Faroese orthography

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


 * Eth $⟨ð⟩$ (Faroese edd) never appears at the beginning of a word, which means its majuscule form $⟨Ð⟩$ rarely occurs except in situations where all-capital letters are used, such as on maps.
 * $⟨Ø⟩$ can also be written $⟨ö⟩$ in poetic language, such as Föroyar ('the Faroes'). This has to do with different orthographic traditions (Danish–Norwegian for $⟨ø⟩$ and Icelandic for $⟨ö⟩$). Originally, both forms were used, depending on the historical form of the word; $⟨ø⟩$ was used when the vowel resulted from I-mutation of  while $⟨ö⟩$ was used when the vowel resulted from U-mutation of .  In handwriting, $⟨ő⟩$ is sometimes used.
 * While $⟨c⟩$, $⟨q⟩$, $⟨w⟩$, $⟨x⟩$, and $⟨z⟩$ are not found in the Faroese language, $⟨x⟩$ was known in earlier versions of Hammershaimb's orthography, such as $⟨Saxun⟩$ 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 $⟨þ⟩$ is missing. In related Faroese words, it is written as either $⟨t⟩$ or $⟨h⟩$. If an Icelandic name has to be transcribed, $⟨th⟩$ is common.

Glide insertion
Faroese avoids having a hiatus between two vowels by inserting a glide. Orthographically, this is shown in three ways: 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 unstressed vowels can only be.
 * 1) vowel + $⟨ð⟩$ + vowel
 * 2) vowel + $⟨g⟩$ + vowel
 * 3) vowel + vowel

The value of the glide is determined by the surrounding vowels:
 * 1) * "I-surrounding, type 1" – after $⟨i, y, í, ý, ei, ey, oy⟩$: bíða (to wait), deyður  (dead), seyður  (sheep)
 * 2) * "I-surrounding, type 2" – between any vowel (except "u-vowels" $⟨ó, u, ú⟩$) and $⟨i⟩$: kvæði (ballad), øði  (rage).
 * 3) * "U-surrounding, type 1" – after $⟨ó, u, ú⟩$: Óðin (Odin), góðan morgun!  (good morning!), suður  (south), slóða  (to make a trace).
 * 4) * "U-surrounding, type 2" – between $⟨a, á, e, o, æ, ø⟩$ and $⟨u⟩$: áður (before), leður  (leather), í klæðum  (in clothes), í bløðum  (in newspapers).
 * 5) * "A-surrounding, type 2"
 * 6) ** These are exceptions (there is also a regular pronunciation): æða (eider-duck).
 * 7) ** The past participles always have : elskaðar (beloved, nom., acc. fem. pl.)
 * 8) Silent
 * 9) * "A-surrounding, type 1" – between $⟨a, á, e, o⟩$ and $⟨a⟩$ and in some words between $⟨æ, ø⟩$ and $\langlea\rangle$: ráða (to advise), gleða  (to gladden, please), boða  (to forebode), kvøða  (to chant), røða  (to make a speech)
 * 1) ** The past participles always have : elskaðar (beloved, nom., acc. fem. pl.)
 * 2) Silent
 * 3) * "A-surrounding, type 1" – between ⇭⇭⇭ and ⇭⇭⇭ and in some words between ⇭⇭⇭ and ⇭⇭⇭: ráða (to advise), gleða  (to gladden, please), boða  (to forebode), kvøða  (to chant), røða  (to make a speech)