Faroese/Chapter Four

Chapter Four - Getting to know someone

Many of the following examples are taken from the German language guide by Richard Kölbl: Färöisch Wort für Wort. Bielefeld, 2004.

On this level, the familiar form tú is used. Be careful not to address elderly persons with it, before they don't say tú to you.

What's your name?

• hvussu eitur tú? [kʊsːʊ aitʊɹ tʉu] - whatˈs your name?
• eg eiti Sára [eː aitɪ 'sɔaɹa] - my name is Sarah
• og tú? [oˈtʉu] - and you?
• eg eri Jón [ˈeː eːɹɪ jɔun] - I am John
• vælkomin, Sára! [ˈvɛalkoːmin] - welcome Sarah! (f.)
• vælkomin, Jón! [ˈvɛalkoːmin] - welcome John! (m.)
• mær ein gleði [mɛaɹ ain gleːjɪ] - pleased to meet you ("a pleasure for me")

Where are you from?

• ert tú onglendingur? [ɛʂtʉu ɔŋglɛndɪŋʒʊɹ] - are you Englishman/woman?
• nei eg eri úr Amerika [nai eː eːɹɪ ʉʊr aˈmeːɹɪka] - no, I am from America
• hvar býrt tú? [ˈkvɛaɹ bʊʂt tʉu] - where do you live?
• eg búgvi í/hjá ... [ˈeː bɪgvɪ ʊi]/[ˈʧɔa] - I live in/at ...

How old are you?

• Hvussu gamal/gomul ert tú? - How old are you? (masc./fem.)
• eg eri x ára gamal/gomul - I am x years old (masc./fem)

Tell me about your family

• ert tú giftur/gift? [ɛʂtʉu gɪftʊr]/[gɪft] - are you married? (m./f.)
• eg eri stakur/støk [eː eːɹɪ stɛakʊɹ]/[støːk] - I am single (m./f.)
• hetta er maður/kona/drongur/genta mín [ˈhɛʰtːa eːr mɛavʊɹ]/[ˈkoːna]/[ˈdɹɔŋgʊɹ]/[ʤɛnta mʊin] - this is (may i introduce?) my husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend
• hevur tú børn? [ˈheːvʊr tʉu bœdn] - do you have children?

How long will you stay?

• hevur tú verið leingi her? [ˈheːvʊɹ tʉu veɹɪ ˈlɔɲʤɪ heːr] - have you been here long?
• eg kom í gjár [eː koːm ʊiˈʤɔaɹ] - I came yesterday
• eg verði eina tvær vikur [eː veːɹɪ aina tvɛaɹ viːkʊɹ] - I will stay about two weeks
• Føroyar dámar mær væl [ˈfœrjaɹ ˈdɔamaɹ mɛaɹ vɛal] - I like the Faroes much

Visiting someone's home

• ... vitjanina [ˈviːʧanɪna] - ... the visit
• takk fyri seinast [ˈsainast] - thanks for last time
• ... okkum/meg [ˈɔkːʊn]/[meː] - ... us/me (thanks for inviting us/me)
• set teg! [seːt teː] - sit down
• vilt tú hava ein kaffimunn? [ˈviɪlt tʉu hɛava ain kafːɪmʊn] - do you like a cup of coffee?
• e.g. vil fegin havt te [eː vɪl feːjin haft teː] - I would like some tea
• meira? [maiɹa] - more?
• tað smakkar væl [tɛa smakːaɹ vɛal] - it tastes good
• manga takk [maŋga taʰkː] - thank you very much (after a meal)
• vælgagnist [vɛalgagnɪst] - enjoy your meal (reply to the above phrase)
• e.g. má fara [eː mɔa fɛara] - I have to go
• takk fyri meg [taʰk fiːɹɪ meː] - thank you for the invitation