The Scandinavian Alphabet
While Scandinavian languages share many similarities with English, they include several unique vowels that appear at the end of their respective alphabets. These letters are vital for correct spelling and meaning in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and Icelandic.
Key Regional Letters
- Å (A-ring): Found in Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish. It represents a long "o" sound like in "more."
- Æ (Ash): Used in Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faroese. In Swedish, the letter Ä is used instead.
- Ø (O-slash): Standard in Danish and Norwegian. Swedish uses Ö for the same sound (like "u" in "burn").
- ð (Eth) & þ (Thorn): These are unique to the Icelandic and Faroese alphabets. They represent the "th" sounds found in English (voiced and unvoiced).
Usage in Typography
In digital design and web development, these characters are often referred to as "extended Latin." If you are writing for a Nordic audience, using the correct Unicode character is essential for readability and SEO. Our click-to-copy cards provide the easiest way to insert these into your text without a dedicated Scandinavian keyboard.