foreigner mistakes

To make this blog more interesting I'll start posting mistakes I've made and such.

>Last year, walking with three friends into an apartment complex
>Old man telling us "Good evening" individually
>Too embarrassed, my "good evening" comes out as mumbled gibberish

>Last year, at convenience store
>Used to friend translating for me, said friend is right next to me
>Cashier asks if I want my Coke opened (glass bottles)
>I stand there blankly as I wait for a translation that never comes

>At Hagkaup (grocery store)
>Put basket of food onto conveyor belt instead of taking the food out

>In line at Bónus (grocery store)
>Lady asks me something I can't understand
>Assume she's asking if I'm next in line, I nod
>She was asking if I would watch her basket

>Paying rent bill at bank
>2000kr short on accident (had pre-made a collection of bills so paying would be faster)
>Teller starts talking to me as if I've never paid bills before and don't know where the total is on the paper because of it.

>On bus
>It stops but the back doors don't open because no one else is getting off
>Realize I can't say "Can you open the doors?" in Icelandic
>Say it in English and momentarily panic, wondering if the driver heard/understood me

>At bus stop
>Little kid asks if I have the time
>Panic and forget how to tell time in Icelandic
>Roll up my sleeve to show I have no watch and say "no"
>Later realize he probably saw me checking my mobile earlier

>At Kolaportið (flea market)
>Looking through kid's comics
>Booth owner remarks "Aren't those books fun?"
>Panic, can't say anything, smile awkwardly, leave soon after

>Buying cod at Kolaportið
>50kr short on initial payment
>Misheared as 500kr short

>At Bónus, in the cashiering line I usually avoid
>Tell cashier I want two bags
>A minute later she says some word I don't understand
>Repeats it and I realize she's asking me if I wanted two bags

I'm behind in schoolwork so instead of getting words for this blog I'm focusing on learning the ones I need for school. The magazine is also on hold.

Every day I clip the political cartoon and comics from the newspaper. I also save receipts, advertisements, and packaging. If you want me to mail you things I'll gladly do it, I've been collecting them in case a learner is interested. I can also mail newspapers, books and comics from the flea market, blank postcards, swimming trunks, yarn, et cetera. Just Email me or comment with a way to reach you.

If you just want clippings I'll mail them for free. If you want other stuff you'll need to pay the item price and shipping. I can send clippings once or do it as an ongoing thing.



Grautur - thick soup
Hafragrautur - oatmeal/porridge
Grjón - cereal, rice
Grjónagrautur, hrísgrjónagrautur - rice pudding
hrísgrjón - rice
táneglur - toenails

News

Ef - if
Einhver - somebody, someone, some
Milli - between
Þrítugur - thirty years old
Fertugur - forty years old
Derhúfa - deerstalker, visor cap, baseball cap
Þá - at that time, then
Gjarna, gjarnan - gladly, readily
Síst - least, worst
Fróa - soothe, comfort, alleviate
Fróa sér - masturbate
Þar sem - as, since
líklega - probably
Frami - advancement
honum brá - he was shocked
nokkuð - quite, fairly
mása - pant, puff
Svona - like that, thus, about, approx.
þetta er svona lagað - this is how it is
á almannafæri - in public, publically

Ef einhver sér mann milli þrítugs og fertugs á reiðhjóli, með derhúfu og í bláum og rauðum jakka, þá vill lögreglan gjarnan hafa tal af honum. If somebody sees a man between thirty and forty years old on a bicycle, with a baseball cap and in a blue and red jacket, the police will gladly want to have a conversation with him.

Ekki síst ef hann er að fróa sér á hjólinu. Especially (not least) if he is masturbating on the bicycle.

Þar er líklega kominn sá sem þrjár ungar stúlkur gengu framá á Sólvallagötu um klukkan hálf sjö í morgun. Since/there is probably (kominn sá sem) three young girls advancing(?) on Sólvallagata around half past six this morning.

Þeim brá nokkuð í brún við að sjá þennan másandi mann. Svona lagað er náttúrlega bannað á almannafæri. They were quite shocked in amazement to see this panting man. This is naturally banned in public.

Comics

sjúkrakassi - first aid kit
alveg - completely
glæsilegur - splendid
vonandi - hopefully
gosbrunnur - fountain
gemsi - cell phone
reikningur - bill
félagi - comrade
endurraða - unscramble
andlit - face
vinka - wave (to someone)
reið - ride
engi - meadow
báðir - both
einstakur - unique, single
vera andfúlli - have bad breath
hvass - harsh, keen, windy
hvöss gagnrýni - harsh criticism
hvöss sjón - keen eyesight
Skulu - shall, need
við skulum koma okkur - let's go
þegar - immediately, directly, when
fellibylur - hurricane, typhoon
læti - tumult, noise
láta öllum illum látum - behave badly
gaur - gangling fellow, pole
borga - pay
gemsareikning - cell phone bill
lofa - promise, praise, allow
aukakostnað - increasing/excess costs
fullvissa - assure
hrína - cry, wail
hindra - hinder
útsýni - view
völlur - field, lawn, airport
nef - nose, beak
æðri - higher, more exalted
endi - end

Hver skrifaði öll SMS-in? - Who wrote all the SMS?
Hver lofaði að taka á sig allan aukakostnað? - Who promised to take care of all excess costs?
Og hver á þá að borga reikninginn? - And who should pay the bill then?

Taken from comics in the newspaper.
Couldn't log into any "secure" sites like this for a while so I couldn't post.

Science

gæði - quality, kindness
svif - flight
svifryk - "flight dust", particulate matter
Miðlungs - mediocre, moderate
viðmið - norm
unninn - processed
þróun - progress, evolution
Einungis - only, merely
vernd - protection
mörk - 250g (about infants), forest
leyfilegur - allowed
viðbragð - jump, jolt
viðbragðsfljótur - quick to react
teymi - tern
5pá - prophecy, weather forecast
vera - creature, stay, reality
ákveða - decide
mótvægi - counterbalance
Mæling - measurement
mæla - measure, survey
gatnamót - intersection
mengun - pollution
ögn - particle, trifle
þvermáli - diameter
uppruni - origin, source
eftirfarandi - following
malbik - asphalt
bremsluborði - break lining
sót - soot
jarðvegur - soil
samgöngur - transport, communications
samgöngutæki - means of transportation
sjálfvirkar - automatic
færanlegur - moveable
valmynd - menu
orka - power, energy
orkunýting - energy consumption/efficiency
fjúka - be blown away
nálgast - approach
gagn use, (plural) data/documents, evidence
raun - experience, trial, truth, distress
meðal tal - mean value

From here.

School

Fyrri - first of two, previous, earlier
Seinni - later, slower
Heimaverkefni - homework
Notkun - use, application
Hópur - group, crowd
Námskeið - course
Námsefni - curriculum, syllabus
Ljósrit - photocopy
Stafróf - alphabet
Stefnumót - rendez-vous, date, appointment
Sendiferð - errand
Afhenda - "turn in", deliver, hand over
Fremur - rather
Lesefni - reading matter
Nám - studying, studies
Sjálfsnám - private study
Rit - work, literary work
Gilda - be valid
Skriflegur - written
Próf - exam, hearing
Skipting - division
Þjálfun - training, exercise, practice
Tal - speech, conversation, number
Misseri - semester

Taken from school schedule Word documents.

Food, household supplies

Hollur - healthy, loyal, good
Rófa - rutabaga, yellow turnip
Allur - whole, all
Kleina - cruller, twisted doughnut
Grófur - coarse, rough
Ódýr - cheap
Slátrun - slaughter
Heill - undamaged, healthy, whole, sincere
Skrokkur - body, hull, frame
Saga - saw
Hryggur - back, spine, ridge
Flokkur - group, class
Lærissneiðar - slice of leg of lamb
Rauðspretta - plaice
Roð - fish skin
Núðlur - noodles
Ökkli - ankle
Viskustykki - tea towel
Vörn - defence
Munnir - mouth
Gúmmi - rubber
Rafgeymir - battery
Uppþvotalögur - cleaning liquid
Bleiur - daiper/nappy
Nýra - kidney
Pinni - stick, peg, pin
Frostpinnar - ice lollies
Kubbur - block of wood, chip
Staur - post, pole
Hagkvæmur - economical, efficient
Örbylgja- microwave
Örbylgjupopp - popcorn
Hafur - billy-goat
Haframjöl - oatmeal
Púði - cushion, pillow
Sykurpúði - marshmallow
Kex - cracker

Taken from a sale advertisement in the mail from Krónan.