hæ
[ˈhaiː]
The Icelandic word for "hey" is hæ.
hæ is used as an informal greeting to say "hey" or "hi".
Meaning: informal greeting (intj)
Which one should you use?
While hæ is a common informal greeting, it is less formal than halló.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hæ is an informal greeting used with friends and peers. Other informal options include Sæll for males and Sæl for females, which mean "hi there".
Did you know?
- Despite sounding like a native greeting, hæ is actually a relatively recent import from English and Danish that arrived after 1970.
- Because it is a borrowed word, hæ does not follow the complex morphological rules of Icelandic nouns or adjectives.
- In very traditional settings, some Icelanders still prefer Góðan daginn over hæ to avoid using foreign loanwords.
Examples in context
- Hæ, hvernig hefurðu það?Hey, how are you?
- Hæ, ég er hérna.Hey, I am here.
- Hæ, mættir þú í áfangann?Hey, did you make it to the course?
Example conversation
Gunnar and Katrín meet at a cafe.
- GunnarHæ, Katrín!Hey, Katrín!
- KatrínHæ, Gunnar! Góðan dag.Hey, Gunnar! Good day.
- GunnarHvað segirðu?What's up?
- KatrínAllt gott, takk.Everything is good, thanks.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry hæ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hæ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
