góðan daginn
[ˈkouːðan ˈtaijɪn(ː)]
The English phrase "good afternoon" can be said in Icelandic as góðan daginn.
góðan daginn is the standard greeting used throughout the entire day in Iceland, from the morning until the evening.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "good day".
When do people say it?
While English speakers transition from "good morning" to "good afternoon," speakers of Icelandic typically use góðan daginn for most of the daylight hours.
Did you know?
- The root word for day, dagur, shares an ancient Germanic ancestor with the English word 'day', though the pronunciation has evolved differently.
- The word daginn is in the accusative case because there is an implied 'I wish you a' at the beginning of the phrase.
- In very formal letters or emails, the greeting is often written as Kæra… (Dear…), as góðan daginn is primarily a spoken greeting.
Examples in context
- Góðan daginn.Good afternoon.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use góðan daginn as a standalone greeting.Tatoeba #3838982 by arnarsmata, translation #499689 by CK
Example conversation
Guðrún and Gunnar meet on the street in the afternoon.
- GuðrúnGóðan daginn, Gunnar!Good afternoon, Gunnar!
- GunnarGóðan daginn, Guðrún!Good afternoon, Guðrún!
- GuðrúnHvað segirðu?How are you doing?
- GunnarAllt gott, takk.All good, thanks.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry góðan daginn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
