is|ʰk|}}
| {{lang|is|miklir}} {{IPA-is|mɪʰklɪr̥|}} "great (pl.)"<br>{{lang|is|vakna}} {{IPA-is|vaʰkna|}} "wake up"
|-
| before {{vr|t}}:
: {{IPA-is|x|}} [[voiceless velar fricative]]
| {{lang|is|október}} {{IPA-is|ˈɔxtouːpɛr̥|}} "October"
|-
! rowspan="2" | kj
| word initially:
: {{IPA-is|cʰ|}} aspirated [[voiceless palatal stop]]
| {{lang|is|kjöt}} {{IPA-is|cʰœːt|}} "meat"
|-
| other contexts:
: {{IPA-is|c|}} unaspirated voiceless palatal stop
| {{lang|is|þykja}} {{IPA-is|ˈθɪːca|}} "to regard"
|-
! kk
| {{IPA-is|ʰk|}}, {{IPA-is|ʰc|}}
| {{lang|is|þakka}} {{IPA-is|ˈθaʰka||is-þakka.ogg}} "to thank"<br>{{lang|is|ekki}} {{IPA-is|ˈɛʰcɪ|}} "not"
|-
! rowspan="2" |l
| word finally, or next to a voiceless consonant:
: {{IPA-is|l̥|}} voiceless [[alveolar lateral approximant]]
| {{lang|is|sól}} {{IPA-is|souːl̥||Is-sól.oga}} "sun"<br>{{lang|is|stúlka}} {{IPA-is|ˈstul̥ka|}} "girl"
|-
| in most cases:
: {{IPA-is|l|}}
| {{lang|is|lás}} {{IPA-is|lauːs||Is-Lás.ogg}} "lock"
|-
! rowspan="2" |ll
| in loan words and pet names:
: {{IPA-is|lː|}}
| {{lang|is|bolla}} {{IPA-is|ˈpɔlːa||Is-bolla.oga}} "bun, bread roll"<br>{{lang|is|mylla}} {{IPA-is|ˈmɪlːa||Is-mylla.oga}} "mill"
|-
| in most cases:
: {{IPA-is|tl|}}
| {{lang|is|bolli}} {{IPA-is|ˈpɔtlɪ||Is-bolli.oga}} "cup"<br>{{lang|is|milli}} {{IPA-is|ˈmɪtlɪ||Is-milli.oga}} "between"
|-
! rowspan="2" |m
| after and before voiceless consonants:
: {{IPA-is|m̥|}}
| {{lang|is|lampi}} {{IPA-is|ˈlam̥pɪ|}} "lamp"
|-
| in most cases:
: {{IPA-is|m|}}
| {{lang|is|mamma}} {{IPA-is|ˈmamːa|}} "mum"
|-
! rowspan="2" |n
| after and before voiceless consonants:
: {{IPA-is|n̥|}}
| {{lang|is|planta}} {{IPA-is|ˈpʰlan̥ta|}} "plant"<br>{{lang|is|hnífur}} {{IPA-is|ˈn̥iːvʏr|}} "knife"
|-
| in most cases:
: {{IPA-is|n|}}
| {{lang|is|nafn}} {{IPA-is|napn̥|}} "name"
|-
! rowspan="2" |ng
| before {{vr|d, l, s}}:
: {{IPA-is|ŋ|}}
| {{lang|is|kringla}} {{IPA-is|ˈkʰriŋla|}} "disc"<br>{{lang|is|gangs}} {{IPA-is|ˈkauŋs|}} "movement's [genitive]"
|-
| in most cases:
: {{IPA-is|ŋk|}}, {{IPA-is|ɲc|}}
| {{lang|is|vængur}} {{IPA-is|ˈvaiŋkʏr̥|}} "wing"<br>{{lang|is|engi}} {{IPA-is|ˈeiɲcɪ|}} "meadow"
|-
! nk
| {{IPA-is|ŋ̊k|}}, {{IPA-is|ɲ̊c|}}
| {{lang|is|hönk}} {{IPA-is|ˈhœyŋ̊k|}} "coil, loop"<br>{{lang|is|banki}} {{IPA-is|ˈpauɲ̊cɪ|}} "bank"
|-
! rowspan="2" | nn
| after accented vowels or diphthongs:
: {{IPA-is|tn̥|}}
| {{lang|is|steinn}} {{IPA-is|steitn̥|}} "rock"<br> {{lang|is|fínn}} {{IPA-is|fitn̥|}} "fine"
|-
| elsewhere:
: {{IPA-is|nː|}}
| {{lang|is|finna}} {{IPA-is|ˈfɪnːa|}} "to find"
|-
! rowspan="4" | p
| word initially:
: {{IPA-is|pʰ|}} aspirated [[voiceless bilabial stop]]
| {{lang|is|par}} {{IPA-is|pʰaːr̥||Is-par.oga}} "pair"
|-
| other contexts:
: {{IPA-is|p|}} unaspirated voiceless bilabial stop
| {{lang|is|spara}} {{IPA-is|ˈspaːra||Is-spara.oga}} "to save"<br>{{lang|is|kápa}} {{IPA-is|ˈkʰauːpa|}} "coat"
|-
| before {{vr|s, k, t}}:
: {{IPA-is|f|}} [[voiceless labiodental fricative]]
| {{lang|is|September}} {{IPA-is|ˈsɛftɛmpɛr̥|}} "September"<br>{{lang|is|skips}} {{IPA-is|scɪfs|}} "ship's [genitive]"
|-
| before {{vr|l, m, n}}:
: {{IPA-is|ʰp|}}
| {{lang|is|epli}} {{IPA-is|ɛʰplɪ|}} "apple(s)"<br>{{lang|is|vopn}} {{IPA-is|vɔʰpn̥|}} "weapon(s)"
|-
! pp
| {{IPA-is|ʰp|}}
| {{lang|is|stoppa}} {{IPA-is|ˈstɔʰpa||is-stoppa.ogg}} "to stop"
|-
! rowspan="2" | r
| word initially and between vowels:
: {{IPA-is|r|}} (voiced alveolar trill or tap)
| {{lang|is|rigna}} {{IPA-is|ˈrɪkna|}} "to rain"<br>{{lang|is|læra}} {{IPA-is|ˈlaiːra|}} "to learn"
|-
| before and after voiceless consonants and before a pause:
: {{IPA-is|r̥|}} (voiceless [[Alveolar Trill|alveolar trill]] or [[Alveolar tap|tap]])
| {{lang|is|svartur}} {{IPA-is|ˈsvar̥tʏr̥|}} "black"
|-
! rl
| {{IPA-is|tl̥|}}, occasionally {{IPA-is|rtl̥|}}{{refn|group=note|name=rl|The pronunciation change rl→{{IPA-is|tl̥|}} and rn→{{IPA-is|tn̥|}} occurred in the 14th century, pronouncing them as {{IPA-is|rtl̥|}} and {{IPA-is|rtn̥|}} is a more recent development that may have been influenced by the orthography.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ait.arnastofnun.is/grein.php?id=703 |title=Íslensk málsaga |trans-title=Icelandic language history |lang=is |first=Vesturliði |last=Óskarsson |date=2001 |website=Málsgreinar |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302040825/http://ait.arnastofnun.is/grein.php?id=703 |archive-date=2023-03-02}}</ref>}}
| {{lang|is|karlmaður}} {{IPA-is|ˈkʰatl̥ˌmaːðʏr̥|}} "man"
|-
! rowspan="2" | rn
| {{IPA-is|tn̥|}}, occasionally {{IPA-is|rtn̥|}}{{refn|group=note|name=rl}}
| {{lang|is|þorn}} {{IPA-is|θɔtn̥|}} "the name of the letter Þ"
|-
| before {{vr|d}}:
: {{IPA-is|rn|}}
| {{lang|is|vernd}} {{IPA-is|vɛrnt|}} "protection"
|-
! s
| {{IPA-is|s|}}
| {{lang|is|sósa}} {{IPA-is|ˈsouːsa|}} "sauce"
|-
! sl
| {{IPA-is|stl̥|}}
| {{lang|is|rusl}} {{IPA-is|rʏstl̥|}} "garbage"
|-
! sn
| {{IPA-is|stn̥|}}
| {{lang|is|býsna}} {{IPA-is|ˈpistn̥a|}} "extremes"
|-
! rowspan="3" | t
| word initially:
: {{IPA-is|tʰ|}} aspirated [[voiceless dental stop]]
| {{lang|is|taka}} {{IPA-is|ˈtʰaːka||Is-taka.oga}} "take"
|-
| before {{vr|l, m, n}}:
: {{IPA-is|ʰt|}}
| {{lang|is|Atli}} {{IPA-is|aʰtlɪ|}} "Attila"<br>{{lang|is|rytmi}} {{IPA-is|rɪʰtmɪ|}} "rhythm"<br>{{lang|is|vatn}} {{IPA-is|vaʰtn̥|}} "water"
|-
| elsewhere:
: {{IPA-is|t|}} unaspirated voiceless dental stop
| {{lang|is|stela}} {{IPA-is|ˈstɛːla||Is-stela.oga}} "to steal"<br>{{lang|is|skutur}} {{IPA-is|ˈskʏːtʏr̥|}} "stern"
|-
! tt
| {{IPA-is|ʰt|}}
| {{lang|is|detta}} {{IPA-is|ˈtɛʰta|}} "to fall"
|-
! v
| {{IPA-is|v|}}
| {{lang|is|vera}} {{IPA-is|ˈvɛːra|}} "to be"
|-
! x
| {{IPA-is|ks|}}
| {{lang|is|lax}} {{IPA-is|laks|}} "salmon"
|-
! z
| {{IPA-is|s|}}
| {{lang|is|beztur}} {{IPA-is|ˈpɛstʏr̥|}} "the best" (former orthography)<br>{{lang|is|Zakarías}} {{IPA-is|ˈsaːkʰariːas|}} "Zachary"
|-
! þ
| {{IPA-is|θ̠|}} [[Voiceless alveolar fricative#Voiceless alveolar non-sibilant fricative|voiceless alveolar non-sibilant fricative]]
| {{lang|is|þú}} {{IPA-is|θuː|}} "you"<br>{{lang|is|Aþena}} {{IPA-is|ˈaːθɛna||is-aþena.ogg}} "Athens"
|}

== Code pages ==
Besides the alphabet being part of [[Unicode]], which is much used in Iceland, [[ISO 8859-1]] has historically been the most used code page and then [[Windows-1252]] that also supports Icelandic and extends it with e.g. the [[euro sign]]. [[ISO 8859-15]] also extends it, but with the euro in a different place.

== See also ==
* [[Icelandic Encyclopedia A–Ö]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{cite web |url=https://www.hi.is/~eirikur/ptg_ice.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824015726/https://notendur.hi.is/eirikur/ptg_ice.pdf |archive-date=2022-08-24 |title=Phonetic Transcription Guideline: Icelandic}}

{{Icelandic language}}
{{Language orthographies}}

[[Category:Indo-European Latin-script orthographies]]
[[Category:Collation]]
[[Category:Icelandic language]]