Best free apps to start Icelandic
You don’t need a paid subscription to learn Icelandic. For A1–A2 beginners, combine one structured course with a couple of lightweight apps for vocabulary, listening, and pronunciation. Keep it simple: choose two or three that you’ll actually open every day.
These picks cover structured lessons, phrase practice, and native audio—perfect for beginners who want progress without overwhelm.
- Icelandic Online (University of Iceland): fully free, structured A1 units with exercises.
- Memrise (community courses): beginner word lists, phrases, and spaced repetition reviews.
- Drops: visual vocab in quick bursts; free 5 minutes daily for easy wins.
- 50Languages (book2): thematic phrase sets with audio; great for travel basics.
- Forvo: native-speaker audio for any word or name; fix pronunciation early.
- Anki: build your own flashcards; spaced repetition to lock in new phrases.
A 15-minute daily routine (that actually sticks)
Consistency beats cramming. Here’s a short, beginner-friendly plan you can repeat every day. Adjust the time as you like, but keep the order to balance grammar, vocabulary, and speaking.
- 3 min: Icelandic Online — one short section or quiz.
- 4 min: Drops — new themed words (food, family, travel).
- 4 min: Memrise — review old items, add 5 new phrases.
- 2 min: Forvo — listen and shadow 3 tricky words.
- 2 min: Anki — quick review of yesterday’s cards.
Easy phrases to learn first
Memorize a core set of everyday phrases so you can greet, thank, and ask simple questions. Add these to Anki or Memrise, listen on Forvo, and repeat out loud until they feel automatic.
- Góðan dag (Good day/Hello)
- Takk / Takk fyrir (Thanks / Thank you)
- Vinsamlegast (Please)
- Hvar er…? (Where is…?)
- Ég tala aðeins íslensku (I speak a little Icelandic)
Free PDFs and a beginner book (without breaking the rules)
Apps are great, but a printable reference helps. You can keep a one-page cheat sheet of cases, core phrases, and basic verb forms for quick review alongside your online practice.
- Make your own PDF: export word lists from Anki or copy key phrases and print.
- Icelandic Online: read grammar pages on mobile or print select explanations to PDF.
- 50Languages: save themed phrase pages for offline review.
- Library ebook or book: look for “Complete Icelandic” or “Colloquial Icelandic” via OverDrive/Libby.
Common beginner pitfalls (and easy fixes)
Icelandic is manageable when you focus on high-frequency words, pronunciation, and steady review. Avoid these traps and you’ll progress faster.
- Only learning single words: add short phrases so grammar patterns stick.
- Skipping pronunciation: shadow Forvo audio daily for clearer speech.
- Ignoring cases: note the article endings in phrases (e.g., á borðinu).
- Inconsistent review: rely on spaced repetition (Memrise/Anki) every day.
FAQ
- Can I really learn Icelandic for free as a beginner?
- Yes. Combine Icelandic Online for structure with Drops or Memrise for vocabulary, Forvo for pronunciation, and Anki for reviews. Keep sessions short and daily, and you can reach A1 with free tools.
- Is there a Duolingo course for Icelandic?
- Not at the moment. Use Icelandic Online for lessons, Memrise for beginner word lists, Drops for quick vocab, and Forvo for native audio. This combo covers what Duolingo would.
- What’s the best app to start with today?
- Start with Icelandic Online for guided A1 material. Pair it with Drops (fast vocab) and Memrise (phrases and spaced repetition). Add Forvo for reliable pronunciation checks.
- How long to reach A1–A2 with free apps?
- With 15–20 minutes daily, many learners reach A1 in 6–10 weeks and A2 in 6–12 months. Progress varies, but consistent review and speaking out loud speed things up.
- Where can I get PDFs or a free beginner book?
- Create your own PDF phrase lists from Anki exports, print key grammar pages from Icelandic Online, and check your public library for “Complete Icelandic” or “Colloquial Icelandic” as an ebook or book.