Faroese orthography

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:IPA notice Faroese orthography is the method employed to write the Faroese language, using a 29-letter Latin alphabet, although it does not include the letters C, Q, W, X and Z.

Alphabet

File:Exampleoffaroeseuseofdoubleumlaut.jpg

lang}}.

The Faroese alphabet consists of 29 letters derived from the Latin script:

Majuscule forms (also called uppercase or capital letters)
lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}
Minuscule forms (also called lowercase or small letters)
lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}	lang}}

Names of letters

Letter	Name	IPA
lang}}	lang}} ("leading a")	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}} ("leading i")	main}}
lang}}	lang}} ("leading í")	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	u	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
lang}}	lang}} ("latter i")	main}}
lang}}	lang}} ("latter í")	main}}
lang}}	lang}} ("latter a")	main}}
lang}}	lang}}	main}}
Obsolete letters
lang}}	lang}}	main}}

• Eth Template:Angbr (Faroese {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) never appears at the beginning of a word, which means its majuscule form Template:Angbr rarely occurs except in situations where all-capital letters are used, such as on maps.
• Template:Angbr can also be written Template:Angbr in poetic language, such as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ('the Faroes'). This has to do with different orthographic traditions (Danish–Norwegian for Template:Angbr and Icelandic for Template:Angbr). Originally, both forms were used, depending on the historical form of the word; Template:Angbr was used when the vowel resulted from I-mutation of {{#invoke:IPA|main}} while Template:Angbr was used when the vowel resulted from U-mutation of {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. In handwriting, Template:Angbr is sometimes used.
• While Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr, Template:Angbr, and Template:Angbr are not found in the Faroese language, Template:Angbr was known in earlier versions of Hammershaimb's orthography, such as Template:Angbr for Saksun.
• While the Faroese keyboard layout allows one to write in Latin, English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, etc., the Old Norse and Modern Icelandic letter Template:Angbr is missing. In related Faroese words, it is written as either Template:Angbr or Template:Angbr. If an Icelandic name has to be transcribed, Template:Angbr is common.

Spelling-to-sound correspondence

This section lists Faroese letters and letter combinations and their phonemic representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet.<ref name="thrainsson">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>

Vowels

File:KB Faroese.svg

Faroese keyboard layout

Faroese vowels may be either long or short, but this distinction is only relevant in stressed syllables: the only unstressed vowels (at least in native words) are {{#invoke:IPA|main}}. The vowel length is determined by the number of consonants that follow the vowel: if there is only one consonant (i.e., CVCV or CVC# syllable structure), the vowel is long; if there are more than one (CVCCV), counting geminates and pre-aspirated stops as CC, the vowel is short.Template:Sfn In addition to long monophthongs, Faroese also has diphthongs, which are always long. There are, however, some exceptions to the vowel length rule:Template:Sfn

1. A vowel is long if it precedes a consonant combination Template:Angbr + Template:Angbr. Examples include {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}. The situation is however more complex, as seen below:
   • When the second consonant is Template:Angbr, as in {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, the combination is treated as one sound (see below), and thus the vowel is long. However, the vowel before Template:Angbr is short.
   • Template:Angbr is not considered to be a consonant cluster, so the vowel preceding it is short.
2. In loanwords before Template:Angbr, the vowel is optionally long.
3. The genitive suffix Template:Angbr does not affect the vowel length; e.g., {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.

VowelsTemplate:Sfnp

Grapheme	Sound (IPA)		Examples
	Short	Long
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "calm (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "calm (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "wet (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "wet (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "greedy (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "greedy (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "soft (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "soft (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "white (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "white (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "endured" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "to endure"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "empty (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "empty (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "yellow (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "yellow (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "foul (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "foul (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "mysterious" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "mythological"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "German (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "German (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "nice (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "nice (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "high (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "high (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "fat (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "fat (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "dead (n)" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "dead (m)"
lang}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	{{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "forgot" {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "to forget"

ConsonantsTemplate:Sfn

Consonants

Grapheme	Phonetic realization (IPA)	Examples
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "boat"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "animal"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "deep"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	between vowels: See #Glide insertion for more information.
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "table"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "fish"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}} (adverb), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "behind"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "evening (before a saint's holiday)"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, when not a loanword or pet name: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "celebration"
	between vowels: See #Glide insertion for more information.
	lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (neuter forms): {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "remarkable (n)"
	lang}}, in past participles: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "mown (m pl)"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "good"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "ravine"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "house"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	before a vowel and two consonants: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "help"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "wheel"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "whale"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "Christmas"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, when not before a vowel or a loanword: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "feeling"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "king"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "to choose"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "the policy (acc)"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "clock"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	before a voiceless consonant, or word finally after a voiceless consonant: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "spleen"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "soft"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	in loan words and pet names: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "mill"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "mountain"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "man"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "name"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "fledgling"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "long"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "bench (dat)"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "to knock"
lang}}	main}}
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	after diphthongs: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "later"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "to run"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "pipe"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "lucky"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "to row"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "page"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "self"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, word initially: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "ship"
	lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, word internally: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "I love"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "school"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "quickly"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "star"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "toe"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "people"
lang}}	main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "away"
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	before a voiceless consonant: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "wrong (n)"
	other contexts: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} "water"

Glide insertion

Faroese avoids having a hiatus between two vowels by inserting a glide. Orthographically, this is shown in three ways:

1. vowel + Template:Angbr + vowel
2. vowel + Template:Angbr + vowel
3. vowel + vowel

Typically, the first vowel is long and in words with two syllables always stressed, while the second vowel is short and unstressed. In Faroese, short and unstressed vowels can only be {{#invoke:IPA|main}}.

Glide insertionTemplate:Sfnp

First vowel	Second vowel			Examples
	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}
lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}	main}}	main}}	main}}	lang}}

The value of the glide is determined by the surrounding vowels:

1. {{#invoke:IPA|main}}
   • "I-surrounding, type 1" – after Template:Angbr: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (to wait), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (dead), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (sheep)
   • "I-surrounding, type 2" – between any vowel (except "u-vowels" Template:Angbr) and Template:Angbr: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (ballad), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (rage).
2. {{#invoke:IPA|main}}
   • "U-surrounding, type 1" – after Template:Angbr: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (Odin), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (good morning!), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (south), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (to make a trace).
3. {{#invoke:IPA|main}}
   • "U-surrounding, type 2" – between Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (before), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (leather), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (in clothes), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (in newspapers).
   • "A-surrounding, type 2"
     • These are exceptions (there is also a regular pronunciation): {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (eider-duck).
     • The past participles always have {{#invoke:IPA|main}}: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (beloved, nom., acc. fem. pl.)
4. Silent
   • "A-surrounding, type 1" – between Template:Angbr and Template:Angbr and in some words between Template:Angbr and Template:Angle bracket: {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (to advise), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (to gladden, please), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (to forebode), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (to chant), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}} (to make a speech)

See also

• Faroese language
• Faroese Braille
• Icelandic orthography
• Danish orthography
• Norwegian orthography

Bibliography

• Template:Citation
• Template:Citation
• Template:Citation