The language of the Faroe Islands: what is spoken and useful phrases
In the Faroe Islands people speak Faroese, a Nordic language related to Icelandic. Danish and English are also understood. Useful phrases with pronunciation.
The official language of the Faroe Islands is Faroese (føroyskt), a Nordic language descended from the Old Norse brought by the Vikings more than a thousand years ago. It is the mother tongue of around 90% of the population.
Faroese, Danish and English
- Faroese: the everyday language, used in school, parliament and church.
- Danish: the second official language, learnt in every school.
- English: taught from primary school and spoken by almost everyone. As a traveller, you will get by in English without any trouble.
Faroese is related to Icelandic, Norwegian, Danish and Swedish. Its grammar is very similar to Icelandic and its pronunciation to Norwegian.
A language that was written down only recently
For centuries Faroese was spoken but hardly ever written. In 1846 the pastor Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb created the written standard used today. Until 1938 school and church worked mainly in Danish; that year the two languages were given equal status, and since 1948 Faroese has been the main language of the islands.
Letters you will see on maps
The Faroese alphabet uses the Latin letters plus ð, æ, ø and the accented vowels á, í, ó, ú, ý. Pronunciation is very different from spelling, so do not trust how a village name looks. The stress almost always falls on the first syllable.
Useful phrases in Faroese
| Faroese | Approximate pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hey | hey | Hi (informal) |
| Halló | ha-LOH | Hello (more formal) |
| Góðan dag | GOH-an dea | Good day |
| Góðan morgun | GOH-an MOR-gun | Good morning |
| Takk (fyri) | tak (FEE-ri) | Thank you |
| Onki at takka fyri | ON-chi at TA-ka FEE-ri | You are welcome |
| Ja / Nei | yah / nigh | Yes / No |
| Orsaka | OR-sha-ka | Sorry, excuse me |
| Eg eiti… | eh EYE-ti… | My name is… |
| Farvæl | far-VEAL | Goodbye |
| Skál | skwoal | Cheers (when toasting) |
The pronunciations are an approximation for English speakers. To look up individual words, the free Sprotin dictionary translates to and from Faroese.
Frequently asked questions
Is English spoken in the Faroe Islands?
Yes. English is taught from primary school and almost everyone speaks it. Menus, signs and tourist information are usually in English too.
Is Faroese the same as Danish?
No. They share Nordic roots, but they are different languages. Faroese is closer to Icelandic in its grammar and to Norwegian in its pronunciation.
How do you say thank you in Faroese?
Takk, or takk fyri. It is pronounced roughly "tak FEE-ri".