hæ, ég heiti
[ˈhaiː jɛɣ ˈheiːtɪ]word by word
The English phrase "hello, my name is" is translated into Icelandic as hæ, ég heiti.
This phrase is used to greet someone and introduce yourself by stating your name.
What does it mean word for word?
The component ég heiti literally means "I am called".
How does it change in a sentence?
To state your name, the verb heita is used in the first-person singular form heiti, resulting in the phrase ég heiti.
Did you know?
- Icelandic names are traditionally patronymic, so when you say ég heiti, your surname likely means 'son of' or 'daughter of' a specific person.
- The word heiti comes from a root meaning 'to be named', but in Old Norse, it was also linked to the act of promising or swearing an oath.
- The greeting hæ is a relatively modern addition to the language, having been borrowed from the English 'hi' after 1970.
Examples in context
- Góðan daginn, ég heiti John.Good day, my name is John.
- Halló, ég heiti Anna.Hello, my name is Anna.
- Hæ, ég heiti Katrín, gaman að kynnast þér.Hello, my name is Katrín, nice to meet you.
- Hæ, ég heiti Björn og ég er hér.Hello, my name is Björn and I am here.
Example conversation
Two people meet for the first time at a social gathering.
- ÓlafurHæ, ég heiti Ólafur.Hello, my name is Ólafur.
- KatrínHæ, ég heiti Katrín. Gaman að kynnast þér.Hello, my name is Katrín. Nice to meet you.
- ÓlafurGaman að kynnast þér líka.Nice to meet you too.
- KatrínErtu ný hérna?Are you new here?
