Free Text-To-Speech and Text-to-MP3 for Icelandic

Easily convert your Icelandic text into professional speech for free. Perfect for e-learning, presentations, YouTube videos and increasing the accessibility of your website. Our voices pronounce your texts in their own language using a specific accent. Plus, these texts can be downloaded as MP3. In some languages, multiple speakers are available.

Input limit: 3,000 characters / Don't forget to turn on your speakers :-)

Hint: If you finish a sentence, leave a space after the dot before the next one starts for better pronunciation.

Here are some features to use while generating speech:

Add a break

Mary had a little lamb <break time="1s"/> Whose fleece was white as snow.

Emphasizing words

I already told you I <emphasis level="strong">really like </emphasis> that person.

Speed

For dramatic purposes, you might wish to <prosody rate="slow">slow down the speaking rate of your text.</prosody>
Or if you are in a hurry <prosody rate="fast">your may want to speed it up a bit.</prosody>

Pitch

Do you like sythesized speech <prosody pitch="high">with a pitch that is higher than normal?</prosody>
Or do you prefer your speech <prosody pitch="-20%">with a somewhat lower pitch?</prosody>

Whisper

<amazon:effect name="whispered">If you make any noise, </amazon:effect> she said, <amazon:effect name="whispered">they will hear us.</amazon:effect>

Conversations

It is possible to switch between speakers within the text. Just use the following format:
[speaker:Brian] Hello Emma
[speaker:Emma] Hey Brian
[speaker:Brian] How are you doing?
[speaker:Emma] I am fine. May i invite you to a cup of tea?

Please note: Remove any diacritical signs from the speakers names when using this, Léa = Lea, Penélope = Penelope

Need more effects or customization? Please refer to the Amazon SSML Tags for Amazon Polly

Facts about the Icelandic language:

Icelandic, the North Germanic language spoken in Iceland, boasts a remarkably rich history that extends back to the settlement of Iceland in the 9th and 10th centuries AD. Derived from Old Norse, the language of the Vikings, Icelandic has remained remarkably stable over the centuries. This linguistic consistency is such that modern Icelanders can still read the classic sagas written around the 13th century with relative ease, a testament to the enduring nature of their language.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Icelandic is its efforts to maintain linguistic purity. The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies in Reykjavik actively works to preserve the historical aspects of the language, often creating new words for modern concepts from Old Icelandic roots instead of adopting foreign loanwords. Consequently, the technological term 'computer' translates to 'tölva', a portmanteau of ancient Icelandic words for 'number' and 'prophetess'.

Furthermore, Icelandic retains some linguistic characteristics that are rare or have disappeared in most other languages. It employs cases for nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and articles, distinguishing between nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive. Additionally, Icelandic verbs still conjugate for person, number, tense, mood, and voice. Adjectives agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify, adding a layer of complexity for learners.

But what truly captures the imagination is Icelandic's longstanding tradition of preserving old words and even reintroducing archaic terms that have fallen out of use. These efforts reflect Icelanders’ cultural pride in their unique language as a living bridge to their Viking age heritage. Thus, while Icelandic may not be widely spoken beyond the island's shores, it remains a language deeply entrenched in its historical roots, offering a window into the past and a cultural richness appreciated by language enthusiasts and historians alike.