ICELAND - REYKJAVIK

Language can be one of the biggest challenges when living abroad, and my time in Iceland has been no different. In this blog, I’ll reflect on my experience navigating the language barrier, the role English plays, and my brief journey into learning Icelandic.

Although English is widely spoken, the native language of Iceland is Icelandic—a fascinating tongue with deep historical roots in the Germanic branch of the IndoEuropean family. What makes it unique is that it has preserved much of its original structure and vocabulary. With only around 350,000 native speakers, Icelandic is one of the oldest living languages. Icelanders take great pride in maintaining its authenticity, and while they switch to English easily.

Thanks to Iceland’s popularity as a tourist destination, many locals are fluent in English, and some even speak multiple foreign languages. This makes life easier for visitors like me. However, living here has piqued my curiosity about Icelandic and its role in everyday interactions.

In my first week, I attended a crash course in Icelandic as part of my university’s introduction program. The professor gave us useful phrases to get through daily life, but he also advised us not to worry too much about mastering the language, as Icelandic is extremely complex and time-consuming to learn. This advice was both a relief and slightly disappointing. While I felt reassured that I could get by with English, I had hoped to learn more of the local language.

That said, as time passed, I became more interested in the language. Several of my classmates were Icelandic, and when they spoke, I realized that I could often pick up the context of conversations without understanding the individual words. Some phrases sounded familiar, similar to dialects from my own country. It was a comforting reminder that languages share roots. Despite my growing curiosity, Icelandic still presented some challenges. The biggest hurdle came during my first final exam. Although I’m in an Englishlanguage program, the exam supervisors gave instructions in Icelandic! While they did provide translations upon request, their explanations were often brief, leaving me a bit unsure if I’d missed any important details. It was in moments like this that I wished I had a better grasp of the language, if only to avoid feeling so disconnected during critical situations.

Another daily challenge was grocery shopping and navigating public spaces. In stores, it was easier to figure out products based on visuals, but signs and labels were usually in Icelandic, with no English translations. If I wasn’t sure about something, I’d either use a translation app or rely on educated guesses. Public spaces posed a bigger challenge. Without clear instructions in English, I’d sometimes find myself confused about what to do or where to go. My tactic was to act like I hadn’t seen the signs, or simply acknowledge that I didn’t speak the language. Fortunately, this hasn’t caused any major problems so far!

Even though English is widely spoken, and I’ve managed both in class and in daily life, I’ve realized that understanding Icelandic can open more doors. Since my stay is relatively short, I’ve leaned on English, but if I were to move here long-term or emigrate, I would definitely invest time in learning Icelandic. The language is a gateway to a deeper understanding of the culture and speaking it would enhance both social interactions and daily experiences. Icelanders are proud of their language, and I believe learning it would show a level of respect that could help in building stronger connections with locals.

Reflecting on this experience, I’ve gained a better understanding of myself as a communicator. Although I’ve primarily relied on English, I’ve learned that language is only one part of communication. Non-verbal cues, context, and even tone of voice play huge roles in navigating interactions. Every Icelandic phrase I’ve learned feels like a small victory, and each challenge has pushed me to be more adaptable.