hæ, ég heiti
[ˈhaiː jɛɣ ˈheiːtɪ]word by word
The English phrase "hi, my name is" is translated into Icelandic as hæ, ég heiti.
This phrase is a friendly greeting used when introducing yourself to someone for the first time. The component Hæ serves as an informal way to say "hi" or "hello", while ég heiti means "my name is".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ég heiti literally means "I am named" or "I am called".
Which one should you use?
The phrase ég heiti is a common way to introduce yourself, which differs from ég hef nafn, a more literal way to say "I have the name".
How does it change in a sentence?
To state your name, the verb heita is used in the first person singular form heiti following the pronoun ég.
Did you know?
- In Iceland, the name used after ég heiti is often a patronymic, meaning it is derived from the father's first name rather than a family surname.
- A modern speaker saying ég heiti uses a form that is nearly identical to the phrasing a Viking would have used over a thousand years ago.
- While the greeting hæ sounds identical to the English 'hi', it is a modern linguistic import that only entered the Icelandic vocabulary after 1970.
Examples in context
- Góðan daginn, ég heiti Anna.Good day, my name is Anna.
- Hæ, ég heiti Jón.Hi, my name is Jón.
- Hæ, ég heiti Magnús.Hi, my name is Magnús.
- Hæ, ég heiti Guðrún, gaman að kynnast þér.Hi, my name is Guðrún, nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Two people meeting for the first time at a party.
- ÓlafurHæ, ég heiti Ólafur.Hi, my name is Ólafur.
- KatrínHæ Ólafur, ég heiti Katrín.Hi Ólafur, my name is Katrín.
- ÓlafurGaman að kynnast þér, Katrín.Nice to meet you, Katrín.
- KatrínTakk, gaman að kynnast þér líka.Thanks, nice to meet you too.
