The letter F is normally pronounced exactly like the F in English.

Pronunciation 1 – Normal F

At the beginning of words or ends of sentences, F is pronounced like F.
  • foss, fimm, frí, gaf

Pronunciation 2 – Soft in the middle of words

In the middle of words (and at the ends of words if the next letter is a vowel), F becomes soft and is pronounced like V.
  • afi, æfing, úlfur, gaf ekki, gefa

Exceptions

  • fl in the middle of words is pronounced like bl:
    • Keflavík, tafla, öflugur, nafli, fífl, kafli, sveifla
  • fn in the middle of words is pronounced like bn:
    There is an exception to this exception that is only seen in a handful of words:
    • fnd is pronounced like md:
      • nefndin ([nemdin])
    • fnt is pronounced like mhd (unvoiced m):
      • nefnt ([nemht]), jafnt ([jamht])
    • ofn, nafn, höfn, jafn, safn, efni, rifna, sofna, kartöflur
The name of the letter is “eff”, the same as in English.