Learn Icelandic by reading real Icelandic
Read Icelandic from RÚV, the public broadcaster, and from the University of Iceland's Vísindavefurinn, and tap any word to see what it means in that sentence, in your own language.
Fundurinn dróst á langinn, svo ég missti af strætó.
missti verb, past, first person
I missed (from missa af)
Missa on its own means to lose. Missa af, with af, means to miss something: the meeting dragged on, so I missed the bus.
What to read in Icelandic
Today, the daily edition, has headlines from Icelandic outlets, including RÚV, RÚV Menning, RÚV Íþróttir and Vísindavefurinn. Open one and the article opens in the reader, where every word can be tapped.
The Store has no Icelandic books yet. Books there are in English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
You can also bring your own Icelandic: import a PDF, save a link to a web article, or paste text. Whatever you read, it stays in Icelandic, and help appears only where you ask for it.
How a tap helps
The word turns bold and a note opens under its sentence with the meaning it has here, in your own language. Word analysis gives the root and the form. Select a few words or a sentence to translate just that part.
Every word you tap is saved with its sentence and comes back as a card, at longer and longer gaps, until you know it. Listen reads books, PDFs and your texts aloud in a natural Icelandic voice, sentence by sentence.
Is it right for you?
ContextCat works best once you know enough Icelandic to follow a simple text and want to read more of it. If you are starting from zero, begin with a course, and come back when short texts feel within reach. The guides have ideas on where to start.
Read next
Questions
Can I learn Icelandic with ContextCat?
- ContextCat helps you learn Icelandic by reading it. Tap any word in a Icelandic text and it explains what the word means in that sentence, in your own language, then brings the word back later for review. It does not replace a course for grammar or speaking.
What is there to read in Icelandic?
- Today's edition has headlines from Icelandic outlets such as RÚV, RÚV Menning and RÚV Íþróttir. The Store has no Icelandic books yet, so beyond Today you read your own: Icelandic PDFs, web articles and pasted texts.
Is ContextCat free for Icelandic?
- Yes, to start. The free plan includes 25 word explanations, 15 sentence translations a day and 3 imports, in every language. ContextCat Pro removes the limits.
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