Basic Nouns

1. vatn

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Neuter, definite "vatnið"; Faroese has three genders

2. matur

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; definite "maturin"

3. pengar

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Masculine plural; definite "peningarnir"

4. vesi

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   Neuter; definite "vesið"

5. pappírsklútur

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   Masculine compound of "pappír" (paper) and "klútur" (cloth)

6. heilivágur

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   Masculine, definite "heilivágurin"; a pharmacy is "apotek"

7. farangur

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   Masculine and uncountable; one suitcase is "koffert"

8. lykil

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   Masculine: definite "lykilin", plural "lyklar"

9. ferðasedil

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   Masculine compound of "ferð" (journey) and "sedil" (slip)

10. pass

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    Neuter, definite "passið"; identical in the plural

11. telefon

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    Feminine, definite "telefonin"; a mobile is "fartelefon"

12. løðari

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    Masculine, from "løða" (to charge)

13. støð

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    Feminine; a bus stop is "bussstøð". The Faroes have no railways

14. sjúkrahús

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    Neuter compound of "sjúk" (ill) and "hús" (house); definite "sjúkrahúsið"

15. løgregla

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Feminine, definite "løgreglan"; an individual officer is "løgreglumaður"

16. handil

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Masculine: definite "handilin", plural "handlar"

17. kamar

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Neuter, definite "kamarið"; used for hotel rooms

18. vegur

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    Masculine, definite "vegurin"; a town street is "gøta" (feminine)

19. familja

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    Feminine; definite "familjan"

20. navn

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Neuter, definite "navnið"; a surname is "eftirnavn"

21. høvur

    Head

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

22. eyga

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

23. tonn

    Tooth

    Usage

    Shows where it hurts at a dentist or pharmacy

24. magi

    Stomach (belly)

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

25. bak

    Back

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

26. fótur

    Leg

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts; Faroese uses one word for leg and foot

27. hond

    Hand

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

28. bringa

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or tightness; refers to the front of the torso

29. oyra

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

30. hálsur

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts; also used for the throat

31. øksl

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts. The oblique and plural forms change the vowel to "akslar / akslir"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine

32. knæ

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

33. fingur

    Finger

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

34. húð

    Skin

    Usage

    For rashes, itching, or burns

35. armur

    Arm

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

36. nøs

    Nose

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

37. hotell

    Hotel

    Usage

    Point at it to show a driver where you are going

38. flogvøllur

    Airport

    Usage

    Point at it to show a driver where you are going

39. sendistova

    Embassy

    Usage

    For getting there after losing a passport

40. sjálvtøka

    ATM

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

41. vaskarí

    Laundromat

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

42. apotek

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    The word alone is enough to ask where one is

Browse all TravelPhrases languages