How to Type in Icelandic — Þ, Ð, Æ, Ö in Icelandic
Icelandic is unique among European languages: it preserves two ancient letters from Old Norse — Þ (thorn) and Ð (eth) — that English lost in the 1400s. Plus Æ, Ö, and acute-accented vowels (á, é, í, ó, ú, ý). 32 letters total.
Icelandic's 32-letter alphabet
Standard Latin + special:
- Á á, É é, Í í, Ó ó, Ú ú, Ý ý — acute-accented vowels
- Þ þ (thorn) — voiceless "th" sound
- Ð ð (eth) — voiced "th" sound
- Æ æ (ash ligature)
- Ö ö (o with diaeresis)
C, Q, W, Z are present but RARELY used (mostly loanwords).
QWERTY-IS layout
- þ: top-right area (where
[is on QWERTY-US) - ð: home row right
- æ: home row right area
- ö: top-row right
- á é í ó ú ý: dead key
´+ vowel
See QWERTY-IS layout deep-dive.
Practice at /is/qwerty_is/.
Common Icelandic typing patterns
- og, er, í, á, en — common short words
- Reykjavík, Ísland, þjóð — proper nouns
- þú, þetta, þannig — frequent þ words
- ekki, allt, jæja — common everyday words
- víkingar, sögur, sagan — Saga vocabulary
The þ at word-start is extremely common (like English "the" — even etymologically related!).
Touch typing tips
- Drill þ specifically — most common Icelandic-unique letter
- Master ð — second Old Norse preservation
- C, Q, W, Z rarely needed — don't worry about them
- Dead-key acute accents for á, é, í, ó, ú, ý
Target: 40-50 WPM in 6-8 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why preserve þ and ð?
Iceland's language changed less than most European languages over 1000 years. Icelandic readers can still read Old Norse sagas with effort.
Is Faroese similar to Icelandic for typing?
Related but Faroese uses ð but NOT þ. Different keyboard (QWERTY-FO). See How to type in Faroese.
How is Þ pronounced?
Like English "th" in "think" (voiceless). Modern English lost this letter to "th" digraph.
How is Ð pronounced?
Like English "th" in "this" (voiced). Different from Þ — like a softer "th".
Can I type Icelandic on QWERTY-US?
Possible via Alt codes — extremely slow. QWERTY-IS is essential for serious Icelandic writing.
Are there alternative Icelandic layouts?
A few academic variants exist. QWERTY-IS is universal.
Practice Icelandic typing
Practice Icelandic on Typing Hero App — 19 lessons including þ and ð.
For more: QWERTY-IS layout, How to type in Faroese, How to type special characters.