bjór
[ˈpjouːr]masculine
The Icelandic word for beer is bjór. Wiktionary also lists öl.
Meaning: alcoholic drink made of malt (noun)
Ways to say it
| Icelandic | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| bjór | [ˈpjouːr] (narrow) | masculine |
| öl | [ˈœːl] (narrow) | neuter |
The term refers to an alcoholic drink made of malt.
Which one should you use?
bjór is the most common word for beer in modern usage. In contrast, öl is a neuter noun used to refer to ale or beer in more traditional or formal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun bjór follows standard Icelandic declension. For example, the accusative plural form is bjóra and the masculine singular definite form (to say 'the beer') is bjórsins. The word öl is a neuter noun.
Did you know?
- Until 1989, beer was actually illegal in Iceland due to strict prohibition laws. If you were looking for a bjór in a bar during the 1970s, you would not have found one.
- The word öl is related to the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂elut-, which suggests that the term for this drink has remained recognizable for thousands of years.
- In modern Iceland, you will see öl used mostly in the names of craft breweries or traditional pubs to evoke a sense of heritage and history.
Examples in context
- Ég ætla að panta annan bjór.I'm going to order another beer.This sentence shows how to use bjór when ordering.Tatoeba #11074830 by nipbud, translation #11074642 by CK
- Í dag er bæði sprengidagur og bjórdagur.Today is both Mardi Gras and Beer Day.This sentence uses bjór in the context of a specific day.Tatoeba #10698246 by nipbud, translation #10698251 by nipbud
- Ég elska bjór.I love beer.This sentence shows how to express a preference for bjór.Tatoeba #10718175 by nipbud, translation #5651258 by Mar1L
- Einn bjór, takk.One beer, please.
- 23 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sigríður and Jón are at a restaurant.
- SigríðurViltu fá bjór?Do you want a beer?
- JónJá, ég tek einn bjór.Yes, I'll have one beer.
- SigríðurHvaða bjór viltu?Which beer do you want?
- JónÉg vil IPA-bjór.I want an IPA beer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beer” translations and entries bjór, öl, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bjór, öl, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
