Icelandic Hangman — Hengimann
Hengimann is Icelandic Hangman: guess the hidden word one letter at a time before you run out of tries. It is one of the easiest ways for beginners to start learning Icelandic.
How to play
- A hidden Icelandic word is shown as blanks.
- Guess one letter at a time.
- Correct letters appear in place; wrong guesses cost you.
- Solve the word before the drawing is complete.
Icelandic letters
The Icelandic alphabet has 32 letters and includes letters English lacks: á, é, í, ó, ú, ý, þ (thorn), æ, ð (eth) and ö, with no c, q, w or z. In the games these accented letters count as their own distinct letters. The on-screen keyboard includes all of them.
Tips for learners
- Start with common vowels (a, i, u) and the special vowels.
- Try frequent consonants like r, s, n, t.
- Think about common Icelandic word endings.
Is Icelandic hangman a good first Icelandic game?
Yes, and mostly because of the clue. Every word comes with a short definition shown from the start, so you are matching meaning to letters rather than guessing blind. That makes it one of the few puzzles on the site that a complete beginner can finish without any Icelandic at all, and it teaches the alphabet in the process.
The catch is that the accented letters are separate letters. Á is not A and Ý is not Y, so each has to be guessed on its own and a wrong choice there costs a life like any other miss. You get seven wrong guesses. A correct letter appears everywhere it occurs in the word, which means the common letters R, N, S, A and I are worth trying early. The bank holds 150 words, all everyday vocabulary rather than obscure ones, and one appears each day.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there an Icelandic hangman game?
- Yes — Hengimann, a free Icelandic hangman with a new word every day.
- Is it good for beginners?
- Very — guessing letters is a gentle way to learn Icelandic spelling and vocabulary.
- Is it free?
- Yes, free with a new word daily.
- Which letters can I guess?
- All 32 Icelandic letters, including á, é, í, ó, ú, ý, þ, æ, ð and ö.