Bókstafirnir

Bókstafirnir, or the Icelandic alphabet, is the writing system used to represent the Icelandic language. It is based on the Latin alphabet but includes several additional letters that are unique to Icelandic. The Icelandic alphabet consists of 32 letters, including both uppercase and lowercase forms.

The standard Icelandic letters are A, Á, B, D, Ð, E, É, F, G, H, I, Í, J, K, L, M, N, O, Ó, P, R, S, T, U, Ú, V, X, Y, Ý, Z, and Æ, Ø, and Á are often considered the most distinctive due to their diacritical marks. The letters Ð (eth) and Þ (thorn) are particularly notable as they were also used in Old English and Old Norse. Additionally, the letters Á, É, Í, Ó, Ú, and Ý are used to represent long vowels, which are common in Icelandic pronunciation.

The Icelandic alphabet was standardized in the 19th century, building upon earlier forms of the language's writing system. Before standardization, there was significant variation in spelling, particularly in the use of certain letters and diacritics. The modern Icelandic alphabet is used in all official contexts, including government documents, education, and media.

Icelandic spelling follows a phonetic principle, meaning that words are generally spelled as they are pronounced. This consistency helps learners of the language to read and write more easily. The use of additional letters like Ð and Þ reflects the language's unique phonetic characteristics, which differ from many other Germanic languages.

The Icelandic alphabet is also notable for its preservation of historical spelling conventions. Unlike some other languages that have undergone significant spelling reforms, Icelandic spelling has remained largely unchanged since the 19th century, maintaining a connection to the language's historical roots.