This is a Swadesh list of words in Icelandic, compared with definitions in English.
American linguist Morris Swadesh believed that languages changed at measurable rates and that these could be determined even for languages without written precursors. Using vocabulary lists, he sought to understand not only change over time but also the relationships of extant languages. To be able to compare languages from different cultures, he based his lists on meanings he presumed would be available in as many cultures as possible. He then used the fraction of agreeing cognates between any two related languages to compute their divergence time by some (still debated) algorithms. Starting in 1950 with 165 meanings, his list grew to 215 in 1952, which was so expansive that many languages lacked native vocabulary for some terms. Subsequently, it was reduced to 207, and reduced much further to 100 meanings in 1955. A reformulated list was published posthumously in 1971.
| No. | English | Icelandic íslenska |
IPA pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | ég | /jɛɣ/ |
| 2 | you (singular) | þú, þér (formal) | /θu/, /θjɛr/ |
| 3 | he | hann | /hanː/ |
| 4 | we | við | /vɪð/ |
| 5 | you (plural) | þið | /θɪð/ |
| 6 | they | þeir | /θeir/ |
| 7 | this | þessi, þetta | /ˈθɛsːɪ/, /ˈθɛhta/ |
| 8 | that | hinn, hin, hitt, þetta | /hɪnː/, /hɪn/, /hɪht/, /ˈθɛhta/ |
| 9 | here | hér | /çɛr/ |
| 10 | there | þar, þarna | /θar/, /ˈθartna/ |
| 11 | who | hver | /kʰvɛr/ |
| 12 | what | hvað | /kʰvað/ |
| 13 | where | hvar (no movement) | /kʰvar/ |
| 14 | when | hvenær | /ˈkʰvɛnair/ |
| 15 | how | hvernig | /ˈkʰvɛrtnɪɣ/ |
| 16 | not | ekki | /ˈɛhcɪ/ |
| 17 | all | allur | /ˈatlʏr/ |
| 18 | many | margur | /ˈmarkʏr/ |
| 19 | some | nokkuð | /ˈnɔhkʏð/ |
| 20 | few | fár | /fauːr/ |
| 21 | other | annar | /ˈanːar/ |
| 22 | one | einn | /eitn/ |
| 23 | two | tveir | /tʰveiːr/ |
| 24 | three | þrír | /θriːr/ |
| 25 | four | fjórir | /ˈfjouːrɪr/ |
| 26 | five | fimm | /fɪmː/ |
| 27 | big | stór | /stour/ |
| 28 | long | langur | /ˈlauŋkʏr/ |
| 29 | wide | breiður | /ˈpreiðʏr/ |
| 30 | thick | þykkur | /ˈθɪhkʏr/ |
| 31 | heavy | þungur | /ˈθuŋkʏr/ |
| 32 | small | lítill | /ˈlitɪtl/ |
| 33 | short | stuttur | /ˈstʏhtʏr/ |
| 34 | narrow | mjór | /mjour/ |
| 35 | thin | þunnur | /ˈθʏnːʏr/ |
| 36 | woman | kona | /ˈkʰɔna/ |
| 37 | man (male) | karl | /kʰartl/ |
| 38 | man (human) | maður | /ˈmaðʏr/ |
| 39 | child | barn | /partn/ |
| 40 | wife | eiginkona | /ˈeijɪn.kʰɔna/ |
| 41 | husband | eiginmaður | /ˈeijɪn.maðʏr/ |
| 42 | mother | móðir, mamma | /ˈmouðɪr/, /ˈmamːa/ |
| 43 | father | faðir, pabbi | /ˈfaðɪr/, /ˈpʰapːɪ/ |
| 44 | animal | dýr | /tir/ |
| 45 | fish | fiskur | /ˈfɪskʏr/ |
| 46 | bird | fugl | /fʏkl/ |
| 47 | dog | hundur | /ˈhʏntʏr/ |
| 48 | louse | lús | /lus/ |
| 49 | snake | slanga, snákur | /ˈstlauŋka/, /ˈsnaukʏr/ |
| 50 | worm | ormur | /ˈɔrmʏr/ |
| 51 | tree | tré | /trjɛ/ |
| 52 | forest | skógur | /ˈskouʏr/ |
| 53 | stick | stafur, prik | /ˈstavʏr/, /pʰrɪk/ |
| 54 | fruit | ávöxtur | /ˈauvœxstʏr/ |
| 55 | seed | fræ | /frai/ |
| 56 | leaf | laufblað | /ˈløyf.plað/ |
| 57 | root | rót | /rout/ |
| 58 | bark (of a tree) | börkur | /ˈpœrkʏr/ |
| 59 | flower | blóm | /ploum/ |
| 60 | grass | gras | /kras/ |
| 61 | rope | reipi | /ˈreipɪ/ |
| 62 | skin | húð | /huð/ |
| 63 | meat | kjöt | /cʰœt/ |
| 64 | blood | blóð | /plouð/ |
| 65 | bone | bein | /pein/ |
| 66 | fat (noun) | fita | /ˈfɪta/ |
| 67 | egg | egg | /ɛkː/ |
| 68 | horn | horn | /hɔrtn/ |
| 69 | tail | hali, rófa, skott (of mammals); tagl (of horses); stél (of birds), sporður (of fish, seals, etc.) | /ˈhalɪ/, /ˈrouva/, /skɔht/, /tʰakl/, /stjɛl/, /ˈspɔrðʏr/ |
| 70 | feather | fjöður | /ˈfjœðʏr/ |
| 71 | hair | hár | /haur/ |
| 72 | head | höfuð | /ˈhœvʏð/ |
| 73 | ear | eyra | /ˈeira/ |
| 74 | eye | auga | /ˈøyɣa/ |
| 75 | nose | nef | /nɛv/ |
| 76 | mouth | munnur | /ˈmʏnːʏr/ |
| 77 | tooth | tönn | /tʰœnː/ |
| 78 | tongue | tunga | /ˈtʰuŋka/ |
| 79 | fingernail | nögl | /nœkl/ |
| 80 | foot | fótur | /ˈfoutʏr/ |
| 81 | leg | leggur, fótleggur | /ˈlɛkːʏr/, /ˈfout.lɛkːʏr/ |
| 82 | knee | hné | /hnjɛ/ |
| 83 | hand | hönd | /hœnt/ |
| 84 | wing | vængur | /ˈvaiŋkʏr/ |
| 85 | belly | magi | /ˈmajɪ/ |
| 86 | guts | innyfli | /ˈɪnːɪplɪ/ |
| 87 | neck | háls | /hauls/ |
| 88 | back | bak | /pak/ |
| 89 | breast | brjóst | /prjoust/ |
| 90 | heart | hjarta | /ˈhjarta/ |
| 91 | liver | lifur | /ˈlɪvʏr/ |
| 92 | to drink | drekka | /ˈtrɛhka/ |
| 93 | to eat | borða | /ˈpɔrða/ |
| 94 | to bite | bíta | /ˈpita/ |
| 95 | to suck | sjúga | /ˈsjua/ |
| 96 | to spit | skyrpa | /ˈscɪrpa/ |
| 97 | to vomit | æla, kasta upp, spúa, spýja | /ˈaila/, /ˈkʰasta ˌʏhp/, /ˈspua/, /ˈspija/ |
| 98 | to blow | blása | /ˈplausa/ |
| 99 | to breathe | anda | /ˈanta/ |
| 100 | to laugh | hlæja | /ˈhlaija/ |
| 101 | to see | sjá | /sjau/ |
| 102 | to hear | heyra | /ˈheira/ |
| 103 | to know | vita | /ˈvɪta/ |
| 104 | to think | hugsa, þenkja | /ˈhʏxsa/, /ˈθeinca/ |
| 105 | to smell | lykta, þefa | /ˈlɪxta/, /ˈθɛva/ |
| 106 | to fear | óttast, ugga | /ˈouhtast/, /ˈʏkːa/ |
| 107 | to sleep | sofa | /ˈsɔva/ |
| 108 | to live | lifa | /ˈlɪva/ |
| 109 | to die | deyja | /ˈteija/ |
| 110 | to kill | drepa | /ˈtrɛpa/ |
| 111 | to fight | rífast, slást, berjast | /ˈrivast/, /slaust/, /ˈpɛrjast/ |
| 112 | to hunt | veiða | /ˈveiða/ |
| 113 | to hit | berja, slá | /ˈpɛrja/, /stlau/ |
| 114 | to cut | skera, rista | /ˈscɛra/, /ˈrɪsta/ |
| 115 | to split | kljúfa (transitive); klofna (intransitive) | /kʰlɔpna/, /ˈkʰljuva/ |
| 116 | to stab | stinga | /ˈstiŋka/ |
| 117 | to scratch | klóra, rispa | /ˈkʰloura/, /ˈrɪspa/ |
| 118 | to dig | grafa | /ˈkrava/ |
| 119 | to swim | synda | /ˈsɪnta/ |
| 120 | to fly | fljúga | /ˈfljua/ |
| 121 | to walk | ganga | /ˈkauŋka/ |
| 122 | to come | koma | /ˈkʰɔma/ |
| 123 | to lie (as in a bed) | liggja | /ˈlɪcːa/ |
| 124 | to sit | sitja | /ˈsɪtja/ |
| 125 | to stand | standa | /ˈstanta/ |
| 126 | to turn (intransitive) | snúa | /ˈstnua/ |
| 127 | to fall | detta, hrapa | /ˈtɛhta/, /ˈhrapa/ |
| 128 | to give | gefa | /ˈcɛva/ |
| 129 | to hold | halda | /ˈhalta/ |
| 130 | to squeeze | kreista, þrýsta | /ˈkʰreista/, /ˈθrista/ |
| 131 | to rub | nudda, núa | /ˈnʏtːa/, /ˈnua/ |
| 132 | to wash | þvo | /θvɔ/ |
| 133 | to wipe | þurrka | /ˈθʏrka/ |
| 134 | to pull | toga | /ˈtʰɔɣa/ |
| 135 | to push | ýta | /ˈita/ |
| 136 | to throw | kasta, henda | /ˈkʰasta/, /ˈhɛnta/ |
| 137 | to tie | binda | /ˈpɪnta/ |
| 138 | to sew | sauma | /ˈsøyma/ |
| 139 | to count | telja | /ˈtʰɛlja/ |
| 140 | to say | segja | /ˈseija/ |
| 141 | to sing | syngja | /ˈsinca/ |
| 142 | to play | leika | /ˈleika/ |
| 143 | to float | fljóta | /ˈfljouta/ |
| 144 | to flow | streyma | /ˈstreima/ |
| 145 | to freeze | frjósa, frysta | /ˈfrjousa/, /ˈfrɪsta/ |
| 146 | to swell | þrútna, bólgna, svella, ólga | /ˈθruhtna/, /ˈpoulna/, /ˈsvɛtla/, /ˈoulka/ |
| 147 | sun | sól | /soul/ |
| 148 | moon | tungl | /tʰuŋl/ |
| 149 | star | stjarna | /ˈstjartna/ |
| 150 | water | vatn | /vahtn/ |
| 151 | rain | rigning | /ˈrɪkniŋk/ |
| 152 | river | á, fljót | /au/, /fljout/ |
| 153 | lake | vatn, stöðuvatn | /vahtn/, /ˈstœðʏvahtn/ |
| 154 | sea | sjór, haf | /sjour/, /hav/ |
| 155 | salt | salt | /salt/ |
| 156 | stone | steinn | /steitn/ |
| 157 | sand | sandur | /ˈsantʏr/ |
| 158 | dust | ryk | /rɪk/ |
| 159 | earth | jörð | /jœrð/ |
| 160 | cloud | ský | /sci/ |
| 161 | fog | þoka | /ˈθɔka/ |
| 162 | sky | himinn | /ˈhɪmɪnː/ |
| 163 | wind | vindur | /ˈvɪntʏr/ |
| 164 | snow | snjór | /snjour/ |
| 165 | ice | ís | /is/ |
| 166 | smoke | reykur | /ˈreikʏr/ |
| 167 | fire | eldur | /ˈɛltʏr/ |
| 168 | ash | aska | /ˈaska/ |
| 169 | to burn | brenna | /ˈprɛnːa/ |
| 170 | road | gata, vegur | /ˈkata/, /ˈvɛɣʏr/ |
| 171 | mountain | fjall | /fjatl/ |
| 172 | red | rauður | /ˈrøyðʏr/ |
| 173 | green | grænn | /kraitn/ |
| 174 | yellow | gulur | /ˈkʏlʏr/ |
| 175 | white | hvítur | /ˈxʷitʏr/ |
| 176 | black | svartur | /ˈsvartʏr/ |
| 177 | night | nótt | /nouht/ |
| 178 | day | dagur | /ˈtaɣʏr/ |
| 179 | year | ár | /aur/ |
| 180 | warm | hlýr | /hlir/ |
| 181 | cold | kaldur | /ˈkʰaltʏr/ |
| 182 | full | fullur | /ˈfʏtlʏr/ |
| 183 | new | nýr | /nir/ |
| 184 | old | gamall | /ˈkamatl/ |
| 185 | good | góður | /ˈkouðʏr/ |
| 186 | bad | vondur, illur | /ˈvɔntʏr/, /ˈɪtlʏr/ |
| 187 | rotten | fúinn, rotinn | /ˈfuɪnː/, /ˈrɔtɪnː/ |
| 188 | dirty | skítugur, óhreinn, saurugur | /ˈscitʏɣʏr/, /ˈou.hreitn/, /ˈsøyrʏɣʏr/ |
| 189 | straight | beinn | /peitn/ |
| 190 | round | kringlóttur | /ˈkʰriŋlouhtʏr/ |
| 191 | sharp (as a knife) | beittur, skarpur | /ˈpeihtʏr/, /ˈskarpʏr/ |
| 192 | dull (as a knife) | bitlaus | /ˈpɪt.løys/ |
| 193 | smooth | sleipur, mjúkur | /ˈstleipʏr/, /ˈmjukʏr/ |
| 194 | wet | blautur, votur | /ˈpløytʏr/, /ˈvɔtʏr/ |
| 195 | dry | þurr | /θʏrː/ |
| 196 | correct | réttur | /ˈrjɛhtʏr/ |
| 197 | near | nálægur | /ˈnaulaiɣʏr/ |
| 198 | far | langt | /lauŋt/ |
| 199 | right | hægri | /ˈhaikrɪ/ |
| 200 | left | vinstri | /ˈvɪnstrɪ/ |
| 201 | at | hjá | /hjau/ |
| 202 | in | í | /i/ |
| 203 | with | með | /mɛð/ |
| 204 | and | og | /ɔɣ/ |
| 205 | if | ef | /ɛv/ |
| 206 | because | vegna | /ˈvɛkna/ |
| 207 | name | nafn | /ˈnapn/ |