gleðilegt nýtt ár
The English phrase "happy new year" is expressed in Icelandic as gleðilegt nýtt ár. Wiktionary also lists farsælt komandi ár and gleðilegt ár.
Meaning: Happy New Year (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Icelandic |
|---|
| gleðilegt nýtt ár |
| farsælt komandi ár |
| gleðilegt ár |
The phrase gleðilegt nýtt ár is the most common and standard way to wish someone a happy new year in Icelandic.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase gleðilegt nýtt ár is composed of gleðilegt (happy/joyful), nýtt (new) and ár (year).
Which one should you use?
While gleðilegt nýtt ár is the standard greeting, farsælt komandi ár is a more formal and sophisticated way to wish someone a happy new year, focusing on prosperity and success rather than just joy. You may also see the shorter version gleðilegt ár.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because ár (year) is a neuter noun in Icelandic, the adjectives gleðilegt and nýtt take the neuter singular form.
Did you know?
- The word ár is an unexpected relative of the English word 'oar' in one of its distinct historical meanings.
- Icelandic retains the word ár from Old Norse, the language of the Vikings, with almost no change in spelling or meaning over a millennium.
Examples in context
- Gleðileg jól og farsælt komandi ár!Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!This sentence shows how to combine a Christmas greeting with the form farsælt komandi ár.Tatoeba #10528417 by nipbud, translation #925023 by zvaigzne
- Gleðilegt nýtt ár!Happy New Year!Tatoeba #860026 by Swift, translation #361350 by blay_paul
Example conversation
Katrín and Ólafur meet on New Year's Day.
- KatrínSælur, Ólafur! Gleðilegt nýtt ár!Hi, Ólafur! Happy New Year!
- ÓlafurSæl, Katrín! Gleðilegt nýtt ár í þér líka!Hi, Katrín! Happy New Year to you too!
- KatrínHvað gerðstu í gær?What did you do yesterday?
- ÓlafurÉg var með fjölskyldunni.I was with my family.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy new year” translations and entries gleðilegt nýtt ár, gleðilegt ár, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ár, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
