Icelandic Word Search — Orðasalat
Orðasalat is a free daily Icelandic word search: find the hidden, themed words in a grid of letters — a relaxing, beginner-friendly way to get used to reading Icelandic.
How to play
- Each day has a theme and a list of Icelandic words to find.
- Words run across, down or diagonally.
- Drag or tap to select a word.
- Find them all to finish.
Why it is great for beginners
You do not need to produce words, just recognise them — one of the gentlest ways to start. You also get comfortable with 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.
Tips
- Scan one row or column at a time for a first letter.
- Use the theme to predict the words.
Is an Icelandic word search good for learning vocabulary?
It is good for one specific thing: learning to see Icelandic letters as distinct shapes. Á, Ð, É, Í, Ó, Ú, Ý, Þ, Æ and Ö are separate letters in the grid, so a word containing Ö will never be found by scanning for O. Beginners who have only read Icelandic in passing usually discover here that they have been skimming over the accents.
Each grid is built around one theme, such as animals, weather or school, and all the hidden words belong to it, which means you meet related vocabulary together rather than at random. Words run in all eight directions, forwards and backwards, and one letter can belong to more than one word. The bank holds 170 grids and one appears each day. Start with the longest words, because they stand out and shrink the space the rest can hide in.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there an Icelandic word search game?
- Yes — Orðasalat, a free daily Icelandic word search.
- Is it good for learning Icelandic?
- Yes — recognising words is a low-pressure first step that builds familiarity with spelling.
- Is Orðasalat free?
- Yes, with a new themed puzzle every day.