Vehicles

1. bilur

   Car

   Usage

   A car is effectively necessary to tour the islands — buses are sparse and the villages are linked by subsea tunnels

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; plural "bilar". It forms the second half of many compounds

2. leigubilur

   Hire car

   Usage

   Usually hired at Vágar airport. The same word can also mean "taxicab", so point at the car at the rental desk

   Grammar Note

   "leiga" (to hire) + "bilur" (car); masculine

3. taxa

   Taxi

   Usage

   You do not hail one on the street — you ring for it. Pair it with "Ring eftir einari taxu, takk" in the Transportation category

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; also "taxabilur"

4. bussur

   Bus

   Usage

   The blue town buses in Tórshavn are free; the red inter-island buses are run by Strandfaraskip Landsins

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; plural "bussar". You travel "í bussi", using "í" rather than "með"

5. bussleið

   Bus route

   Usage

   Show it with a number at a timetable or information desk; services are infrequent, so always check the time

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; "bussur" + "leið" (route)

6. ferðafólkabussur

   Tourist coach

   Usage

   The tour coaches that leave the harbour on cruise-ship days; not the same as a service bus

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; "ferðafólk" (travellers) + "bussur"

7. skúlabussur

   School bus

   Usage

   In small villages it sometimes doubles as the service bus — ask the driver whether you may ride

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; "skúli" (school) + "bussur"

8. ferja

   Ferry

   Usage

   The only way to the islands without tunnels — Mykines, Suðuroy, Nólsoy — and it is cancelled in bad weather

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; plural "ferjur". The berth is a "ferjulega"

9. bilaferja

   Car ferry

   Usage

   The service you drive onto, for example to Suðuroy; book ahead in summer

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; also written "bilferja"

10. bátur

    Boat

    Usage

    The cliff and cave tours, for example at Vestmanna, go out in one of these

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; plural "bátar". "við báti" means "by boat"

11. snarbátur

    Speedboat

    Usage

    Used on tours to the small islands and sea caves; a rough ride when the swell is up

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; "snar-" (fast) + "bátur"

12. bátsferð

    Boat trip

    Usage

    Show it at a tourist office and they will tell you what is sailing that day

    Grammar Note

    Feminine; "bátur" + "ferð" (trip)

13. skip

    Ship

    Usage

    Large vessels in general, including the liner to Denmark and Iceland

    Grammar Note

    Neuter; the plural is the same as the singular

14. tunnil

    Tunnel (subsea tunnel)

    Usage

    The islands are linked by subsea tunnels; the Eysturoy tunnel has the world's only undersea roundabout. Some mountain tunnels are single-lane with passing bays

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; plural "tunlar". A mountain tunnel is also called a "fjallasmoga"

15. tunnilsgjald

    Tunnel toll

    Usage

    The subsea tunnels are tolled. There are no booths — the plate is read automatically and a hire car is billed later, so ask when you pick it up

    Grammar Note

    Neuter; plural "tunnilsgjøld"

16. helikoptari

    Helicopter

    Usage

    A subsidised public service to the outlying islands — cheap, few seats, book early, and often grounded by weather

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; "tyrla" is a synonym

17. flogfar

    Aeroplane

    Usage

    There is only one airport, at Vágar, and fog delays are common

    Grammar Note

    Neuter; same form in the plural. The airport is "flogvøllur", as in the Basic Nouns category

18. súkkla

    Bicycle

    Usage

    Steep, windy, and many tunnels are closed to bikes — check the section before you set off

    Grammar Note

    Feminine; plural "súkklur". The verb "súkkla" means "to cycle"

19. motorsúkkla

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    "koyra á motorsúkklu" means to ride one; watch for crosswinds

    Grammar Note

    Feminine; "motor" + "súkkla"

20. sjúkrabilur

    Ambulance

    Usage

    The emergency number is 112; use it in the same situation as "Ring eftir ambúlansuni!" in the Health & Hospital category

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; "sjúkra-" (sick) + "bilur"

21. sløkkibilur

    Fire engine

    Usage

    Also on 112; they are called out to tunnel incidents too

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; "sløkkja" (to extinguish) + "bilur"

22. lastbilur

    Lorry / truck

    Usage

    Lorries have priority in single-lane tunnels — wait in a passing bay

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; a small delivery van is a "vørubilur"

23. vørubilur

    Delivery van

    Usage

    The small vehicle that delivers to the villages; you meet them on the narrow roads

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; "vøra" (goods) + "bilur"

24. bilstjóri

    Driver

    Usage

    Use it when approaching a bus or taxi driver; show it alongside your destination

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; plural "bilstjórar"

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