Vikings communicated primarily in Old Norse, an ancient Germanic language that served as a predecessor to modern Scandinavian languages like Icelandic, Norwegian, and Danish. Old Norse used a runic alphabet known as 'Futhark,' with distinctive letters and sounds unique to this language group. The Vikings' language was phonetic, so words were pronounced as they were written, often accompanied by distinct guttural sounds. Dialects varied slightly across Viking territories, but their shared language enabled extensive trade and communication across regions. Old Norse has left a lasting influence on modern languages, with words related to the sea, warfare, and daily life retained in present-day vocabulary. Linguistic exchanges with the British Isles and other territories also contributed to the evolution of English, particularly in vocabulary related to governance, navigation, and law.