View source for Faroese language

{{short description|North Germanic language of the Faroe Islands}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = Faroese
| nativename       = {{lang|fo|føroyskt}}
| pronunciation    = {{IPA|fo|ˈføːɹɪst|}}
| states           = [[Faroe Islands]]
| ethnicity        = [[Faroe Islanders]]
| speakers         = {{sigfig|69,150|2}}
| date             = 2015
| ref              = e19
| familycolor      = Indo-European
| fam2             = [[Germanic languages|Germanic]]
| fam3             = [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]]
| fam4             = [[Old Norse#Old West Norse|West Scandinavian]]
| fam5             = Insular Scandinavian
| ancestor         = [[Old Norse]]
| ancestor2        = [[Old Norse#Old West Norse|Old West Norse]]
| ancestor3        = [[Old Norwegian]]<ref>Sandøy, H., Frå tre dialektar til tre språk. In: Gunnstein Akselberg og Edit Bugge (red.), Vestnordisk språkkontakt gjennom 1200 år. Tórshavn, Fróðskapur, 2011, pp. 19-38. [http://folk.uib.no/hnohs/Publikasjonar/Sandoy,%201410,%20Fraa%20tre%20dialektar%20til%20tre%20spraak.pdf]</ref>
| ancestor4        = [[#Old Faroese|Old Faroese]]
| script           = {{ubl|[[Latin script|Latin]] ([[Faroese alphabet]])|[[Faroese Braille]]}}
| nation           = [[Faroe Islands]]
| agency           = [[Faroese Language Board]] [http://malrad.fo/ Føroyska málnevndin]
| minority         = [[Denmark]]
| iso1             = fo
| iso2             = fao
| iso3             = fao
| glotto           = faro1244
| glottorefname    = Faroese
| lingua           = 52-AAA-ab
| notice           = IPA
| map2             = Lang Status 80-VU.svg
| mapcaption2      = {{center|Faroese is classified as Vulnerable by the [[UNESCO]] ''[[Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger]]''.}}
}}
'''Faroese'''{{efn|While the spelling ''Faeroese'' is also seen, ''Faroese'' is the spelling used in grammars, textbooks, scientific articles and dictionaries between Faroese and English.}} ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|f|ɛər|oʊ|ˈ|iː|z|,_|ˌ|f|ær|-|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Faroese.wav}} {{respell|FAIR|oh|EEZ|,_|FARR|-}};<ref>{{Cite OED|Faroese|access-date = 8 May 2019}}</ref> {{Langx|fo|label=[[endonym]]|føroyskt}} {{IPA|fo|ˈføːɹɪst|}}) is a [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic language]] spoken as a [[first language]] by about 69,000 [[Faroe Islanders]], of whom 21,000 reside mainly in [[Denmark]] and elsewhere.

It is one of five languages descended from [[Old Norse#Old West Norse|Old West Norse]] spoken in the [[Middle Ages]]; the others include [[Nynorsk|Norwegian]], [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]], and the extinct [[Norn language|Norn]] and [[Greenlandic Norse]]. Faroese and Icelandic, its closest extant relative, are not easily [[Mutual intelligibility|mutually intelligible]] in speech, but the written languages resemble each other quite closely, largely owing to Faroese's [[Orthographic depth|etymological orthography]].<ref name="BarbourCarmichael2000">{{cite book|last1=Barbour|first1=Stephen|last2=Carmichael|first2=Cathie|title=Language and Nationalism in Europe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1ixmu8Iga7gC&pg=PA106|year=2000|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-158407-7|page=106}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Sheep Letter, p 1.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Sheep letter]] ({{langx|fo|Seyðabrævið}}) is the oldest surviving document of the Faroe Islands. Written in 1298 in Old Norse, it contains some words and expressions believed to be especially Faroese.<ref name="Medieval sources">{{cite web|url=http://wanthalf.saga.cz/dokumenty/faerstina/zdroje/nejstarsi_pisemnosti/GR_medieval_sources.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305152327/http://wanthalf.saga.cz/dokumenty/faerstina/zdroje/nejstarsi_pisemnosti/GR_medieval_sources.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=live|title=History and Diachronic Variations - Medieval sources|publisher=wanthalf.saga.cz (part of a book)|access-date=22 October 2015}}</ref>]]
{{Old Norse language map}}
[[File:The Famjin Stone a Faroese Runestone.JPG|thumb|The [[Fámjin stone]], a Faroese [[runestone]]|306x306px]]
{{Cladogram |cladogram={{North Germanic clade}}}} <!-- Made the clade a cladogram due to unfortunate text, if the opportunity to incorporate this into the main body ever comes, feel free to remove the {{Cladogram}} and leave just the {{North Germanic clade}} -->

Around 900&nbsp;AD, the language spoken in the Faroes was [[Old Norse]], which Norse settlers had brought with them during the time of the settlement of Faroe Islands ({{lang|non|landnám}}) that began in 825. However, many of the settlers were not from [[Scandinavia]], but descendants of Norse settlers in the [[Irish Sea]] region. In addition, women from Norse-occupied Ireland, the [[Kingdom of the Isles|Norse–Gaelic Isles]], [[Orkney]], and [[Shetland]] often married native Scandinavian men before settling in the Faroe Islands and Iceland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Letter from the Faroes - Lost History of the Sheep Islands - Archaeology Magazine - March/April 2023 |url=https://archaeology.org/issues/march-april-2023/letters-from/faroe-islands-settlement/ |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=Archaeology Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> As a result, the [[Middle Irish]] language has had some influence on both Faroese and [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]].

There is speculation about Gaelic language place names in the Faroes: for example, the names of [[Mykines, Faroe Islands|Mykines]], [[Stóra Dímun]], [[Lítla Dímun]] and [[Argir]] have been hypothesized to contain Celtic roots.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Faroese Language - Learn about the Faroe Islands language|url=https://www.faroeislands.fo/arts-culture/language/|access-date=2021-09-13|website=faroeislands.fo|language=en|archive-date=2021-08-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816183723/https://www.faroeislands.fo/arts-culture/language/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other examples of early-introduced words of Celtic origin are: {{wikt-lang|fo|blak}}/{{lang|fo|blaðak}} ([[buttermilk]]), cf. [[Middle Irish]] {{wikt-lang|mga|bláthach}}; {{lang|fo|drunnur}} (tail-piece of an animal), cf. Middle Irish {{lang|mga|dronn}}; {{wikt-lang|fo|grúkur}} ([[head]], headhair), cf. Middle Irish {{wikt-lang|mga|gruaig}}; {{wikt-lang|fo|lámur}} ([[hand]], [[paw]]), cf. Middle Irish {{wikt-lang|mga|lámh}}; {{wikt-lang|fo|tarvur}} ([[bull]]), cf. Middle Irish {{wikt-lang|mga|tarbh}}; and {{wikt-lang|fo|ærgi}} ([[pasture]] in the [[outfield]]), cf. Middle Irish {{lang|mga|áirge}}.<ref>Chr. Matras. Greinaval – málfrøðigreinir. FØROYA FRÓÐSKAPARFELAG 2000</ref>

Between the 9th and the 15th centuries, a distinct Faroese language evolved, although it was probably still mutually intelligible with [[Old West Norse language|Old West Norse]], and remained similar to the [[Norn language]] of [[Orkney]] and Shetland during Norn's earlier phase.

Faroese ceased to be a written language after the [[Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein|Danish–Norwegian Reformation]] of the early 16th century, with Danish replacing Faroese as the language of administration and education.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uv.es/capelo/thefaroeselanguage.html|title=The Faroese Language |publisher=[[University of Valencia]] |access-date=2017-08-23}}</ref> The islanders continued to use the language in [[ballad]]s, [[folklore|folktales]], and everyday life. This maintained a rich [[oral tradition|spoken tradition]], but for 300 years the language was not used in written form.

In 1823, the Danish Bible Society published a [[diglot]] of the [[Gospel of Matthew]], with Faroese on the left and Danish on the right.

[[Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb]] and the Icelandic grammarian and politician [[Jón Sigurðsson]] published a written standard for Modern Faroese in 1854, which still exists.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Faroese-language |title=Faroese language |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=2017-08-23 }}</ref> They set a standard for the [[orthography]] of the language, based on its Old Norse roots and similar to that of Icelandic. The main purpose of this was for the spelling to represent the diverse dialects of Faroese in equal measure. Additionally, it had the advantages of being etymologically clear and keeping the kinship with the Icelandic written language. The actual pronunciation, however, often differs considerably from the written rendering. The letter ''[[ð]]'', for example, has no specific [[phoneme]] attached to it.

[[Jakob Jakobsen]] devised a rival system of orthography, based on his wish for a phonetic spelling, but this system was never taken up by the speakers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://snar.fo/tema-og-tvoergreinalig-evni/skaldskapur-og-midlar/rithoevundar/j/jakobsen-jakob/|website=Snar.fo |title=Jakob Jakobsen (1864-1918)|access-date=2014-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310065447/http://snar.fo/tema-og-tvoergreinalig-evni/skaldskapur-og-midlar/rithoevundar/j/jakobsen-jakob/|archive-date=2014-03-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1908, [[Scripture Gift Mission]] published the [[Gospel of John]] in Faroese.

In 1937, Faroese replaced [[Danish language|Danish]] as the official school language, in 1938, as the church language,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jensen |first=Jan |date=2022-12-01 |title=Reconfiguring Hell: Urgency and Salvation in the Faroe Islands |url=https://www.berghahnjournals.com/view/journals/saas/30/4/saas300405.xml |journal=Social Anthropology/Anthropologie Sociale |language=en |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=54–69 |doi=10.3167/saas.2022.300405 |issn=0964-0282|doi-access=free }}</ref> and in 1948, as the national language by the Home Rule Act of the Faroe Islands. The first complete translation of the Bible was completed in 1948.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Mitchinson |first=John |date=2012 |title=Danish in the Faroe Islands: a post-colonial perspective |url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1348494/ |degree=PhD |chapter= |publisher=University College London |docket= |oclc= |access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref>

Up until the 1980s, public radio broadcasts were primarily conducted in Norwegian and Danish. This helps to explain why older generations can speak Norwegian in addition to Danish and Faroese. Faroese broadcasts quickly replaced earlier programs and now all radio content is transmitted in the language, alongside all local newspapers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Leonard |first=Stephen Pax |date=March 2016 |title=A "High-Intimacy" Language in the Atlantic: Radio and Purism in the Faroe Islands |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/686174 |journal=Journal of Anthropological Research |language=en |volume=72 |issue=1 |pages=58–76 |doi=10.1086/686174 |issn=0091-7710|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Today, Danish is considered a foreign language, although around 5% of residents on the Faroes learn it as a first language.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Learn Faroese - History |url=https://www.101languages.net/faroese/history.html |access-date=2024-07-13 |website=www.101languages.net}}</ref> Both Danish and English are obligatory at the primary and secondary school levels, with fluency in English becoming increasingly valued particularly among the younger generations. Films and television are frequently shown in English with Danish subtitles.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Attitudes towards English in Europe. Volume 1: English in Europe |date=2015 |publisher=De Gruyter Mouton |isbn=978-1-61451-735-1 |editor-last=Linn |editor-first=Andrew Robert |series=Language and social life |location=Berlin ; Boston |editor-last2=Bermel |editor-first2=Neil |editor-last3=Ferguson |editor-first3=Gibson}}</ref>

In 2017, the tourist board Visit Faroe Islands launched a website entitled Faroe Islands Translate. Text can be entered in thirteen languages, including English, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Instead of an instant machine translation being given, the text goes to a volunteer who will provide a live video translation, or else a recorded one later. The aim of this project was to get Faroese featured on [[Google Translate]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-41524790|title=Faroe Islands launch live translation service |date=2017-10-06|website=BBC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627145833/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-41524790 |archive-date= Jun 27, 2023 }}</ref>

== Old Faroese ==
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2016}}

Old Faroese ({{lang|fo|miðaldarføroyskt}}, ca. mid-14th to mid-16th centuries) is a form of [[Old Norse]] spoken in medieval times in the Faroe Islands. The most crucial aspects of the development of Faroese are [[diphthongisation]] and [[Palatalization (sound change)|palatalisation]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Nordic languages: An international handbook of the history of the North Germanic languages |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z17C7s3r_nwC&pg=PA1091 |volume= 2|date=2005 |editor1-last=Bandle|editor1-first=Oskar|editor2-last=Braunmuller |editor2-first=Kurt |editor3-last=Hakon Jahr |editor3-first= Ernst  |editor4-last= Karker |editor4-first= Allan|editor5-last=Naumann |editor5-first=Hans-Peter |editor6-last=Teleman|editor6-first=Ulf |publisher=Mouton de Gruyter|isbn=3110197065|location=Berlin|page=1091|oclc=567851019}}</ref>

There is not enough data available to establish an accurate chronology of Faroese, but a rough one may be developed through comparison to the chronologies of Old Icelandic and Old Norwegian. In the 12th/13th centuries, ''á'' and ''ǫ́'' merged as {{IPA|/ɔː/}}; later on at the beginning of the 14th century, delabialization took place: ''y'', ''øy'', ''au'' > {{IPA|/i, ɔi, ɛi/}}; ''í'' and ''ý'' merged in addition to ''i'' and ''y'', but in the case of ''í'' and ''ý'', it appears that labialisation took place instead as is documented by later development to {{IPA|/ʊi/}}. Further, the language underwent a palatalisation of ''k'', ''g'' and ''sk'' before [[Old Norse]] ''e'', ''i'', ''y'', ''ø'', ''au'' > {{IPA|/kʲ, ɡʲ, skʲ/}} > {{IPA|/cᶜ̧, ɟᶨ, ɕcᶜ̧/}} > {{IPA|/tʃʰ, tʃ, ʃ/}}. Before the palatalisation ''é'' and ''ǽ'' merged as {{IPA|/ɛː/}} and approximately in the same period [[epenthetic]] ''u'' is inserted into word-final {{IPA|/Cr/}} and {{IPA|/CrC/}} clusters.

A massive quantity shift also operated in Middle Faroese. In the case of [[Faroese phonology#Skerping|''skerping'']], it took place after delabialization but before loss of post-vocalic ''ð'' and ''g'' {{IPA|/ɣ/}}. The shift of ''hv'' {{IPA|/hw/}} to {{IPA|/kw/}}, the deletion of {{IPA|/h/}} in (remaining) word-initial {{IPA|/h/}}–sonorant clusters (''hr'', ''hl'', ''hn'' > ''r'', ''l'', ''n''), and the dissolution of ''þ'' (''þ'' > ''t''; ''þ'' > ''h'' in demonstrative pronouns and adverbs)<ref>{{citation|last=Petersen|first=Hjalmar P.|title=The Change of ''þ'' to ''h'' in Faroese |url=https://setur.fo/uploads/tx_tcpublications/Petersen_HP_The_Change_of_%C3%BE_to_h.pdf}}{{dead link|date=December 2023}}</ref> appeared before the end of the 13th century. Another undated change is the merger of ''ǫ'', ''ø'' and ''ǿ'' into {{IPA|/ø/}}; pre-nasal ''ǫ'', ''ǫ́'' > ''o'', ''ó''. ''enk'', ''eng'' probably became {{lang|fo|eing}}, {{lang|fo|eink}} in the 14th century; the development of ''a'' to {{IPA|/ɛ/}} before ''ng'', ''nk'' appeared after the palatalisation of ''k'', ''g'', and ''sk'' had been completed, such a change is quite a recent development, as well as change ''Cve'' > ''Cvø''.

{|class="wikitable"
|+ Development of vowels from Old Norse to Modern Faroese<ref name="Loanwords">According to Hjalmar Petersen in: Tórður Jóansson: ''English loanwords in Faroese''. Tórshavn: Fannir 1997, S. 45 (in red: later corrections, 21. July 2008). In green: corrections of German Wikipedia article [[:de:Färöische Sprache]]</ref>
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | 9th century<br />(Old Norse)
! align="center" | up to 14th century<br />(Early Faroese)
! colspan="2" align="center" | 14th–16th centuries<br />(Old Faroese)
! colspan="4" align="center" | 17th century<br />(Late Old Faroese)
! colspan="4" align="center" | 20th century<br />(New Faroese)
! &nbsp;
|-
| colspan="4" align="center" | &nbsp;
| align="center" | &nbsp;
| rowspan="2" align="center" | North
| rowspan="2" align="center" | South
| colspan="2" align="center" | North
| colspan="2" align="center" | South
| colspan="2" align="center" | North
| colspan="2" align="center" | South
| &nbsp;
|-
| colspan="4" align="center" | &nbsp;
| align="center" | &nbsp;
| align="center" | long
| align="center" | short
| align="center" | long
| align="center" | short
| align="center" | long
| align="center" | short
| align="center" | long
| align="center" | short
| &nbsp;
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | i and y
| align="center" | {{IPA|/i/}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/iː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/iː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɪ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/iː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɪ/}}
|align="center" | {{IPA|[iː]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɪ]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[iː]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɪ]}}
! i, y
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" style="color:green;" | e and æ
| align="center" | {{IPA|/e/}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/eː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/eː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɛ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/e/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɛ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[eː]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɛ]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[eː]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɛ]}}
! e
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | ø
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ø/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/øː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ø/}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/øː/}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/œ/}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/øː/}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/œ/}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|[øː]}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|[œ]}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|[øː]}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|[ʏ]}}
! ø
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | ǫ
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɔ͔/}}
| colspan="2" align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɔ͔ː/}}
! ø
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | u
| align="center" | {{IPA|/u/}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/uː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/uː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʊ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/uː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʊ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[uː]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ʊ]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[uː]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ʊ]}}
! u
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | o
| align="center" | {{IPA|/o/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/oː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/o/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/oː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɔ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/oː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɔ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[oː]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔ]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[oː]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔ]}}
! o
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | a
| align="center" | {{IPA|/a/}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/ɛː/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɛː/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/æ/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɛː/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/æ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɛa]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[a]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɛa]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[a]}}
! a
|-
| colspan="16" align="left" | Long vowel -> Diphthong
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | í and ý
| style="color:green;" align="center" | {{IPA|/yː/}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/ʊi/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʊi/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʊi/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʊi/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʊi/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ui]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ʊi]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ui]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ʊi]}}
! í, ý
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" style="color:green;" | é and ǽ
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɛː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɛː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/eː/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɛəː/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɛə/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/eː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɛ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɛa]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[a]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[eː]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɛ]}}
! æ
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | ǿ
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/œː/}}
| colspan="2" align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/œː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/øː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/œ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/øː/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/œ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[øː]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[œ]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[øː]}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|[ʏ]}}
! ø
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | ú
| align="center" | {{IPA|/uː/}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/ʉu/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʉu/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʉʏ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʉu/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ʉʏ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ʉu]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ʏ]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ʉu]}}
! ú

|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | ó
| align="center" | {{IPA|/oː/}}
| style="color:green;" align="center" | {{IPA|/ɜu/}}
| style="color:green;" align="center" | {{IPA|/ɔu/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɜu/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɜ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɔu/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɔ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[œu, ɛu]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[œ]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔu]}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔ]}}
! ó
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | á and ǫ́
| align="center" | {{IPA|/ɔː/}}
| colspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|/ɔː/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɔː/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɔ/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɔː/}}
| align="center" style="color:green;" | {{IPA|/ɔ/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔa]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔ]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔa]}}
! á
|-
| colspan="16" align="left" | True diphthongs
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | au
| style="color:green;" align="center" | {{IPA|/ɶu/}}
| colspan="6" align="center" | {{IPA|/ɛi/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɛi]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɛ]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɛi]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɛ]}}
! ey
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | øy
| style="color:green;" align="center" | {{IPA|/œy/}}
| colspan="6" align="center" | {{IPA|/ɔi/}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔi]}}
| rowspan="2" align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔ]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔi]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ɔ]}}
! oy
|-
! colspan="4" align="center" | ei
| style="color:green;" align="center" | {{IPA|/æi/}}
| colspan="6" align="center" | {{IPA|/ai/}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ai]}}
| align="center" | {{IPA|[ai]}}
! ei
|}

== Dialects ==
[[File:Faroese Dialects and Subdialects.svg|thumb|451x451px|Major dialects and subdialects of Faroese as described by Petersen:<ref name=":1" />

{{legend|#b7eabc|Northwest Dialect}}{{legend|#c8e4f8|Northern Dialect}}{{legend|#f2f6b7|Central Dialect}}{{legend|#f9d2d2|Southern Dialect}}]]
Faroese is a highly variable language with many dialects actively used across the islands’ approximately 120 communities. While the dialect of [[Tórshavn]] is the most prominent due to the city's outstanding size, there is no official spoken standard variety, and little evidence that the Tórshavn dialect has developed [[Prestige (sociolinguistics)|prestige]] status. Faroese speech communities are tightly knit and the use of dialectal speech is widely encouraged.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=June 2018 |title=Attitudes to variation in spoken Faroese |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/josl.12283 |journal=Journal of Sociolinguistics |language=en |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=312–330 |doi=10.1111/josl.12283 |issn=1360-6441 |last1=Bugge |first1=Edit |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The study of Faroese dialectology began hundreds of years ago, with the scholar [[Lucas Debes]] noting a north–south distinction as early as 1673. In the 18th century linguist [[Jens Christian Svabo]] made further distinctions, such as identifying the Tórshavn dialect, though his categorization lacked thorough justification. In 1891 [[Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb]] would write a more definitive study of the language's variation, noting distinguishing characteristics of the north–south divide such as the northern aspiration of unvoiced plosives after long vowels and the pronunciation of {{grapheme|ó}} as {{IPAslink|œ}} in most of the north compared to {{IPAslink|ɔ}} in the south.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last= Jacobsen |first=Jógvan í Lon |date=2023 |title=Faroese Dialect Classifications |url=http://www.publicacions.ub.edu/revistes/dialectologiaSP2023/documentos/1939.pdf |journal=Dialectologia |language=en |issue=2023.2023 |doi=10.1344/Dialectologia2023.2023.4}}</ref>

The most recent and detailed classification by Hjalmar P. Petersen divides the language into four major varieties including North-Western Faroese, Central Faroese, Northern Faroese, and Southern Faroese. Additional sub-dialects of particular islands and villages have also been identified. Most of the analysis by Petersen and earlier authors is based on phonological evidence.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Petersen |first=Hjalmar Páll |date=2022 |title=Evidence for the modification of dialect classification of modern Faroese |url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/ejss-2021-2060/html |journal=European Journal of Scandinavian Studies |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=43–58 |doi=10.1515/ejss-2021-2060 |via=Walter de Gruyter GmbH|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The southern variety of Faroese is very distinct, possibly due to geographic distance exacerbated by the lack of underwater tunnels which have connected most other islands north of [[Sandur, Faroe Islands|Sandur]]. The dialect of these islands is characterized by a unique form of certain personal pronouns, alongside phonological features such as the intervocalic voicing of non-[[geminate]] stops.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Knooihuizen |first=Remco |date=May 2014 |title=Variation in Faroese and the development of a spoken standard: In search of corpus evidence |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/nordic-journal-of-linguistics/article/variation-in-faroese-and-the-development-of-a-spoken-standard-in-search-of-corpus-evidence/4C4BD0A03B4360181E59D4CB66CDB619 |journal=Nordic Journal of Linguistics |language=en |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=87–105 |doi=10.1017/S0332586514000079 |issn=0332-5865}}</ref> The [[Fortis and lenis|fortis]] consonants {{IPAslink|p}}, {{IPAslink|t}}, and {{IPAslink|k}} are aspirated following long vowels.

The central dialect area centered around [[Suðurstreymoy]] features a merging of {{grapheme|i}} and {{grapheme|u}} in unstressed ending syllables. The fortis consonants are neither aspirated nor weakened. The island of [[Nólsoy]] is a notable transitional area due to its unique realization of long {{grapheme|ó}} as {{IPA|[au:]}} and short {{grapheme|ó}} as {{IPA|[ɔ]}} compared to the {{IPA|[ɔu:]}} and {{IPA|[œ]}} found in Tórshavn and elsewhere.

The northern dialect is characterized by weakened fortis consonants and a monophthongal pronunciation of {{grapheme|á}} in ending syllables, i.e., {{IPAslink|aː}}. The realization of {{grapheme|ei}} as {{IPA|[ɔi:]}} dominates in this region, although small parts of the central and northwestern regions use this pronunciation as well.

The northwestern dialect features aspirated fortis consonants after long vowels. The {{grapheme|i}} and {{grapheme|u}} vowels remain unmerged in unstressed ending syllables. Long {{grapheme|ó}} is pronounced {{IPA|[ɔu]}} and short {{grapheme|ó}} is pronounced {{IPA|[œ]}}.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

== Alphabet ==
{{Main|Faroese orthography}}
The Faroese alphabet consists of 29 letters derived from the [[Latin script]]:

{|class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|-   
|bgcolor="#EFEFEF" align="center" colspan="29" | '''[[Capital letters|Majuscule forms]]''' (also called '''uppercase''' or '''capital letters''')
|-
|width=3% align="center"|[[A]]||width=3% align="center"|[[Á]]||width=3% align="center"|[[B]]||width=3% align="center"|[[D]]||width=3% align="center"|[[Eth|Ð]]||width=3% align="center"|[[E]]||width=3% align="center"|[[F]]||width=3% align="center"|[[G]]||width=3% align="center"|[[H]]||width=3% align="center"|[[I]]||width=3% align="center"|[[Í]]||width=3% align="center"|[[J]]||width=3% align="center"|[[K]]||width=3% align="center"|[[L]]||width=3% align="center"|[[M]]||width=3% align="center"|[[N]]||width=3% align="center"|[[O]]||width=3% align="center"|[[Ó]]||width=3% align="center"|[[P]]||width=3% align="center"|[[R]]||width=3% align="center"|[[S]]||width=3% align="center"|[[T]]||width=3% align="center"|[[U]]||width=3% align="center"|[[Ú]]||width=3% align="center"|[[V]]||width=3% align="center"|[[Y]]||width=3% align="center"|[[Ý]]||width=3% align="center"|[[Æ]]||width=3% align="center"|[[Ø]]
|-  
|align="center" colspan="29" | '''[[Lower case|Minuscule forms]]''' (also called '''lowercase''' or '''small letters''')
|-
|align="center"|a||align="center"|á||align="center"|b||align="center"|d||align="center"|ð||align="center"|e||align="center"|f||align="center"|g||align="center"|h||align="center"|i||align="center"|í||align="center"|j||align="center"|k||align="center"|l||align="center"|m||align="center"|n||align="center"|o||align="center"|ó||align="center"|p||align="center"|r||align="center"|s||align="center"|t||align="center"|u||align="center"|ú||align="center"|v||align="center"|y||align="center"|ý||align="center"|æ||align="center"|ø
|}

==Phonology==
{{main|Faroese phonology}}
===Vowels===
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto:" style=text-align:center
|+Faroese vowels
!rowspan=3|
!colspan=4| [[Front vowel|Front]]
!rowspan=2 colspan=2| [[Central vowel|Central]]
!rowspan=2 colspan=2| [[Back vowel|Back]]
|-class=small
!colspan=2| [[Roundedness|unrounded]]
!colspan=2| [[Roundedness|rounded]]
|-class=small
! [[Short vowel|short]]
! [[Long vowel|long]]
! short
! long
! short
! long
! short
! long
|-
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA link|ɪ}}
| {{IPA link|iː}}
| {{IPA link|ʏ}}
| {{IPA link|yː}}
|
|
| {{IPA link|ʊ}}
| {{IPA link|uː}}
|-
! [[Mid vowel|Mid]]
| {{IPA link|ɛ}}
| {{IPA link|eː}}
| {{IPA link|œ}}
| {{IPA link|øː}}
| 
| 
| {{IPA link|ɔ}}
| {{IPA link|oː}}
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
|
|
|
|
| {{IPA link|a}}
| {{IPA link|aː}}
|
|
|}
As with most other Germanic languages, Faroese has a large number of vowels, with 26 in total. Vowel distribution is similar to other North Germanic languages in that short vowels appear in closed syllables (those ending in consonant clusters or long consonants) and long vowels appearing in open syllables.

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
|+caption|Faroese vowel alternations<ref>{{citation|last=Árnason|first=Kristján|year=2011|title=The Phonology of Icelandic and Faroese|place=New York|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=68}}</ref>
!colspan=7|Monophthongs
|-
! colspan="4" |Long vowel
! colspan="3" |Short vowel
|- style="text-align:center;"
| {{IPA|/i/}} ||''linur'' ||{{IPA|[ˈliːnʊɹ]}} || 'soft' 
|''lint'' ||{{IPA|[lɪn̥t]}} || 'soft ([[grammatical gender|N.]])'
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{IPA|/e/}} ||''frekur'' ||{{IPA|[ˈfɹeː(ʰ)kʊɹ]}} || 'greedy' 
|''frekt'' ||{{IPA|[fɹɛʰkt]}} || 'greedy (N.)'
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{IPA|/y/}} ||''mytisk'' ||{{IPA|[ˈmyːtɪsk]}} || 'mythological' 
|''mystisk'' ||{{IPA|[ˈmʏstɪsk]}} || 'mysterious'
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{IPA|/ø/}} ||''[[wikt:høgur|høgur]]'' ||{{IPA|[ˈhøːʋʊɹ~ˈhøœʋʊɹ]}} || 'high (M.)' 
|''[[wikt:høgt|høgt]]'' ||{{IPA|[hœkt]}} || 'high (N.)'
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{IPA|/u/}} ||''[[wikt:gulur|gulur]]'' ||{{IPA|[ˈkuːlʊɹ]}} || 'yellow' 
|''[[wikt:gult|gult]]'' ||{{IPA|[kʊl̥t]}} || 'yellow (N.)'
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{IPA|/o/}} ||''[[wikt:tola|tola]]'' ||{{IPA|[ˈtʰoːla]}} || 'to endure' 
|''toldi'' ||{{IPA|[ˈtʰɔltɪ]}} || 'endured'
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{IPA|/a/}} ||''[[wikt:Kanada|Kanada]]'' ||{{IPA|[ˈkʰaːnata]}} || 'Canada' 
|''[[wikt:land|land]]'' ||{{IPA|[lant]}} || 'land'
|- style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=7|Diphthongs
|-
! colspan="4" |Long vowel
! colspan="3" |Short vowel
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{IPA|/ʊi/}} ||''[[wikt:hvítur|hvítur]]'' ||{{IPA|[ˈkvʊiːtʊɹ]}} || 'white (M.)' 
|''[[wikt:hvítt|hvítt]]'' ||{{IPA|[kvʊiʰtː]}} || 'white (N.)'
|- style="text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;"
|{{IPA|/ɛi/}} ||''[[wikt:deyður|deyður]]'' ||{{IPA|[ˈteiːjʊɹ]}} || 'dead (M.)' 
|''deytt'' ||{{IPA|[tɛʰtː]}} || 'dead (N.)'
|- style="text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;"
|{{IPA|/ai/}} ||''[[wikt:feitur|feitur]]'' ||{{IPA|[ˈfaiːtʊɹ]}} || 'fat (M.)' 
|''feitt'' ||{{IPA|[faiʰtː~fɔiʰtː]}} || 'fat (N.)'
|- style="text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;"
|{{IPA|/ɔi/}} ||''[[wikt:gloyma|gloyma]]'' ||{{IPA|[ˈklɔiːma]}} || 'to forget' 
|''gloymdi'' ||{{IPA|[ˈklɔimtɪ]}} || 'forgot'
|- style="text-align:center;"
|{{IPA|/ɛa/}} ||''spakur'' ||{{IPA|[ˈspɛaː(ʰ)kʊɹ]}} || 'calm (M.)' 
|''spakt'' ||{{IPA|[spakt]}} || 'calm (N.)'
|- style="text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;"
|{{IPA|/ɔa/}} ||''[[wikt:vátur|vátur]]'' ||{{IPA|[ˈvɔaːtʊɹ]}} || 'wet (M.)' 
|''vátt'' ||{{IPA|[vɔʰtː]}} || 'wet (N.)'
|- style="text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;"
|{{IPA|/ʉu/}} ||''fúlur'' ||{{IPA|[ˈfʉuːlʊɹ]}} || 'foul (M.)' 
|''fúlt'' ||{{IPA|[fʏl̥t]}} || 'foul (N.)'
|- style="text-align:center; white-space:nowrap;"
|{{IPA|/ɔu/}} ||''[[wikt:tómur|tómur]]'' ||{{IPA|[ˈtʰɔuːmʊɹ~ˈtʰœuːmʊɹ]}} || 'empty (M.)' 
|''tómt'' ||{{IPA|[tʰœm̥t~tʰɔm̥t]}} || 'empty (N.)'
|}

Faroese shares with Icelandic and Danish the feature of maintaining a contrast between stops based exclusively on aspiration, not voicing. Geminated stops may be pre-aspirated in intervocalic and word-final position. Intervocalically the aspirated consonants become pre-aspirated unless followed by a closed vowel. In clusters, the preaspiration merges with a preceding nasal or apical approximant, rendering them voiceless.

===Consonants===
{|class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" |
! rowspan="2" | [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! colspan="3" | [[Coronal consonant|Coronal]]
! colspan="2" | [[Dorsal consonant|Dorsal]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! [[Dental consonant|Dental]] /<br/>[[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Retroflex consonant|Retro-<br/>flex]]
! colspan="2" | [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Plosive consonant|Plosive]] /<br/>[[Affricate]]
! {{small|[[Fortis and lenis|Fortis]]}}
| {{IPA|pʰ}}
| {{IPA|tʰ}}
| ({{IPA link|ʈʰ}})
| colspan="2" | {{IPA|tʃʰ}}
| {{IPA|kʰ}}
| rowspan="2" | ({{IPA link|ʔ}})
|-
! {{small|[[Fortis and lenis|Lenis]]}}
| {{IPA link|p}}
| {{IPA link|t}}
| ({{IPA link|ʈ}})
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|tʃ}}
| {{IPA link|k}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Continuant]]
! {{small|[[Fortis and lenis|Fortis]]}}
| {{IPA link|f}}
| {{IPA link|s}}
| ({{IPA link|ʂ}})
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ʃ}}
|
| rowspan="2" | {{IPA link|h}}
|-
! {{small|[[Fortis and lenis|Lenis]]}}
| {{IPA|v}}
| style="border-right:none;" |
| style="border-left:none;" | {{IPA link|ɹ}} ({{IPA link|ɻ̊}})
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|j}}
| ({{IPA link|w}})
|-
! rowspan="3" | [[Sonorant]]
|-
! {{small|[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]}}
| {{IPA link|m}} ({{IPA link|m̥}})
| {{IPA link|n}} ({{IPA link|n̥}})
| ({{IPA link|ɳ}})
| colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ɲ}} ({{IPA link|ɲ̊}})
| {{IPA link|ŋ}} ({{IPA link|ŋ̊}})
|-
! {{small|[[Lateral consonant|Lateral]]}}
|
| {{IPA link|l}} ({{IPA link|ɬ}})
| ({{IPA link|ɭ}})
| colspan="2" | ({{IPA link|ʎ}}  {{IPA link|ʎ̥}})
|
| rowspan="2" | 
|}
(Non-phonemic phones are between parentheses)

There are several [[phonology|phonological]] processes involved in Faroese, including:
*Nasals generally assume the place of articulation and laryngeal settings of following consonants.
*Velar stops palatalize to postalveolar affricates before {{IPA|/j/ /eː/ /ɛ/ /iː/ /ɪ/}} and {{IPA|/ɛi/}}
*{{IPA|/v/}} becomes {{IPA|[f]}} before voiceless consonants
*{{IPA|/sk/}} becomes {{IPA|[ʃ]}} after {{IPA|/ɛi, ai, ɔi/}} and before {{IPA|/j/}}
*{{IPA|/ɹ/}} becomes retroflex before consonants in consonant clusters, yielding the allophones {{IPA|[ʂ ɭ ʈ ɳ]}} while {{IPA|/ɹ/}} itself becomes {{IPA|[ɻ]}}, example: {{IPA|/rt/}} is realized as {{IPA|[ɻ̊ʈ]}}.
*[[Pre-occlusion]] of original {{IPA|/ll/}} to {{IPA|[tl]}} and {{IPA|/nn/}} to {{IPA|[tn]}}.
*Pre-aspiration of original voiceless stops {{IPA|[ʰp ʰt ʰk ʰtʃ]}} after non-high long vowels and diphthongs {{IPA|/ɛaː/ /ɔaː/ /eː/ /oː/ /øː/}} or when a voiceless stop is followed by {{IPA|/n, l, r/}}. All long voiceless stops are pre-aspirated when doubled or in clusters {{IPA|[ʰpː ʰtː ʰkː ʰtʃː]}}.

==Grammar==
{{Main|Faroese grammar}}
Faroese grammar is related and very similar to that of modern [[Icelandic grammar|Icelandic]] and [[Old Norse]]. Faroese is an [[inflected language]] with three [[grammatical gender]]s and four [[grammatical case|cases]]: [[nominative case|nominative]], [[accusative case|accusative]], [[dative case|dative]] and [[genitive case|genitive]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Faroese Words and Phrases in comparison to other Germanic languages
! Faroese
! Icelandic!! Norwegian (nynorsk) !! Norwegian (bokmål) !! Danish !! Swedish !! German !! Dutch!! West Frisian !! English
|-
|{{lang|fo|Vælkomin}}
| {{lang|is|Velkomin}} || {{lang|nn|Velkomen}} || {{lang|nb|Velkommen}} || {{lang|da|Velkommen}} || {{lang|sv|Välkommen}} || {{lang|de|Willkommen}} || {{lang|nl|Welkom}} || {{lang|fy|Wolkom}} || Welcome
|-
| {{lang|fo|Farvæl}}
| {{lang|is|Far vel; Farðu heill}} || {{lang|nn|Farvel, Far vel}} || {{lang|nb|Farvel}} || {{lang|da|Farvel}} || {{lang|sv|Farväl}} || {{lang|de|Lebwohl}} || {{lang|nl|Vaarwel}} || {{lang|fy|Farwol}} || Farewell
|-
| {{lang|fo|Hvussu eitur tú?}}
| {{lang|is|Hvað heitir þú?}} || {{lang|nn|Kva (kvat) heiter du?}} || {{lang|nb|Hva heter du?}} || {{lang|da|Hvad hedder du?}} || {{lang|sv|Vad heter du?}} || {{lang|de|Wie heißt du?}} || {{lang|nl|Hoe heet je?}} || {{lang|fy|Hoe hjitsto?}} || What is your name?
|-
| {{lang|fo|Hvussu gongur?}}
| {{lang|is|Hvernig gengur?}} || {{lang|nn|Korleis gjeng / går det?}} || {{lang|nb|Hvordan går det?}} || {{lang|da|Hvordan går det?}} || {{lang|sv|Hur går det?}} || {{lang|de|Wie geht's?}} || {{lang|nl|Hoe gaat het?}} || {{lang|fy|Hoe giet it?}} || How is it going? (How goes it?)
|-
| {{lang|fo|Hvussu gamal}} (m) / {{lang|fo|gomul}} (f) {{lang|fo|ert tú?}}
| {{lang|is|Hversu gamall}} (m) / {{lang|is|gömul}} (f) {{lang|is|ert þú?}} || {{lang|nn|Kor gamal er du?}} || {{lang|nb|Hvor gammel er du?}} || {{lang|da|Hvor gammel er du?}} || {{lang|sv|Hur gammal är du?}} || {{lang|de|Wie alt bist du?}} || {{lang|nl|Hoe oud ben je?}} || {{lang|fy|Hoe âld bisto?}} || How old are you?
|-
| {{lang|fo|Reyður / reyð / reytt}}
| {{lang|is|Rauður / rauð / rautt}} || {{lang|nn|Raud(t)}} || {{lang|nb|Rød(t)}} || {{lang|da|Rød(t)}} || {{lang|sv|Rött / Röd}} || {{lang|de|Rot}} || {{lang|nl|Rood / Rode}} || {{lang|fy|Read(e)}} || Red
|-
| {{lang|fo|Bláur / blá / blátt}}
| {{lang|is|Blár / blá / blátt}} || {{lang|nn|Blå(tt)}} || {{lang|nb|Blå(tt)}} || {{lang|da|Blå(t)}} || {{lang|sv|Blå(tt)}} || {{lang|de|Blau}} || {{lang|nl|Blauw(e)}} || {{lang|fy|Blau(e)}} || Blue
|-
| {{lang|fo|Hvítur / hvít / hvítt}}
| {{lang|is|Hvítur / hvít / hvítt}} || {{lang|nn|Kvit(t)}} || {{lang|nb|Hvit(t)}} || {{lang|da|Hvid(t)}} || {{lang|sv|Vit(t)}} || {{lang|de|Weiß}} || {{lang|nl|Wit(te)}} || {{lang|fy|Wyt / wite}} || White
|}

==Example text==
<section begin="list-of-glossing-abbreviations"/><div style="display:none;">
SUB:Subjunctive mood
IMP:Imperative mood
PRS:Present tense
PST:Past tense
2PS:second person, singular
3PS:third person, singular
DF:Definite
IDF:Indefinite
N:Nominative case
A:Accusative case
D:Dative case
G:Genitive case
MA:Masculine gender
FE:Feminine gender
NT:Neuter gender
CMPA:Comparative
SPER:Superlative
</div>
<section end="list-of-glossing-abbreviations"/>
=== Universal Declaration of Human Rights ===
The following is a sample text of Article 1 of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]]. The first line is the orthographic version;<ref>{{cite web |title=Universal Declaration of Human Rights - Faroese |trans-title= Heimsyvirlýsing um Mannarættindi |website=ohchr.org |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/human-rights/universal-declaration/translations/faroese |access-date=14 November 2025 |at=1.grein}}</ref> the second is the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]] transciption; the third is the gloss. A [https://udhr.audio/UDHR_Video.asp?lng=fao&p=1 recording] is available on the UDHR audio project's website.<ref>{{cite web |first=Per |last=Mortensen |title=udhr faroese |website=udhr.audio |url=https://udhr.audio/UDHR_Video.asp?lng=fao&p=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251114153524/https://udhr.audio/UDHR_Video.asp?lng=fao&p=1 |archive-date=14 November 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{fs interlinear|lang=fo|indent=2|italics2=yes
| {'''Grein 1:'''} Øll menniskju eru fødd fræls og jøvn til virðingar og mannarættindi. Tey hava skil og samvitsku og eiga {at fara} hvørt um annað í bróðuranda.
| {'''ˈfɪsːt-a ˈkɹaiːn-∅''' {{!!}}} ˈʔœtˑl ˈmɛnːɪʃ-ʊ{{efn|name=b-sdh|[[Sandhi]] phenomena (nasal assimilation, ''h''- and final vowel deletion) are sensitive to phrase boundaries.{{sfn|Árnason|2011|p=295}}{{Failed verification|date=November 2025|reason=Source speaks as such for Icelandic's FVD only.}}}} (ʔ)ɛɹ-ʊ ˌfœtˑ-∅ {ˈfɹalːs-∅ ({{!}})} ʔɔ {ˈjøːn {{!}}} tʰɪl {ˈviːɹ.ɪŋk-aɹ ({{!}})} ʔɔ {ˈman(ː)a.ˌɹaʰtːɪnt-ɪ {{!!}}} tʰɛi ‿(h)av-a {ˈʃiːl ({{!}})} ʔɔ {ˌsaɱː‿.vɪsk-ˈʊˑ<!--Supposed to have 2nd syl. stress, eaten by boundary.--> {{!}}} ʔɔ ˈʔaiː-(a)‿ {a(t) faɹ-a ({{!}})} ˈkʰvœɻ̊ː-ʈ ʊm ˌanːa-∅{{efn|name=b-sdh}} (ʔ)ʊi ˈpɹɔuːvʊɹ.ˌanːt-a
| {First-FE.N.SG article-N.SG.IDF :} All\NT.N.PL human-N.PL.IDF be\IND.PRS-3PL born-NT.N.PL free-NT.N.PL and equal\NT.N.PL {in terms of} respec.t-G.IDF and {human.rights-A.IDF{{efn|name=Acc?|Faroese's genitive case is on its way to obsolenscence (cf. [[wikt:von#German|German]] undergoing a similar process). Outside some fixed combination, preposition mostly govern the accusative instead.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}} Possesion marking is then assured by [[wikt:mín#Faroese|possessive pronouns]] or the couple {{wikt-lang|fo|hjá}} {{gloss|with}}/ {{wikt-lang|fo|á}} {{gloss|on}} (and marginally by {{wikt-lang|fo|at}} {{gloss|to}}). E.g, {{lang|fo|hendin á mér}} {{gloss|my hand [lit: hand on me]}}, {{lang|fo|tölvan hjá mér}} {{gloss|my computer [lit: computer with me]}} (existing beside {{lang|fo|hendin mín, tölvan mín}}).{{sfnp|Árnason|2011|p=4}}}} .} They\N have-IND.PRS.3PL reason-A.IDF and con.science-A.IDF and ought-IND.PRS.3PL {to behave-INF} each-A.SG around (an)other-MA.A.SG in {brother.hood-A.SG.IDF .}
| '''1st article:''' All humans are born free and equal in terms of respect and rights. They [all] have conscience and reason and ought to behave brotherly each around another.}}

===Lord's Prayer===
The following is a sample text of the [[Lord's Prayer]] in Faroese. The first line is the orthographic version;<ref>{{cite wikisource |title=Faðir vár |wslanguage=fo}}</ref> the second is the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]] transciption; the third is the gloss. A [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBFd5gOqZ60 recording] posted under the @teknmal767 channel is available on [[YouTube]], it contains two performances of the prayer spoken and signed.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Biskopstø |first1=E. |last2=Hansen |first2=M. |last3=Simonsen |first3=A. |collaboration=@teknmal767 |date=19 December 2021 |title=Faðir vár |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBFd5gOqZ60 |website=YouTube}}</ref>

{{fs interlinear|lang=is|indent=2|italics2=yes
| Faðir vár, Tú, sum ert í Himli. Heilagt verði navn Títt. Komi ríki Títt. Verði vilji Tín, sum í Himli, so á jørð. Gev okkum {í dag} okkara dagliga breyð. Og fyrigev okkum syndir okkara, {so sum} vit eisini fyrigeva teimum, ið móti okkum synda. [Og] Leið okkum ikki í fre[i]stingar, men frels okkum frá {tí illa}. Tí at [T]ítt er ríkið, valdið og heiðurin um allar ævir. Amen.
| ˈfɛaː-jɪɹ {ˈvɔaːɹ-∅ {{!}}} ˈtʰʉuː sʊm ˌ(ʔ)ɛɻ̊ː-ʈ (ʊ)i {ˈhɪmːl-ɪ {{!!}}} {ˈhaiːlaʰ-t ({{!}})} (ˈ)ve(ː)ɹ-ɪ ˌnauːn-∅ {ˈtʰʊi-ʰtː {{!}}} ˈkʰoːm-ɪ ˌɹʊiːt͡ʃ-ɪ {ˈtʰʊi-ʰtː {{!!}}} ˈveːɹ-ɪ ˌvɪlːj-ɪ {ˈtʰʊiːn-∅ {{!}}} sʊm (ʊ)i {ˈhɪmːl-ɪ ({{!}})} so ʔ(ɔ)a {ˈjøːɹ-∅ {{!!}}} ˈt͡ʃeːv-∅ ɔʰkˑ-ʊn (ʊ)iˈtɛaː ɔʰkˑ-aɹa ˌtak.lij-a {ˈpɹɛiː-∅ {{!!}}} ʔɔ ˈfiˑɹɪ.ˌt͡ʃeːv-∅ ɔʰkˑ-ʊn ˈsɪnːt-ɪɹ {ɔʰkˑ-aɹa {{!!}}} {soˑ sʊɱ‿} ˈviˑt-∅ ˈʔaiːsɪnɪ ˈfiˑɹɪ.ˌt͡ʃɛv-a {ˈtʰaiː-mʊn {{!}}} ʔʊi ˈmœuːtɪ ɔʰkˑ-ʊn {ˈsɪnːt-a {{!!}}} ʔɔ ˈlaiː-∅ ɔʰkˑ-ʊn ɪʰt͡ʃˑ‿ (ʊ)i {ˈfɹaisːt.ɪŋk-aɹ {{!}}} mɛn ˈfɹɛɬːs-∅ ɔʰkˑ-ʊn{{efn|name=b-sdh}} ˌfɹɔaː {tʰ(ʊ)iˈʔɪtˑla {{!!}}} tʰ(ʊ)i at ˈtʰʊi-ʰtː ɛɹ-∅ {‿ˈʊiːt͡ʃ-ɪ {{!}}} {ˈvalːt-ɪ ({{!}})} ʔɔ {ˈhaiː-(ʊ)ɹɪn {{!}}} ʔʊm ˈʔatˑl-aɹ {ˈʔɛaːv-ɪɹ {{!!}}} ˈʔamːˌɛn
| Father-N.SG.IDF our-N.SG you\N.SG REL be\PRS.IND-2PS in {Heaven-D.SG.IDF .} Holy-NT.N become-SUB.PRS.3PS name-N.IDF {Your-NT.N.SG .} Come-SUB.PRS.3PS reign-N.IDF {Your-NT.N.SG .} Be-SUB.PRS.3PS will-N.IDF {Your-MA.N.SG ,} as:CONJ in Heaven-D.SG.IDF as:ADV on {earth-D.SG.IDF .} Give-IMP.2PS us-D.PL today our daily-FE.A.SG {bread-A.SG.IDF .} And forgive-IMP.2PS us-D.PL sin-A.PL.IDF {our ,} {just as} we-N also forgive-IND.PRS.3PS those-D.PL REL against us-D.PL {sin-INF .} And lead-IMP.2PS us-D.PL not into {temptation-A.PL.IDF ,} but deliver-IMP.2PS us-D.PL from {evil [lit: it\D.SG badly] .} For:CONJ to you-NT.A.SG be\PRS.IND-3PS {realm-N.SG.DF ,} power-N.SG.DF and glory-N.SG.DF through all-A.PL {eternity-A.PL.IDF .} {Amen .}
| Our Father, You, who stand in Heaven. Hallowed be Your name, may Your kingdom come, may Your will be done, on earth as [is] in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our offenses, just as we also forgive those who offended us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the realm, the power and the glory forever. Amen.}}

== See also ==
*[[Faroese language conflict]]
*[[Goidelic languages]]
*[[Gøtudanskt accent]]
*[[Old Norwegian]]

== Further reading ==

===To learn Faroese as a language===

*Adams, Jonathan & Hjalmar P. Petersen. ''Faroese: A Language Course for beginners'' Grammar & Textbook. Tórshavn, 2009: Stiðin (704 p.) {{ISBN|978-99918-42-54-7}}
*W. B. Lockwood: ''An Introduction to Modern Faroese.'' Tórshavn, 1977. (no ISBN, 244 pages, 4th printing 2002)
*Michael Barnes: ''Faroese Language Studies'' Studia Nordica 5, Supplementum 30. Tórshavn, 2002. (239 pages) {{ISBN|99918-41-30-X}}
*Höskuldur Thráinsson (Þráinsson), Hjalmar P. Petersen, Jógvan í Lon Jacobsen, Zakaris Svabo Hansen: ''Faroese. An Overview and Reference Grammar''. Tórshavn, 2004. (500 pages) {{ISBN|99918-41-85-7}}
*Richard Kölbl: ''Färöisch Wort für Wort''. Bielefeld 2004 (in German)
*[https://faroeseonline.com/ Faroeseonline.com]

===Dictionaries===

*Johan Hendrik W. Poulsen: ''Føroysk orðabók''. Tórshavn, 1998. (1483 pages) {{ISBN|99918-41-52-0}} (in Faroese)
*Annfinnur í Skála / Jonhard Mikkelsen: ''Føroyskt / enskt – enskt / føroyskt'', Vestmanna: Sprotin 2008. (Faroese–English / English–Faroese dictionary, 2 volumes)
*Annfinnur í Skála: ''Donsk-føroysk orðabók''. Tórshavn 1998. (1369 pages) {{ISBN|99918-42-22-5}} (Danish–Faroese dictionary)
*M.A. Jacobsen, Chr. Matras: ''Føroysk–donsk orðabók.'' Tórshavn, 1961. (no ISBN, 521 pages, Faroese–Danish dictionary)
*Hjalmar Petersen, Marius Staksberg: ''Donsk–Føroysk orðabók''. Tórshavn, 1995. (879 p.) {{ISBN|99918-41-51-2}} (Danish–Faroese dictionary)
*Eigil Lehmann: ''Føroysk–norsk orðabók''. Tórshavn, 1987 (no ISBN, 388 p.) (Faroese–Norwegian dictionary)
*Jón Hilmar Magnússon: ''Íslensk-færeysk orðabók''. Reykjavík, 2005. (877 p.) {{ISBN|9979-66-179-8}} (Icelandic–Faroese dictionary)
*Gianfranco Contri: ''Dizionario faroese-italiano = Føroysk-italsk orðabók''. Tórshavn, 2004. (627 p.) {{ISBN|99918-41-58-X}} (Faroese–Italian dictionary)

===Faroese literature and research===

*V.U. Hammershaimb: ''Færøsk Anthologi.'' Copenhagen 1891 (no ISBN, 2 volumes, 4th printing, Tórshavn 1991) (editorial comments in Danish)
*Tórður Jóansson: ''English loanwords in Faroese''. Tórshavn, 1997. (243 pages) {{ISBN|99918-49-14-9}}
*Petersen, Hjalmar P. 2009. ''Gender Assignment in Modern Faroese. Hamborg. Kovac''
*Petersen, Hjalmar P. 2010. ''The Dynamics of Faroese-Danish Language Contact. Heidelberg. Winter''
*Faroese/German anthology "From Djurhuus to Poulsen – Faroese Poetry during 100 Years", academic advice: [[Turið Sigurðardóttir]], linear translation: Inga Meincke (2007), ed. by [[Paul Alfred Kleinert]]

===Other===

* {{citation
|last1=Barnes
|first1=Michael P.
|last2=Weyhe
|first2=Eivind
|editor-last=van der Auwera
|editor-first=Johan
|editor-last2=König
|editor-first2=Ekkehard
|year=2013
|orig-year=First published 1994
|title=The Germanic Languages
|chapter=7 Faroese
|publisher=Routledge
|pages=190–218
|isbn=978-0-415-05768-4
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DVBdAgAAQBAJ
}}

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{notelist}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{InterWiki|code=fo}}
{{wiktionary category}}
{{WikisourceWiki|code=fo}}
{{Wikivoyage|Faroese phrasebook|Faroese|a phrasebook}}
* [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_XfvZ9J4oABwC/page/3/mode/2up Faroese-English dictionary]
* [http://giellatekno.uit.no/cgi/d-fao.eng.html Faroese online syntactic analyser and morphological analyser/generator]
* [https://malrad.fo/in-english Faroese Language Council] 
* [http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/languagehelp/qt/faroesephrases.htm Useful Faroese Words & Phrases for Travelers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905154651/http://goscandinavia.about.com/od/languagehelp/qt/faroesephrases.htm |date=2017-09-05 }}
* [http://www.languagesandnumbers.com/how-to-count-in-faroese/en/fao/ How to count in Faroese]
*[https://www.faroeislandstranslate.com/ Faroe Island Translate]

{{Faroe Islands topics}}
{{Germanic languages}}
{{Languages of Denmark}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Faroese language| ]]
[[Category:Languages of Denmark]]
[[Category:West Scandinavian languages]]
[[Category:Subject–verb–object languages]]
[[Category:Verb-second languages]]
[[Category:Culture of the Faroe Islands|Language]]
[[Category:Stress-timed languages]]
[[Category:Vulnerable languages]]
[[Category:Languages of the Faroe Islands]]