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Talk About the Weather in Norwegian Like a Native

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Did you know that every minute of the day, one billion tons of rain falls on the earth? Hard to believe, considering the climate crisis! Of course, all that rain is not equally shared across the planet.

So, would you mention this fascinating fact to your new Norwegian acquaintance? Well, small talk about local weather is actually a great conversation-starter. Everyone cares about the weather and you’re sure to hear a few interesting opinions! Seasons can be quite unpredictable these days and nobody knows the peculiarities of a region better than the locals.

NorwegianClass101 will equip you with all the weather vocabulary you need to plan your next adventure. The weather can even be an important discussion that influences your adventure plans. After all, you wouldn’t want to get caught on an inflatable boat with a two-horsepower motor in Hurricane Horrendous!

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Table of Contents

  1. Talking about the weather in Norway
  2. Words for the first day of spring
  3. Do You Know the Essential Summer Vocabulary?
  4. Must-Know Autumn vocabulary
  5. Winter
  6. NorwegianClass101 can prepare you for any season.

1. Talking about the weather in Norway

Talking About Weather

If you’re like me, your day’s activity plan is likely to begin with a strong local coffee and a chat about what the sky is doing. After all, being prepared could be the difference between an amazing day and a miserable one! Luckily, it’s not difficult to comment on Norwegian weather – just start with these simple words and phrases.

1- The rain is falling on the street – Regnet faller på gata.

Watercolor artists, take out your paints! You might not be able to venture out on foot today, but just embrace the rain as part of your Norwegian experience. When the rain stops, the air will be clean and colours vibrant.

2- The snow has covered everything – Snøen har dekket alt.

A fresh blanket of snow is irresistibly beautiful. Pull on your boots and beanie, and leave your tracks in this foreign landscape. Don’t resist the urge to build a snowman – you need this!

3- Fluffy cloud – luftig sky

When you’re waiting for a warm beach day, fluffy white clouds in a blue sky are a good sign. Don’t forget your sunscreen, as clouds will intensify the UV rays hitting your skin.

Fluffy White Cloud in Clear Blue Sky

4- The water froze on the glass – Vannet frøs på glasset.

Night temperatures can get chilly and might freeze the condensation on your windows. A good way to clear them up is with warm salt water.

5- The heavy rain could cause flash flooding – Dette kraftige regnet kan føre til flom.

If you’re visiting Norway in the wet season, it’s important to stay informed when heavy rain sets in, so keep an eye on the weather radar. Avoid river activities and rather spend this time making a home-cooked meal and brushing up on your Norwegian weather words.

Heavy Rain in a Park

6- Flood – flom

If you do get caught in a flood, your destination should no longer be ‘home’, but the nearest high ground.

7- The typhoon has hit – Tyfonen har truffet.

Not all countries experience typhoons, but you need to know when to prepare for one! It will be very scary if you’ve never experienced one before. Your local neighbours are the best people to advise you on where to take shelter, as they’ve been doing it for generations. Be sure to get the low-down at the first sign of rough weather!

8- Check the weather report before going sailing – Sjekk værmeldingen før du seiler.

When planning an outdoor activity, especially on a body of water, always be prepared for a change in the weather. Ask your hotel receptionist or neighbour where you can get a reliable daily weather report, and don’t forget your sweater!

Two Men on Sailboat

9- Today’s weather is sunny with occasional clouds – Været i dag er solrikt med noe skydekke.

Sunny weather is the dream when traveling in Norway! Wake up early, pack the hats and sunblock and go and experience the terrain, sights and beautiful spots. You’ll be rewarded with happy vibes all around.

10- Rainy – regnete

Remember when you said you’d save the Norwegian podcasts for a rainy day? Now’s that day!

11- Scenic rainbow – naturskjønn regnbue

The best part about the rain is that you can look forward to your first rainbow in Norway. There’s magic in that!

12- Flashes of lightning can be beautiful, but are very dangerous – Lyn kan være vakkert, men er svært farlig.

Lightning is one of the most fascinating weather phenomena you can witness without really being in danger – at least if you’re sensible and stay indoors! Did you know that lightning strikes the earth 40-50 times per second? Fortunately, not all countries experience heavy electric storms!

Electric Storm

13- 25 degrees Celsius – 25 grader Celsius

Asking a local what the outside temperature will be is another useful question for planning your day. It’s easy if you know the Norwegian term for ‘degrees Celsius’.

14- His body temperature was far above the usual 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit – Kroppstemperaturen hans var langt over den normale 98,6 grader Fahrenheit.

Although the Fahrenheit system has been replaced by Celsius in almost all countries, it’s still used in the US and a few other places. Learn this phrase in Norwegian in case one of your companions develops a raging fever.

15- Today the sky is clear – klar himmel

Clear skies mean you’ll probably want to get the camera out and capture some nature shots – not to mention the great sunsets you’ll have later on. Twilight can lend an especially magical quality to a landscape on a clear sky day, when the light is not filtered through clouds.

Hikers on Mountain with Clear Sky

16- Light drizzle – yr

Days when it’s drizzling are perfect for taking in the cultural offerings of Norway. You could go to the mall and watch a Norwegian film, visit museums and art galleries, explore indoor markets or even find the nearest climbing wall. Bring an umbrella!

17- Temperature on a thermometer – temperaturen på et termometer

Because of the coronavirus, many airports are conducting temperature screening on passengers. Don’t worry though – it’s just a precaution. Your temperature might be taken with a no-touch thermometer, which measures infrared energy coming off the body.

18- Humid – fuktig

I love humid days, but then I’m also a water baby and I think the two go
together like summer and rain. Find a pool or a stream to cool off in – preferably in the shade!

Humidity in Tropical Forest

19- With low humidity the air feels dry – Med lav luftfuktighet føles luften tørr.

These are the best days to go walking the hills and vales. Just take at least one Norwegian friend with you so you don’t get lost!

20- The wind is really strong – Vinden er veldig sterk.

A strong wind blows away the air pollution and is very healthy in that respect. Just avoid the mountain trails today, unless you fancy being blown across the continent like a hot air balloon.

21- It’s very windy outside – det er vindfullt ute

Wind! My least favourite weather condition. Of course, if you’re a kitesurfer, a windy day is what you’ve been waiting for!

Leaves and Umbrella in the Wind

22- Wet roads can ice over when the temperature falls below freezing – Våte veier kan fryse til når temperaturen faller under frysepunktet.

The roads will be dangerous in these conditions, so please don’t take chances. The ice will thaw as soon as the sun comes out, so be patient!

23- Today is very muggy – I dag er det veldig fuktig.

Muggy days make your skin feel sticky and sap your energy. They’re particular to high humidity. Cold shower, anyone? Ice vest? Whatever it takes to feel relief from the humidity!

24- Fog – tåkete

Not a great time to be driving, especially in unknown territory, but keep your fog lights on and drive slowly.

Fog on a Pond with Ducks

25- Hurricane – orkan

Your new Norwegian friends will know the signs, so grab some food and candles and prepare for a night of staying warm and chatting about wild weather in Norway.

Palm Trees in a Hurricane

26- Big tornado – stor tornado

If you hear these words, it will probably be obvious already that everyone is preparing for the worst! Definitely do whatever your accommodation hosts tell you to do when a tornado is expected.

27- It’s cloudy today – det er overskyet i dag

While there won’t be any stargazing tonight, the magnificent clouds over Norway will make impressive photographs. Caption them in Norwegian to impress your friends back home!

Cloudy Weather on Beach with Beach Huts

28- Below freezing temperatures – temperaturer under frysepunktet

When the temperature is below freezing, why not take an Uber and go shopping for some gorgeous Norwegian winter gear?

Woman with Winter Gear in Freezing Weather

29- Wind chill – kuldeeffekten

Wind doesn’t change the ambient temperature of the air, it just changes your body temperature, so the air will feel colder to you than it actually is.

30- Water will freeze when the temperature falls below zero degrees celsius – Vann vil fryse når temperaturen faller under null grader celsius.

If you’re near a lake, frozen water is good news! Forgot your ice skates? Don’t despair – find out where you can hire some. Be cautious, though: the ice needs to be at least four inches thick for safe skating. Personally, I just slide around on frozen lakes in my boots!

Thermometer Below Freezing Point

31- Waiting to clear up – vente til det klarner

Waiting for the weather to clear up so you can go exploring is frustrating, let’s be honest. That’s why you should always travel with two things: a scintillating novel and your Norwegian Nook Book.

32- Avoid the extreme heat – unngå ekstrem varme

Is the heat trying to kill you? Unless you’re a hardened heatwave hero, definitely avoid activity, stay hydrated and drink electrolytes. Loose cotton or linen garb is the way to go!

Hand Holding a Melting Ice Cream

33- Morning frost – morgenfrost

Frost is water vapour that has turned to ice crystals and it happens when the earth cools so much in the night, that it gets colder than the air above it. Winter is coming!

34- Rain shower – regndusj

Rain showers are typically brief downpours that drench the earth with a good drink of water.

35- In the evening it will become cloudy and cold – På kvelden vil det skye over og bli kaldt.

When I hear this on the Norwegian weather channel, I buy a bottle of wine (red, of course) and wood for the fireplace. A cold and cloudy evening needs its comforts!

Snow in the Park at Night

36- Severe thunderstorm – kraftig tordenvær

Keep an eye on the Norwegian weather maps if it looks like a big storm is coming, so you’ll be well-informed.

37- Ice has formed on the window – det er is på vinduet

You could try this phrase out on the hotel’s helpful cleaning staff, or fix the problem yourself. Just add a scoop or two of salt to a spray bottle of water – that should work!

38- Large hailstones – store hagle kuler

As a kid, I found hail crazy exciting. Not so much now – especially if I’m on the road and large hailstones start pummeling my windscreen!

Large Hailstones on a Wooden Floor

39- Rolling thunder – rullende torden

The rumble of rolling thunder is that low-volume, ominous background sound that goes on for some time. It’s strangely exciting if you’re safely in your hotel room; it could either suddenly clear up, or escalate to a storm.

40- Sleet – sludd

Sleet is tiny hard pieces of ice made from a mixture of rain and melted snow that froze. It can be messy, but doesn’t cause major damage the way hail does. Pretty cool to know this word in Norwegian!

2. Words for the first day of spring

You know the feeling: your heart skips a beat when you wake up and spring has sprung! Spring will reward you with new blossoms everywhere, birdsong in the air, kittens being born in the neighborhood and lovely views when you hit the trails. Pack a picnic and ask a new Norwegian friend to show you the more natural sights. Don’t forget a light sweater and a big smile. This is the perfect time to practice some Norwegian spring words!

Spring Vocabulary

3. Do You Know the Essential Summer Vocabulary?

Summer! Who doesn’t love that word? It conjures up images of blue skies, tan skin, vacations at the beach and cruising down the coast in an Alfa Romeo, sunglasses on and the breeze in your hair. Of course, in Norway there are many ways to enjoy the summer – it all depends on what you love to do. One thing’s for sure: you will have opportunities to make friends, go on picnics, sample delicious local ice-cream and maybe even learn to sing some Norwegian songs. It’s up to you! Sail into Norwegian summer with this summer vocab list, and you’ll blend in with ease.

Four Adults Playing on the Beach in the Sand

4. Must-Know Autumn vocabulary

Victoria Ericksen said, “If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour,” and I agree. Who can resist the beauty of fall foliage coloring the Norwegian landscape? Birds prepare to migrate; travelers prepare to arrive for the best weather in Norway.

The autumnal equinox marks the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night almost equal in length. The cool thing about this event is that the moon gets really bright – the ‘harvest moon’, as it’s traditionally known.

So, as much as the change of season brings more windy and rainy days, it also brings celebration. Whether you honor Thanksgiving, Halloween or the Moon Festival, take some time to color your vocabulary with these Norwegian autumn words.

Autumn Phrases

5. Winter

Winter is the time the natural world slows down to rest and regroup. I’m a summer girl, but there are fabulous things about winter that I really look forward to. For one, it’s the only season I get to accessorize with my gorgeous winter gloves and snug down coat!

Then, of course, there’s ice skating, holiday decorations and bonfires. As John Steinbeck said, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” Get ready for the cold season with our list of essential Winter words!

Skier Sitting in the Snow

6. NorwegianClass101 can prepare you for any season.

Now that you know how to inquire and comment on the weather in Norway, you
can confidently plan your weather-ready travel itinerary. How about this for an idea: the next
time you’re sitting in a Norwegian street café, try asking someone local this question:

“Do you think the weather will stay like this for a few days?” If you loved learning these cool Norwegian weather phrases with us, why not take it a step further and add to your repertoire? NorwegianClass101 is here to help!

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Karneval: Celebrating the Carnival Holiday in Norway

Celebrating the Carnival Holiday in Norway

The Carnival holiday is a major Christian celebration in many cultures around the world. In this article, you’ll learn some Carnival holiday facts and gain some knowledge into how Norwegians, in particular, celebrate this holiday.

Are you ready? Let’s get started.

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1. What is the Carnival Holiday?

Celebrated by Chrisitan communities around the world, Carnival (sometimes called Shrovetide) is a religious holiday that precedes the Lenten fasting period. This holiday is known for an array of celebrations and traditions, all of which tend to center on the idea of fun, indulgence, and the reversing of social order.

In the past, people relied on stored and preserved food throughout the winter months, meaning that there was little food available once the season ended. It was crucial that any highly perishable food still left over, such as butter and meat, was eaten promptly before the start of spring. To survive the final days of winter, people would finish off all of the remaining food stores, ensuring that everyone had enough sustenance to keep them going until spring.

Over time, this season became the Carnival holiday. Instead of simply eating richer foods to survive the winter, people now indulge themselves in preparation for Lent. This holiday combines elements of Christianity and folktales passed on from the medieval ages.

2. Carnival Dates

Colorful Carnival Mask and Jewelry

Carnival takes place on the final Sunday before Lent each year. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years.

  • 2020: February 23
  • 2021: February 14
  • 2022: February 27
  • 2023: February 19
  • 2024: February 11
  • 2025: March 2
  • 2026: February 15
  • 2027: February 7
  • 2028: February 27
  • 2029: February 11

3. Celebrating Karneval in Norway

Child Getting Her Face Painted

Carnival celebrations and traditions vary slightly from culture to culture, but they all share a few common threads. For example, no matter where you are, Carnival celebrations will involve eating some kind of rich food and taking part in holiday Carnival games or activities.

Norwegian holiday traditions for Karneval include dressing up in costumes and attending balls (the most famous of which is the Oslo opernball, or “Oslo operaball“). These balls are similar to masquerades, with many people wearing masks. Children like to dress up and receive candy from people, which is why some people consider Karneval to be the Nordic version of Halloween. Decorated fastelavnsris (“birch” branches) are another common element of the Norway Carnival season, often seen during or after balls.

Another favorite celebration is that of the Fastelavnsbolle, or “Shrovetide bun,” the most popular of Carnival holiday foods. This is a delicious, soft bun that’s filled with either whipped cream or almond paste. Sometimes, Carnival is also called Bun Sunday for this reason. In addition to the Shrovetide buns, other popular Norwegian holiday foods include waffles, pancakes, and an array of other sweet treats.

4. The Birch Tree

Do you know why the bjørk, or “birch tree,” is such a significant aspect of Carnival in Norway?

The birch tree, in folklore, is considered a symbol of many things associated with spring: new beginnings, beauty, adaptability, and fertility. In particular, this tree is often associated with goddesses of love and fertility.

5. Must-Know Vocabulary for Carnival

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Ready to review some of the vocabulary words from this article? Here’s the essential Norwegian vocabulary for Carnival!

  • Kostyme — “Costume”
  • Fastelavn — “Shrovetide”
  • Karneval — “Carnival”
  • Oslo opernball — “Oslo operaball”
  • Fjær — “Feather”
  • Fastelavnsbolle — “Shrovetide bun”
  • Kle seg ut — “Dress up”
  • Ansiktsmaling — “Facepaint”
  • Bjørk — “Birch tree”
  • Fastelavnsris — “Birch”

To hear the pronunciation of each word, and to read each one alongside relevant images, check out our Norwegian Carnival vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about Karneval with us. Do you celebrate this holiday in your country? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re interested in learning more about Norway’s unique culture or Norwegian holidays, check out the following pages on NorwegianClass101.com:

Whatever your reasons for developing an interest in Norwegian culture or the language, know that NorwegianClass101.com is the best way to expand your knowledge and improve your skills. With tons of fun lessons for beginners, intermediate learners, and more advanced students, there’s something for everyone!

Create your free lifetime account today, and start learning Norwegian like never before.

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Morsdag: Celebrating Mother’s Day in Norway

Each year for its national Mother’s Day, Norway is abuzz with advertisements for the perfect Mother’s Day gifts and services. While overly commercial these days, celebrating Mother’s Day in Norway has become a huge occasion, and children—young and grown—are sure to honor their mothers with gifts and other expressions of gratitude.

In this article, you’ll learn how Mother’s Day is celebrated in Norway as well as how this holiday got started here.

Are you ready? Let’s go!

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1. What is Mother’s Day in Norway?

Like Mother’s Day in the rest of the world, this holiday in Norway is a special day dedicated to honoring one’s mother and showing her appreciation. Because mothers do so much for their children and make so many personal sacrifices, people make sure to express their deepest gratitude and respect on this day. This often takes the form of gift-giving or general pampering!

Young children aren’t the only ones to participate in Mother’s Day. Adult children may visit their mothers, give them a call, or send them a letter of gratitude. A gift of chocolate (sjokolade) or a gift certificate (gavekort) are always welcome!

Mother’s Day is also the perfect opportunity for husbands to spoil their wives, and for other men to show the women in their lives how much they mean to them.

2. Mother’s Day Date

Norwegian Mother’s Day is on a Sunday

Norwegians celebrate and honor their mothers each year on the second Sunday (søndag) of February. For your convenience, here’s a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years.

  • 2020: February 9
  • 2021: February 14
  • 2022: February 13
  • 2023: February 12
  • 2024: February 11
  • 2025: February 9
  • 2026: February 8
  • 2027: February 14
  • 2028: February 13
  • 2029: February 11

3. Norwegian Mother’s Day Traditions

Husband and Children Giving a Mother Gifts on Mother’s Day

Unfortunately, no special traditions are related to the celebration of Mother’s Day, but it is common to mark it.

Mother’s Day, like Valentine’s Day, has become a very commercial holiday. Several stores promote the day with gifts, cakes, and flowers for Mother’s Day, and it’s clear that the holiday has become ingrained in Norwegian society. Several weeks before the day itself, commercial posters are posted in the stores, and several TV and radio stations advertise gift-giving for Mother’s Day.

Even though it is “commercialized,” people still appreciate this day. The most common way to celebrate is to treat moms and give them a little extra attention, often in the form of gifts and flowers. In elementary schools, teachers help children in Norway celebrate Mother’s Day by giving them an hour or two to make cards and gifts for their mothers.

In Norway, the most common thing is to wake up your mom and surprise her with breakfast in bed, or frokost på sengen. Norwegian mothers often receive a breakfast of tasty bread rolls and freshly brewed coffee, and the breakfast is sometimes accompanied by a gift and flowers.

4. Origins of Mother’s Day in Norway

In 1919, two women—Dorothea Schjoldager and Karen Platou—worked to get Mother’s Day celebrated on a Sunday in February. Why Mother’s Day is celebrated in February instead of in May, like it is in many other countries, is probably because Norway already has a lot of holidays in May.

The first Mother’s Day celebration was in Bergen on February 9, 1919. Back then, the day was celebrated in a Methodist Church. Historically, Mother’s Day was held by religious organizations, but in more recent years, the day has become a family day.

5. Essential Mother’s Day Vocabulary

Little Girl Holding a Card that Says “I Love You Mommy”

Are you ready to study some of the Norwegian vocabulary words and phrases from this article? Here’s a list of the most important Mother’s Day vocabulary words!

  • Søndag — “Sunday”
  • Sønn — “Son”
  • Datter — “Daughter”
  • Mor — “Mother”
  • Sjokolade — “Chocolate”
  • Middag — “Dinner
  • Rose — “Rose”
  • Elske — “Love”
  • Gave — “Present”
  • Gratulasjonskort — “Greeting card”
  • Morsdag — “Mother’s Day”
  • Feire — “Celebrate”
  • Gavekort — “Gift certificate”
  • Frokost på sengen — “Breakfast in bed”

To hear the pronunciation of each word or phrase, and to read them alongside relevant images, be sure to check out our Norwegian Mother’s Day vocabulary list!

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed learning about Norwegian Mother’s Day with us! As you can see, this is a popular holiday in Norway nowadays, and the country celebrates mothers on a large scale.

What do Mother’s Day celebrations look like in your country? Let us know in the comments, and read how your fellow Norwegian learners celebrate!

If you’re interested in learning more about Norwegian holidays and culture, you may find the following pages useful:

Whatever your reasons for developing an interest in Norwegian culture or the language, know that NorwegianClass101.com is the best place to broaden your knowledge and improve your language skills! With tons of lessons for beginners, intermediate learners, and more advanced students, there’s something for everyone.

What are you waiting for? Create your free lifetime account today and start learning Norwegian like never before.

Lykkelig Morsdag! (“Happy Mother’s Day!” in Norwegian) 😀

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The Norwegian Calendar: Talking About Dates in Norwegian

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Did you know there are many different types of calendars?

As you probably know – a calendar is a system of organizing days in weeks and months for specific purposes, according to Wikipedia.

Worldwide, most countries use the Gregorian calendar. Some just work on the same framework, meaning that time is divided into units based on the earth’s movement around the sun – the “solar calendar”. Other calendars keep time by observing the moon’s movements, a combination of the moon and the sun’s movements, and seasons.

Through NorwegianClass101, you can learn all about this and so much more! Our themed, culturally relevant lessons are skillfully designed so you can do your planning perfectly for a holiday or a date.

Having a good plan for a visit or a trip is like studying well for an exam. You’re just so much better prepared! For that, you could well need specific phrases to plan around appointments and such, especially on business trips. Make sure to use the charts we provide here with the days of the week in Norwegian, as well as the months in Norwegian to navigate your way as you plan. Great resources!

Also – always remember to have fun!

Table of Contents

  1. Why Will It Help To Know How To Talk About Dates in Norwegian?
  2. Talking About your Plans
  3. Can NorwegianClass101 Help You In Other Ways Too?

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1. Why Will It Help To Know How To Talk About Dates in Norwegian?

Days of the Week

Well, that’s not a difficult question to answer. No matter why you’re travelling, it would be best to at least know the names of days and months in Norwegian. You don’t want to miss your flight or an appointment because you confused “fredag” (Friday) with “lørdag” (Saturday)! Or maybe you planned a holiday for “juli” (July), but you booked a flight for “juni” (June) by accident!

Avoid this confusion by learning the Norwegian calendar before you leave.

Now, as promised, the 15 phrases to help you make and discuss plans.

2. Talking About your Plans

Months of the Year

Perhaps you’re working in Norway, or maybe you’re enjoying a prolonged holiday. Fabulous! Memorize these phrases so you can be sure to successfully negotiate meetings, appointments, dates, events, the list goes on!

1. Hva gjør dere denne helgen?

“What are you doing this weekend?”

This question is usually a preamble to inviting someone somewhere. Given that it’s over the weekend, it probably means a casual get-together or another social event. (But not necessarily! A manager or boss could also ask this for entirely different reasons.)

It’s a handy phrase to know when you’ve made Norwegian or expat friends in the country. Or, be the one doing the inviting. Then train your ear to learn the following phrases so you can understand the response.

2. Jeg skal reise denne helgen.

“I am traveling this weekend.”

This could be a reply if you’re not available because you’re doing other fun stuff.

No matter why you are visiting Norway, do take the time to explore the country! It’s beautiful and it has so many wonderful, interesting spots ready to be visited.

Couple at booking in Desk

3. Jeg planlegger å bli hjemme.

“I am planning to stay at home.”

Maybe you feel unwell, but don’t want to give too much information? Or maybe you have work to do? Perhaps you just need some quiet gardening time…it doesn’t matter. This response is polite and honest without oversharing.

It could also be a slightly open-ended response, depending on how you deliver it. Because hey, being home could still mean your plans are flexible, right?

That said – depending on your relationship with the inviter, nuances like these will probably not be so apparent in a foreign culture. So, best to use this excuse for declining an invitation only if you are truly set on staying in.

Woman Doing Gardening

4. Denne uken er jeg opptatt.

“This week I am busy.”

Another polite phrase that gives a reason for declining an invitation but without oversharing details.

Don’t decline too many invitations, though! You don’t want people to think that you’re too busy to hang out with them. They will stop inviting you out, and you know how the saying goes – all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy…! Being social is good for the soul.

5. Jeg er ledig i morgen.

“I am free tomorrow.”

Yay! Perhaps you were approached by that person and they asked about your availability for a date. This would be a fine reply. Not too eager, but still indicating that you’re interested.

Or maybe you’re just replying to a colleague or manager’s request for a meeting. Polite, honest and clear.

Alternatively, you’re just busy right now, and plans are not going the way they were…well, planned. Compromise is a lovely thing! And this phrase sounds just like that.

Use it to indicate that you want to accommodate an invitation or the inviter’s plans, despite your current unavailability. Only if you are really free, of course.

6. Kan vi gjøre dette en annen gang?

“Can we reschedule this?”

So, life happened and you are unable to meet obligations or attend a planned meeting. This is a suitable question to ask if you wish to indicate your willingness to still engage with whatever is on the table.

Obviously you should (ideally) not ask to reschedule a party or big meeting! (Unless you’re the boss or it’s your own party, of course.) But if there’s reasonable wiggle room regarding arrangements, then this one’s your question.

Business Man Sitting with Schedule

7. Jeg kommer til å ha nok tid på slutten av måneden.

“I will have enough time at the end of the month.”

A go-to phrase when events or activities are likely to take up a lot of your time, such as going away for a weekend, spending the day at a local market, or writing your manager’s quarterly report (with 20 flow-charts in Powerpoint) – anything that won’t only take an hour or two.

8. Når er den beste tiden som passer for deg?

“When is the best time that suits you?”

Remember phrase #5? That was a possible reply to this question. Asked by your crush, very possibly! Or, it could be asked by any other person for any other reason, doesn’t matter.

If this is addressed to you, it usually means that the person respects your time and schedule, which is a good thing. It probably also means that their own schedule is flexible, another good thing.

This is also a polite question to ask when a manager or senior colleague wants to meet with you. Let them decide on the time, and be as accommodating as possible. This attitude shows respect for seniority – good for career building. (Within reason, of course. You don’t need to postpone your wedding or your paid-up holiday to Australia because your manager wants to see you.)

Screen Tablet Hotel

9. Passen denne datoen for deg?

“Is this date OK with you?”

But – if the other party insists that you choose a time for a meeting, appointment, or date etc., then do so! Respond with this nice, somewhat casual question that leaves space for negotiation, but only needs a simple reply.

Suitable for friends, and casual acquaintances and colleagues.

10. Er du tilgjengelig på den dagen?

“Are you available on that day?”

This is the a-bit-more-formal version of the previous question. Again, it has room for negotiation, but only needs a simple response – nice and neat!

Maybe this is the go-to question when you’re addressing your seniors at work, or a person much older than you.

11. Kan vi gjøre det så snart som mulig?

“Can we do it as soon as possible?”

This question has an urgency to it that should preferably be responded to with the same. A simple reply will be good – yes or no. Less negotiable, this is still polite because it’s a question that gives you a choice.

But stand ready with one of the phrases in this article to help tie down a time and date!

Couple Getting Engaged on a Bridge

12. Jeg er tilgjengelig hver kveld.

“I’m available every evening”

If you’re going to reply with this phrase, context is everything.

– If it’s your manager asking you to put in a bit of overtime, and you are available to – great reply! When deadlines are tight and everybody is stressing, your willingness to go the extra mile can only improve your relationship with your boss.

(Still, no need to be a doormat! If you get asked to work overtime too often, or if everyone else is goofing around while you have to graft, then re-evaluate the situation. And if you feel you’re being exploited a bit, don’t stress! Equip yourself with the diplomatic, yet assertive responses right in this article.)

– If it’s an old friend or longtime significant other asking to hang out – good reply. You know one another and appearances don’t matter any longer.

– If it’s a new crush who just asked when you’d be available for a date – stop. Not such a great reply. Tone down a bit! “Interested but not overly eager” is what you’re going for here.

Refer back to response #5, or use a counter-question, such as #1. Whatever suits you.

But if they – or anyone else – invite you to scale the Himalayas with them, then the next phrase will probably be the only sane response!

Mountaineer in Snow

13. Jeg må planlegge dette i god tid.

“I need to plan this well in advance.”

So, as said under #9, perhaps you’re invited to join someone conquer the Himalayas.

Or your company manager wants you to plan the Party that Tops All Year-End Parties Forever.

Simply – if you get asked to do something that you know will need a lot of thorough planning, this is a good phrase to respond with.

It’s an assertive phrase that demonstrates two things regarding your attitude:

a) That you know your own abilities, and respect your own schedule.
b) That your respect other people’s time and schedule too.

Then just be sure to actually do that planning well in advance!

14. Vi må finne en annen dato.

“We need to find another date.”

So, you’re in negotiations regarding a date.

This is an assertive statement that should probably not be used with a “My way or the highway” attitude.

That stuff only works in the movies – think sharp-tongued Samuel L. Jackson. Or fierce Kristen Stewart. Yea, they can be scary, so tone down that tone.

Also, be mindful that fickle people who change plans all the time don’t keep friends! Taking others’ needs into consideration, while simultaneously having your way is a delicate art that takes proper cultivation. Use this phrase sparingly – we have better ones here to negotiate with.

Rock Concert Hands in the Air

Of course, if your planned trip to the dentist falls on the same day as the only Billie Eilish concert close by…well, priorities are priorities. Feel free to call the dentist with this phrase. Or even better, use the next one.

15. Jeg kan ikke gjøre det på den dagen.

“I cannot do it on that day.”

This is the low-key-but-still-firm cousin of the previous phrase. You’re stating a personal fact, and depending on your tone, this can be as non-negotiable as you prefer.

Again, only use this when you really mean it, if you’re visiting Norway or any other foreign country.

So, that’s it, folks! Which phrase did you find the most helpful? Let us know in the comments!

3. Can NorwegianClass101 Help You In Other Ways Too?

Numbers

Well yes, of course!

We think you will find these phrases easy to use when talking about dates and months in Norwegian. But knowing how to employ them properly could help you avoid sticky situations!

NorwegianClass101 is uniquely geared to help you with this and so much more.

This InnovativeLanguage.com initiative is one of many online language-learning courses. With us, you’ll find it easy and fun to learn a new language, and here are a few reasons why:

  • Immediately upon enrollment, you’ll receive hundreds of well-designed lessons to get you going.
  • Watch superb recordings of native Norwegian speakers in cool slide-shows – the easy way to practice till you sound just like a native speaker yourself!
  • Also immediately upon enrollment, you’ll get access to a huge library of free resources! These include extensive, theme-based Vocabulary Lists and a Word of the Day List (For free, hot bargains!) These alone are sure to give your vocab-learning boxing gloves.
  • You’ll also immediately be able to use an excellent and free Norwegian online dictionary. Necessary for quick, handy translations, no matter where you find yourself.
  • For the serious learner, there are numerous enrollment upgrades available, one of which offers you a personal, online Norwegian host. Allow us to hold your hand and support you in your learning!

If you’re serious about mastering Norwegian easily yet correctly, NorwegianClass101 is definitely one of, if not the best, online language learning platforms available. Talking about your plans or dates in Norwegian need not ever spoil your stay.

So, hurry up—enroll today!

Learn How to Talk About Your Family in Norwegian

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Did you know that only some reptiles and birds don’t parent their offspring? Except for crocodiles, all reptiles (and one family of bird species called megapodes) hatch from eggs and grow up alone, without any family.

The rest of us need family if we are to survive and thrive – humans and animals alike!

At NorwegianClass101, we know how important family is. Therefore, we take care to teach you all the important vocabulary and phrases pertaining to family.

Table of Contents

  1. Why Is It Important to Know Norwegian Vocabulary about Family?
  2. Learn a New Culture? Learn its Family Vocab first
  3. How NorwegianClass101 Can Help You Learn Norwegian Family Terms

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Family Phrases in Norwegian

1. Why Is It Important to Know Norwegian Vocabulary about Family?

Lioness with Cub

Well, if you’re serious about studying any new language, then learning about the most important social unit in Norwegian culture would be a crucial part of your education.

What is family, though? Strictly speaking, it’s a group of people who live together and are supposed to take care of one another. Some of them are genetically linked.

Family isn’t just about who we’re related to by blood, of course. It’s also one of the main influences in shaping every child’s life.

Family is Important for Children’s Healthy Development

Phrases Parents Say

Family is the single most important influence in a child’s life. Children depend on parents and family to protect them and provide for their needs from the day they were born.

Primary caregivers, which usually comprise parents and family, form a child’s first relationships. They are a child’s first teachers and are role models that show kids how to act and experience the world around them.

By nurturing and teaching children during their early years, families play an important role in making sure children are ready to learn when they enter school.

Families Can Take All Shapes and Sizes

However, the way families are put together is by no means standard.

Mom and Daughter

Single-parent and same-gender households have become a new norm the past few decades, and there’s no shame in this. When there is love, connection and proper care, a child can thrive anywhere.

Everyone also knows that sometimes friends can become like family and remain with us for life, because it’s all about human connection.

After all, we share many commonalities simply because we’re human, and we are programmed to connect with one another and belong to a group. This is very important for our well-being and survival.

It’s All About Feeling Connected

As John Northman, a psychologist from Buffalo, NY, told WebMD – feeling connected to others contributes to mental as well as physical health.

He pointed out that when people feel connected, they feel better physically, and they’re also less likely to feel depressed.

Couples Chatting

Or, if they do feel depressed, they’d be in a better position to get out of it when they feel they are connecting with others. This is because they would be psychologically supported too, Northman said.

There has even been some links drawn between addiction and feeling disconnected from others. According to an article in Psychology Today, research indicates that addiction is not solely a substance disorder, but also affected by people feeling insecurely attached to others.

It showed that securely attached individuals tend to feel comfortable in and enjoy life, while insecurely attached people typically struggle to fit in and connect.

2. Learn a New Culture? Learn its Family Vocab first

So, it’s clear that for most of us, family is our entry point into connection and belonging. This is true of every culture, so in every country, family takes prominence.

For this reason, NorwegianClass101 offers culturally-relevant lessons that will equip you well to understand families in Norway.

Here are some of the most important Norwegian vocabulary and quotes about family and parenting!

A) Norwegian Family Vocabulary

Let’s start with the basic vocabulary. Without this collection of words, you’ll have a hard time describing any member of your family at all.

Family Terms
Family
familie
Great grandfather
oldefar
Mother
mor
Grandmother
bestemor
Father
far
Grandfather
bestefar
Wife
kone
Grandchild
barnebarn
Husband
mann
Granddaughter
barnebarn
Parent
partner
Grandson
barnebarn
Child
barn
Aunt
tante
Daughter
datter
Uncle
onkel
Sister
søster
Niece
niese
Brother
bror
Nephew
nevø
Younger sister
lillesøster
Younger brother
lillebror
Older brother
storebror
Great grandmother
oldemor
Cousin
søskenbarn
Mother-in-law
svigermor
Father-in-law
svigerfar
Sister-in-law
svigerinne
Brother-in-law
svoger
Partner
forelder

Family of Three

B) Quotes About Family

Norwegian Family Quotes

One of the ways to improve your Norwegian language skills is by memorizing quotes from books, or poems.

Either source some from Norwegian literature, or make use of ours!

Du velger ikke familien din. De er Guds gave til deg, som du er til dem.

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” – Desmond Tutu

Familie er ikke en viktig ting. Det er alt.

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” – Michael J. Fox

Familie betyr at ingen blir etterlatt eller glemt.

“Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.” – David Ogden Stiers

Min familie er min styrke og min svakhet.

“My family is my strength and my weakness.” – Aishwarya Rai

Familien er et av naturens mesterverk.

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” – George Santayana

Når problemer kommer, er det familien din som støtter deg.

“When trouble comes, it’s your family that supports you.” – Guy Lafleur

Familien er den første viktig celle av det menneskelige samfunn.

“The family is the first essential cell of human society.” – Pope John XXIII

Det finnes ikke noe slikt som moro for hele familien.

“There is no such thing as fun for the whole family.” – Jerry Seinfeld

Du må forsvare din ære. Og din familie.

“You have to defend your honor. And your family.” – Suzanne Vega

Alle lykkelige familier ligner hverandre, hver ulykkelige familie er ulykkelige på sin egen måte.

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” – Leo Tolstoy

C) Test Your Knowledge!

Do you feel you have learned a lot in this blog? Let’s quickly test that!

In the table below, match the Norwegian vocabulary on the left with the definition of the relative in the right column.

MY RELATIVES
Relative Name Definition
1. familie a. My male child
2. mor b. My older male sibling
3. far c. My female sibling
4. kone d. My child’s child
5. mann e. My child’s female child
6. forelder f. My female parent
7. barn g. My grandparent’s mother
8. datter h. Mother to one of my parents
9. sønn i. Relatives
10. søster j. My female child
11. bror k. My younger male sibling
12. lillesøster l. Male spouse
13. lillebror m. The father of one of my parents
14. storebror n. My child’s male child
15. oldemor o. My children’s father or mother
16. oldefar p. The sister of one of my parents
17. bestemor q. The brother of one of my parents
18. bestefar r. My male parent
19. barnebarn s. My sibling’s female child
20. barnebarn t. My sibling’s male child
21. barnebarn u. My male sibling
22. tante v. My parents’ sibling’s child
23. onkel w. Female spouse
24. niese x. The grandfather of one of my parents
25. nevø y. The person I am a parent to
26. søskenbarn z. My younger female sibling

How did it go? Don’t worry if you had trouble with it – you’ll get there! With a bit of practice, and our help at NorwegianClass101, you’ll soon have these family terms under the belt.

Family Shopping

3. How NorwegianClass101 Can Help You Learn Norwegian Family Terms

We hope that we helped you expand your family in Norwegian vocabulary!

NorwegianClass101, with its innovative online learning system, stands out among online learning platforms to help you master Norwegian easily.

Our lessons are tailored not only to increase your language skills, but to also inform you of Norwegian culture, including the Norwegian family structure.

When you sign up, you will get instant access to tools like:

1 – An extensive vocabulary list, regularly updated
2 – A new Norwegian word to learn every day
3 – Quick access to the Norwegian Key Phrase List
4 – A free Norwegian online dictionary
5 – The excellent 100 Core Norwegian Word List
6 – An almost limitless Lesson Library for learners of all levels

Further speed up your learning with the help of a personal tutor, who will first assess your current Norwegian language abilities to personalize your training and tailor it to your needs.

Hard work always pays off, and to help you in this, NorwegianClass101 will be there every step of the way toward your Norwegian mastery!

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Family Phrases in Norwegian

Answers: 1.i. 2.f. 3.r. 4.w. 5.l. 6.o. 7.y. 8.j. 9.a. 10.c. 11.u. 12.z. 13.k. 14.b. 15.g 16.x. 17.h. 18.m. 19.d. 20.e. 21.n. 22.p. 23.q. 24.s. 25.t. 26.v.

NorwegianClass101’s Essential Norwegian Travel Phrase Guide

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Traveling to foreign countries is nearly always an exciting, enriching, and beneficial experience. Yet, some things can be real downers, such as boredom on a lengthy flight to Norway. Really, binge-watching onboard movies can only be interesting for so long! And jet lag – another huge downer. Did you know that jet lag is more severe when you travel from the West to the East?

Well, we won’t know how to beat that, but there are fortunately plenty of remedies around to investigate.

To beat flight boredom, though, we may have the answer for you at NorwegianClass101! Why don’t you take the time to study Norwegian travel phrases? We make this super easy and fun, with great downloadables, like our PDF Cheat Sheets. Quickly memorize these, and impress your Norwegian friends or travel guide with your flawless Norwegian!

Table of Contents

  1. Importance Of Learning Travel Phrases
  2. 13 Must-Have Travel Phrases and Words
  3. Good-To-Have Travel Phrases
  4. Ways To Improve Communication in a Foreign Country
  5. NorwegianClass101 Can Help You Master Travel Phrases Easily and Effortlessly!

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1. Importance Of Learning Travel Phrases

Impressing Norwegian people or your travel partners will be the least of the benefits you reap from learning these helpful phrases. These are greater ones:

1) Eliminate Travel Frustration: First of all, you’ll be able to cut out a good chunk of travel frustration and inconvenience due to language barriers.

Know how to pronounce and use at least the basic Norwegian phrases, and then just look foreign. This should go a long way to help you get by and win you friends, because locals would be more inclined to help someone who took the trouble to learn a smidgen of their language.

Injured Woman In An Ambulance

2) Emergency Readiness: In case of an emergency, you will be able to get help a lot quicker if you know how to ask for what in Norwegian. Imagine miming to a doctor or nurse that you have a sore ear but that you’re allergic to penicillin. Not so easy, right?

Rather, you should know basic emergency travel phrases, especially if you suffer from a serious condition. Also, information about life-threatening allergies you have should always be on your person in the language of the country you’re visiting.

3) Sight-Seeing Readiness: Hopefully, you also travel to learn more about a country’s culture. Visiting the main tourist sites in Norway will be more interesting if you know how to ask pertinent questions in Norwegian.

In this blog, we’ll also be giving you important travel phrases to consider – from the 13 essential must-have phrases to ones that are just generally useful and good to know.

Let’s get cracking!

2. 13 Must-Have Travel Phrases and Words

Preparing to Travel

Seasoned explorers of multiple countries will tell you that certain words and phrases are absolute must-knows in anyone’s travel vocabulary. Learning from them, we collated some of the most essential ones here for you.

If you know these travel phrases and words by heart in Norwegian, you will be much better equipped for your visit than most of your movie-binging travel mates.

1) Takk (Thank you)

As a tourist, you will be relying on the kindness of strangers to get by. Repay them with a small acknowledgment of their friendly generosity – know how to say “thank you” in Norwegian.

2) Snakker du engelsk? (Do you speak English?)

While it may be a bit of a cop-out, sometimes you just can’t figure out how to communicate. Maybe you’re blanking on one specific word you need, maybe they’re speaking with a heavy accent, or maybe it’s just really late and you really want to get to the hotel. In that case, try asking if they speak English, and hopefully you can make things a little bit simpler for yourself.

Don’t abuse this phrase, though! If you just try to get by without learning any of the local language, not only will you not learn anything – you’ll be out of luck if they can’t speak English!

Man Greeting Someone

3) Går det en buss fra flyplassen til byen? (Is there a bus from the airport to the city?)

Public transit is usually cheaper, if slower, than taking a taxi or rideshare. Use this phrase to see if you can get where you’re going when you’re strapped for cash, or just when you’d like to take the scenic route into town!

4) Er dette riktig buss til flyplassen? (Is this the right bus for the airport?)

Likewise, if you’re the kind of person who can get themselves moving early (or maybe you just have a late flight), maybe you want to take the bus to the airport rather than taking a cab. If that’s the case, you’ll want to be sure you’re actually heading the right way! You wouldn’t want to end up at a lookout point half an hour away, watching your flight take off in the distance, would you?

5) Unnskyld meg, hva er billettprisen? (Excuse me, what’s the fare?)

If you are paying for a cab, you’ll want to know how much. Most legal taxis will have meters, but when dealing with a currency you’re not familiar with, it can be worth asking just to double check that you’re paying the right amount – especially if the currency has cents.

6) Jeg har en reservasjon (I have a reservation)

This one you can expect to use at least a few times throughout your trip, unless you’re the kind of person who travels by the seat of their pants and just goes to whatever hotel, motel, or hostel has rooms available.

7) Har dere noen ledige rom i kveld? (Do you have any vacancies tonight?)

If that’s the case, you’ll definitely be using this phrase instead. Quite possibly a lot, depending on how lucky you are!

Couple with a Map

8 ) Hvor er togstasjonen? (Where is the train station?)

If you’re in a country with an expansive commuter rail system (or maybe just a fan of other types of locomotives), you may want to know where the closest station is. Just don’t go looking for pennies on the rails!

9) Jeg er allergisk mot peanøtter (I am allergic to peanuts)

Replace “peanuts” with whatever the word for your allergen may be. If your allergy is serious, you probably already know the importance of stating this very clearly in Norwegian.

If the condition is life-threatening, be sure to have a letter or prescription from a medical professional in Norwegian on your person at all times. Consider getting a medical alert bracelet specially made in Norwegian if your stay will be longer than a month or so.

Person Declining Meat

10) Har du noen vegetarretter? (Do you have any vegetarian dishes?)

If you dislike eating certain things, or you have certain dietary restrictions, it would be best if you knew how to convey this clearly in Norwegian.

Remember, though, that saying “I’m vegan” or “I’m diabetic” may not be enough to get you what you want. The rules for veganism and vegetarianism are not standard everywhere in the world. Also, your patron might not understand what “diabetic” means. If you have a medical condition, it would be best to research some in-depth vocabulary beforehand.

11) Kunne jeg fått et kart? (Could I get a map?)

Planning on exploring your destination? Hopelessly lost? Maybe just an amateur cartographer? No matter the reason, this phrase is sure to come in handy. That said, you’re more likely to get use out of it at some sort of tourist or travel center than you are asking a random passerby on the street.

12) Hvor mye er dette? (How much is this?)

Even if you’re not a big shopper, you’re probably going to need this phrase at some point. Knowing how to count in Norwegian will, of course, help a lot with purchases too.

13) Tar dere kredittkort? (Do you take credit card?)

This is another travel phrase that will smooth your monetary transactions considerably.

Man Giving Credit Card to a Clerk

3. Good-To-Have Travel Phrases

Travel Verbs

Unlike the previous phrases, these are not really essential so much as they are useful. Yet, knowing these will still smooth over some bumps on your journey, more than just knowing the crucial phrases would.

1) Er Wi-Fi gratis? (Is the Wi-Fi free?)

If you’re abroad, your normal cellular plans probably won’t have any service, and you’ll be totally reliant on publically available Wi-Fi while you’re out and about. Just ask a server, clerk, or attendant, and they’ll be happy to let you know. Just make sure you’re paying attention when they tell you the password!

2) Kan du vær så snill å ta et bilde av meg? (Could you take a picture of me please?)

What would a trip be with no photos to commemorate the event? Just be sure to ask this of someone who actually looks like they’d be willing to, unless you’re willing to risk being given the cold shoulder or worse. If you’re at a tourist attraction, you’ll find that most people are more than happy to take one for you, so long as you take one of them as well!

3) Har dere noen anbefalinger? (Do you have any recommendations?)

Eating alone in a restaurant? Or going out with new Norwegian friends or business colleagues? Let them help you decide what to have.

4) Jeg vil gjerne ha et røykfritt sete, takk (I’d like to have a non-smoking seat, please)

Though smoking has gone out of fashion in some places, it’s still popular in others. In the event you’re at a restaurant where smoking is allowed on premises, you can always ask this question to the staff and be seated elsewhere.

5) Vann, er du snill (Water, please)

If you’ve emptied your glass, or are cutting yourself off after a few drinks, you can always ask for some water. It can be especially useful if the restaurant is busy to the point you need to call out to someone to get service.

6) Kan jeg få regningen? (Could I have the check?)

To finish off the restaurant related phrases, if you’re eating with friends or really want to impress your colleagues, taking the bill can be a nice treat for them. Of course, this phrase could come in handy as well if you’re eating alone and you’re just impatient to leave.

7) Hva anbefaler du for en suvenir? (What do you recommend for a souvenir?)

Now that your trip is over, what better way to cap it all off than a memento, or maybe a gift for friends and family at home? It’ll be nicer to have something recommended by the locals than a cheap bauble from the airport store, so go ahead and ask someone you’ve met what they think.

4. Ways To Improve Communication in a Foreign Country

Survival Phrases

When traveling, it’s possible to keep communication smooth when you don’t share a language.

Do so by keeping these five tips in mind. They are aimed to help you communicate with those who cannot speak English very well, and also to keep your traveling experience pleasant!

1. Keep your English simple and easy to understand.
If the person you are talking to speaks very little English, use basic verbs, adjectives, and nouns, and keep sentences short.

However, don’t patronize them by talking in pidgin or like you would address a child. Keep your speech simple but natural, and use the correct grammar.

For instance, don’t say: “You come when?”. If you say: “When will you come?”, you will very likely be understood, and may even help someone who wants to improve their English.

2. Ask someone to write information down.
Apply Rule 1 first at your hotel, where the staff is very likely to be able to speak some English. Get them to write down, in their native language, things like: “I would like to go to the airport, please,” “Please take me to the beach,” or “Where is the closest bathroom?”

These written questions are something you can then give to taxi drivers or any other people who are willing and able to help you. This simple step could make your life a lot easier when you travel to a foreign country!

3. Avoid asking leading questions!
If you want the correct information from a non-native English speaker, that is.

When you need directions, for instance, don’t ask: “To get to the bus stop, do I need to turn left here?” If the person didn’t really understand you, you will probably just get a smile and a “Yes,” which could possibly make you miss your bus.

Rather, you should ask: “Where is the bus stop?” If they understand you, you will get the correct directions.

4. Pick the right person to ask for help.
Time to look at people and think a bit about their appearance! A younger person who looks like they might be a student is more likely to have English skills than the friendly but ancient lady smiling at you from a fruit stall.

If you don’t see anyone like that, head into town to the nearest bank, hospital, pharmacy, or hotel. The staff at those places usually speak a bit of English.

5. Know when to quit.
If you stuck to the above rules, but the person you are talking to only stares at you blankly, say thank you and leave. Hanging around hoping someone will suddenly understand and respond is just wasting your time, and may irritate them as well. Go find someone else.

5. NorwegianClass101 Can Help You Master Travel Phrases Easily and Effortlessly!

So, reader, have you found this article helpful?

Do you feel comfortable enough to use some essential travel phrases in Norwegian? We’d also love to hear if you think we left out important travel phrases. Leave your suggestions and opinions in the comments!

NorwegianClass101 takes the lead with many free learning tools to help you master Norwegian reading and speaking easily, and in fun ways.

These tools include:

– An extensive vocabulary list, regularly updated
– A new Norwegian word to learn every day
– Quick access to the Norwegian Key Phrase List
– A free Norwegian online dictionary
– The excellent 100 Core Norwegian Word List
– An almost limitless Lesson Library for learners of all levels

You will also have access to topic-specific recordings like our Before You Travel: Survival Phrases lesson.

Learn even more efficiently with the help of a personal tutor, after taking an assessment test to personalize and tailor your training.

Getting a tutor is also a good option if you meet challenges in your learning, or need to fast-track correct pronunciation and diction. Your very own friendly, Norwegian-speaking teacher will be only a text away on a special app, anywhere, anytime – an excellent option for business persons!

Using a guided learning system that was developed by experts in language and online education, you’ll receive personal feedback and constant support to improve in no time. You’ll also be tasked with weekly assignments in reading, writing, and speaking to hone your Norwegian speaking skills.

Imagine how impressed your Norwegian friends or colleagues will be when you display your excellent conversational skills! With NorwegianClass101, getting there will be easy and fun.

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How to Use Norwegian Numbers for Daily Usage

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Especially if you’re planning a prolonged visit to Norway, using the correct Norwegian numbers for counting in Norwegian could be very important! Number systems are the other alphabet in any language. In fact, it is a language all of its own, and it serves a multitude of excellent purposes.

Table of Contents

  1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems
  2. Why is it Important to Learn Norwegian Numbers?
  3. Learning Norwegian Numbers
  4. Why Choose NorwegianClass101 to Learn all about Norwegian Numbers?

Log in to Download Your Free Cheat Sheet - Count to One Billion in Norwegian

1. A Brief History of Counting and Number Systems

Abacus

1. The Ishango Bone

The origin of counting, and with it numbers, is not clear to historians. While their art showed that prehistoric man had a concept of numbers, the first indication of a formal system was found to be only between 20,000 and 35,000 thousand years old. This discovery came around 1960 in the form of the so-called Ishango Bone found in the Congo, Central Africa.

The 10cm/4 inch piece of bone was a fibula from a baboon. It showed markings with a neat, unified pattern of small lines – far too organized and sophisticated to have formed spontaneously. Archeologists believe that those thin markings were carved to keep score of, or count, something. The lines seemed to represent a sequence of prime numbers and a series of duplications. Some even called it the first-ever pocket calculator!

2. Mesopotamia and Greece

Yet, evidence suggests that it wasn’t until about 4,000 years ago that humans truly started counting and using numbers. Together with the development of civilization came developed agriculture, and the need for measurement and score-keeping was increased.

For this reason, a formal number system and mathematics were developed first in the Middle East, in what was then called Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia was roughly situated in the area of modern-day Iraq and Kuwait. Allegedly, the system was pretty simple at first. Citizens used tokens that represented a certain number of items, such as one token equalling four goats, etc. This eventually evolved into a system of score marks pressed into clay, which ultimately went on to influence Greek mathematics.

3. Hindu-Arabic Numbers

Zero, meanwhile, was conceived later and elsewhere. Inspired by the Hindu religion, which allows for the concept of infinity and eternity, the Indians invented a symbol to represent nothing. The magic of the zero lies not in itself but its combination with other numbers.

The Indians were also the creators of today’s numbers, which are often referred to as Hindu-Arabic numbers. These comprise one or a combination of just ten symbols or digits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0.

Europe learned of this numeric system only around 1200 A.D., when they were introduced to it by an Italian mathematician called Leonardo Pisano Bigollo.

Pisano, also known as Fibonacci, is famous for the discovery of a mathematical sequence with countless applications. Yes, math buffs, it’s the well-known Fibonacci sequence, also called the Golden Mean.

The Roman numeric system, which was clumsy next to the newer inventions, gradually lost popularity in the West. It’s from here that they “slowly spread to conquer the world,” as Steven Law puts it.

2. Why is it Important to Learn Norwegian Numbers?

For us at NorwegianClass101, this is an easy question to answer! Because we know that numbers are a global unifier.

Counting and numbers have made our lives easier since they were first formulated, even in their most primitive forms.

Numbers in Industry

Without knowing your numbers, you can’t properly communicate about or deal with the following:

1) Your date/time of birth, i.e., your age: This is vital information to be able to give to people like doctors, employers, law enforcement, and so forth.

2) Banking: Worldwide, our monetary systems are built on numbers. Interest, credit scores, and loans all rely on math beyond simple finger counting.

3) Time: Without knowing how to say numbers, you can’t talk or ask about the time and expect to get a useful response. You don’t want to miss an appointment or schedule something for the wrong hour!

4) Ordering data: Numbers bring order to a mostly random life! Scientists even say that numbers and the way they are organized underpin the whole universe. From using them to count your meals’ calories and the number of likes your posts get on social media, to drawing up intricate data charts and explaining existence itself – numbers are what makes these things possible.

All of the above and more are reasons why it is important to know your numbers if you plan on travelling or becoming a foreign worker abroad, in Norway or anywhere else!

Little Girl Counting

3. Learning Norwegian Numbers

Now, let’s explore the Norwegian number system a bit more! Take a look at this infographic.

Language Numbers

Can you make out for yourself what the Norwegian numbers between one (1) and nine (9) look and sound like? Easy, right?

Or, if you struggled a bit, no problem. Why not listen to how Norwegian numbers one (1) through ten (10) sound when pronounced by our native Norwegian speaker and friendly NorwegianClass101 teacher?

Then, share with us in the comments your native language’s romanized pronunciation of your number system. We’d love to see all the different ways the same numbers can be pronounced!

Hand With a Thumbs Up

When you have mastered the first ten numbers, you have basically nailed the most significant part of the number system. Well done! Curious to learn the numbers from eleven upward? No problem! Why not subscribe and enroll with us now to immediately enjoy this lesson, teaching you all about Norwegian numbers eleven (11) to one hundred (100)?

Finally, if you’re curious how the numbers look once you’ve broken one hundred, why not check out our Norwegian number vocabulary page? You can see the numbers we’ve just covered, all the way up to four thousand (4,000). Plus, you can also see the Norwegian words for different numbers used in example sentences, to get an idea of how you can use them in your day-to-day conversations!

4. Why Choose NorwegianClass101 to Learn all about Norwegian Numbers?

NorwegianClass101, like all Innovative Language Learning ventures, takes the pain out of learning a new language by adding a lot of fun. It’s never an easy thing to learn a new language, but we formulated all your lessons so they’re nicely bite-sized, and geared to keep you motivated!

Also, we created a great number of fantastic tools to help keep struggle and boredom out of the learning process.

  • Fun and Easy Learning: It’s a commonly-known fact that when learning is made easy and fun, student motivation rises. And as motivation rises, so does the effort to learn – what a beautiful cycle! NorwegianClass101’s language learning system is designed to get you speaking from the onset. Learn at your own convenience and pace with our short, effective, and fun audio podcast lessons. Our Learning Center is comprehensive and state-of-the-art, with a vibrant user community to connect with! Our lessons are recorded with native hosts and voice actors, providing a diverse range of dialects in your lessons. You can be confident that native speakers will understand you when speaking Norwegian!
  • Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
  • Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Norwegian with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Norwegian dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about NorwegianClass101…!
  • Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. You can have your very own Norwegian teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
  • Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Norwegian word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Norwegian level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

So, why wait? Sign up with NorwegianClass101 right away! Also, let us know in the comments if you’ve used this blog post, or any of the free lessons anywhere to master Norwegian numbers. Or, even better – share your birthdate using what you’ve learned!

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How To Post In Perfect Norwegian on Social Media

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You’re learning to speak Norwegian, and it’s going well. Your confidence is growing! So much so that you feel ready to share your experiences on social media—in Norwegian.

At Learn Norwegian, we make this easy for you to get it right the first time. Post like a boss with these phrases and guidelines, and get to practice your Norwegian in the process.

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1. Talking about Your Restaurant Visit in Norwegian

Eating out is fun, and often an experience you’d like to share. Take a pic, and start a conversation on social media in Norwegian. Your friend will be amazed by your language skills…and perhaps your taste in restaurants!

Olav eats at a restaurant with his friends, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

POST

Let’s break down Olav’s post.

God mat med godt selskap!
“Good food in good company!”

1- God mat

First is an expression meaning “Good food.”
This is a very basic phrase in Norwegian. You can use it to express, in a brief and effective way, that the food is tasty.

2- med godt selskap

Then comes the phrase – “with good company.”
This phrase is similar to the previous which uses the adjective meaning “good” and a noun. Notice that the adjective changes to the neuter form to agree with the noun gender. In general, you can use this expression to indicate that you are with good friends.

COMMENTS

In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

1- Hvorfor ble ikke jeg invitert?

His girlfriend, Anne, uses an expression meaning – “Why wasn’t I invited? ”
Use this expression if you’re really upset about not being invited, or if you’re in a humorous mood and asks this question rhetorically.

2- Jeg håper gutta koser seg!

His college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “I hope the guys are enjoying themselves!”
This is a friendly wish to the party, and a pleasant way to make small talk online.

3- Så koselig!

His neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “How nice!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted about the poster’s experience.

4- Jeg ønsker dere en fin kveld. Hilsen Per

His supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “I wish you a nice evening. Best, Per”
This is a slightly more stilted way of doing the same as Morten – expressing a friendly wish. In this instance, Per is clearly not used to social media, therefore he adds his name to the post.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • god: “good”
  • å invitere: “to invite”
  • å håpe: “to hope”
  • koselig: “nice, cozy”
  • kveld: “evening”
  • selskap: “company”
  • So, let’s practice a bit. If a friend posted something about having dinner with friends, which phrase would you use?

    Now go visit a Norwegian restaurant, and wow the staff with your language skills!

    2. Post about Your Mall Visit in Norwegian

    Another super topic for social media is shopping—everybody does it, most everybody loves it, and your friends on social media are probably curious about your shopping sprees! Share these Norwegian phrases in posts when you visit a mall.

    Anne shops with her sister at the mall, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    Søstershopping er det beste.
    “Shopping with your sister is the best.”

    1- Søstershopping

    First is an expression meaning “Sister-shopping .”
    This word would typically be used in a colloquial setting, such as social media, as it is a combination of the word “sister” and “shopping.” Many words that are usually written with a hyphen or as two words in English are written as one in Norwegian, like this word.

    2- er det beste

    Then comes the phrase – “is the best .”
    This phrase is very useful when you want to express what you like the most.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Kjøp forskjellige ting så vi kan se forskjell på dere!

    Her high school friend, Mette, uses an expression meaning – “Buy different things so (that) we can see the difference between the two of you!”
    Use this expression to be funny.

    2- Kjøp noe til meg?

    Her friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “Buy something for me?”
    Use this expression to start a conversation (questions are good that way), or if you feel slightly neglected!

    3- Ikke bruk for mye penger!

    Her boyfriend, Olav, uses an expression meaning – “Don’t spend too much money!”
    This can be an expression of real concern, if the poster is a big spender. Or it could just be a comment to make conversation.

    4- God shopping!

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Good shopping!”
    This is a warmhearted wish for a pleasant experience.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • best: “best”
  • å kjøpe: “to buy”
  • noe: “something”
  • penger: “money”
  • å shoppe: “to shop”
  • forskjell: “difference”
  • So, if a friend posted something about going shopping, which phrase would you use?

    3. Talking about a Sport Day in Norwegian

    Sporting events, whether you’re the spectator or the sports person, offer fantastic opportunity for great social media posts. Learn some handy phrases and vocabulary to start a sport-on-the-beach conversation in Norwegian.

    Olav plays with his friends at the beach, posts an image of the team playing, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Volleyball på stranda er digg!
    “Volleyball on the beach is awesome!”

    1- Volleyball på stranda

    First is an expression meaning “Volleyball on the beach.”
    This phrase is stating in a simple manner both what is going on and where. Norwegians love to spend time at the beach during summer, as most of the time the weather is horrible. Volleyball, like many words, is borrowed directly from English and is spelled the same.

    2- er digg

    Then comes the phrase – “is awesome.”
    This phrase is a commonly used term, mostly amongst young people, which means the same as “awesome,” “sweet,” or “cool.”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Er det fint nok vær til det da?

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “Is the weather nice enough for that?”
    Use this expression if you feel pessimistic about the weather.

    2- Er det noen fine damer som er med?

    His college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “Are any pretty ladies joining in?”
    This is a remark that shows humour and perhaps a bit of teasing.

    3- Husk solkrem!

    His girlfriend, Anne, uses an expression meaning – “Remember the sunscreen!”
    This is a suitable remark to make if you are worried about the poster’s wellbeing in the sun, but take care not to come across as a parent!

    4- Ikke få sand i munnen.

    His high school friend, Mette, uses an expression meaning – “Don’t get sand in your mouth.”
    This is a good expression to use if you’re feeling humorous.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • strand: “beach”
  • vær: “weather”
  • dame: “lady”
  • solkrem: “sunscreen”
  • sand: “sand”
  • å huske: “to remember”
  • Which phrase would you use if a friend posted something about sports?

    But sport is not the only thing you can play! Play some music, and share it on social media.

    4. Share a Song on Social Media in Norwegian

    Music is the language of the soul, they say. So, don’t hold back—share what touches your soul with your friends!

    Anne shares a song she just heard at a party, posts an image of the artist, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    Dette er det jeg kaller bra musikk!
    “This is what I call good music!”

    1- Dette er det jeg kaller

    First is an expression meaning “This is what I call .”
    In Norwegian, instead of simply stating that something is or isn’t good, we often use the phrase “This is what I call”, followed by a phrase.

    2- bra musikk

    Then comes the phrase – “good music .”
    This phrase is useful when you want to introduce your music preferences to your friends. You can substitute the word “music” with something else.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Ja, den er fengende.

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Yes, it’s catchy.”
    Use this expression to show that you agree with the poster’s comment.

    2- Jeg hører mer på de gamle klassikerne.

    Her supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “I listen more to the (old) classics.”
    Use this expression to share an opposing personal opinion.

    3- Det var den vi hørte på festen her forleden.

    Her boyfriend, Olav, uses an expression meaning – “This was the one we heard at the party the other day.”
    Share a bit of personal information to warm up the conversation!

    4- Denne liker jeg også!

    Her college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “I also like this! ”
    This is a commonly-used expression when you agree with someone’s taste in anything.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • musikk: “music”
  • fengende: “catchy”
  • gammel: “old”
  • fest: “party”
  • også: “also”
  • klassiker: “classic”
  • Which song would you share? And what would you say to a friend who posted something about sharing music or videos?

    Now you know how to start a conversation about a song or a video on social media!

    5. Norwegian Social Media Comments about a Concert

    Still on the theme of music—visiting live concerts and shows just have to be shared with your friends. Here are some handy phrases and vocab to wow your followers with in Norwegian!

    Olav goes to a concert, posts an image of the band on stage, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Øyafestivalen var fantastisk!
    “Øya festival was fantastic!”

    1- Øyafestivalen

    First is an expression meaning “Øya festival.”
    Øya festival, or in English “The Island festival,” is one of the biggest summer festivals in Norway. It is held annually in Oslo, usually in mid August.

    2- var fantastisk

    Then comes the phrase – “was fantastic.”
    Like many expressions used in the Norwegian language this one is a loanword, a word taken from a different language, in this case the English “fantastic.” This phrase is in the past tense.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Du må ta meg med neste gang.

    His friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “You must take me with you next time. ”
    Use this expression to show your hope to be included in the party next time.

    2- All musikk nå er dårlig.

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “All music now is bad. ”
    Use this expression with care! This is a rather negative opinion.

    3- Det er masse bra konserter nå om sommeren!

    His friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “There are a lot of good concerts (now) during summer!”
    In contrast with the previous comment, this one is a positive opinion.

    4- Jeg fikk dessverre ikke dratt dit i år…

    His college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “Unfortunately, I didn’t get to go there this year…”
    This comment is good to be part of a conversation, sharing a bit of personal information.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • festival: “festival”
  • gang: “time”
  • konsert: “concert”
  • dårlig: “bad”
  • år: “year”
  • dessverre: “unfortunately”
  • If a friend posted something about a concert , which phrase would you use?

    6. Talking about an Unfortunate Accident in Norwegian

    Oh dear. You broke something by accident. Use these Norwegian phrases to start a thread on social media. Or maybe just to let your friends know why you are not contacting them!

    Anne accidentally breaks her mobile phone, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    Enda en knust telefon…
    “Another shattered phone…”

    1- Enda en

    First is an expression meaning “Another.”
    In Norwegian this expression can be used to mean both “another,” as in different, as well as “another one,” as in “I’ll have another one, please.”

    2- knust telefon

    Then comes the phrase – “broken phone.”
    With smartphones being as popular as they are in Norway, saying a phone is broken rarely means that the whole phone has stopped working. These days it is likely to mean that the screen is cracked or shattered.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Du får bruke hustelefonen fremover.

    Her boyfriend, Olav, uses an expression meaning – “You can use a landline telephone from now on.”
    Use this expression if you’re in a humorous mood.

    2- Jeg vet om et sted som fikser sånt for en billig penge!

    Her friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “I know a place where they can fix things like that for a cheap price!”
    Use this expression if you want to be helpful.

    3- Jeg bruker ikke smarttelefon og mobiltelefonen min har vart meg lenge.

    Her supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “I’m not using a smartphone and my mobile phone has lasted me a long time. ”
    Use this expression if you feel you have good advice to give.

    4- Om du har forsikring så er det ikke så dyrt å få den reparert.

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “If you have insurance, it’s not too expensive to get it fixed.”
    This expression shows positive support and encouragement.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • å knuse: “to break”
  • å bruke: “to use”
  • billig: “cheap”
  • mobiltelefon: “mobile phone”
  • forsikring: “insurance”
  • hustelefon: “landline”
  • dyr: “expensive”
  • If a friend posted something about having broken something by accident, which phrase would you use?

    So, now you know how to talk about an accident in Norwegian. Well done!

    7. Chat about Your Boredom on Social Media in Norwegian

    Sometimes, we’re just bored with how life goes. And to alleviate the boredom, we write about it on social media. Add some excitement to your posts by addressing your friends and followers in Norwegian!

    Olav gets bored at home, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Jeg kjeder meg sånn. Hva kan jeg finne på?
    “I’m so bored. What can I do? ”

    1- Jeg kjeder meg sånn.

    First is an expression meaning “I’m so bored. .”
    Being bored is not expressed as a state of being in Norwegian. Rather, it is expressed as a verb. “I am boring myself” would be the most direct translation. Its meaning, however, is exactly that of the English “I am bored.”

    2- Hva kan jeg finne på?

    Then comes the phrase – “What can I do?.”
    A literal translation of this question, often asked to oneself, is “what can I find to do?” Norwegians will often express both boredom and wanting to find something to do out loud – sometimes, even if alone.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Du kan gå en tur i finværet?

    His girlfriend, Anne, uses an expression meaning – “You can go for a walk in this nice weather?”
    Use this expression if you want to give advice.

    2- Bli med å ta en øl!

    His college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “Come and grab a beer!”
    Use this expression if you want to make a suggestion to alleviate the poster’s problem.

    3- Plukk opp en god bok.

    His neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Pick up a good book. ”
    This is another suggestion to remedy the problem of boredom.

    4- Vask huset så blir din samboer glad.

    His girlfriend’s nephew, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “Clean the house and your partner will be happy.”
    This is a slightly sarcastic, mostly humorous suggestion to use.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • å kjede seg: “to be bored”
  • tur: “walk”
  • øl: “beer”
  • å plukke: “to pick”
  • å vaske: “to wash/ to clean”
  • samboer: “cohabitant”
  • If a friend posted something about being bored, which phrase would you use?

    Still bored? Share another feeling and see if you can start a conversation!

    8. Exhausted? Share It on Social Media in Norwegian

    Sitting in public transport after work, feeling like chatting online? Well, converse in Norwegian about how you feel, and let your friends join in!

    Anne feels exhausted after a long day at work, posts an image of herself looking tired, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    I dag er jeg helt utslitt.
    “I’m completely exhausted today.”

    1- I dag er jeg

    First is an expression meaning “Today I am.”
    This part of the sentence is there to show that this is a state lasting or caused by the whole previous day, and is not just present at the moment. You can change the indication of time to refer to a different period, such as “this week”, “this morning,” and so on.

    2- helt utslitt

    Then comes the phrase – “completely exhausted.”
    The direct translation of this expression is “completely worn out,” but it also means the same as “exhausted.”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Lag deg en kopp te og slapp av!

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Make yourself a cup of tea and relax!”
    Use this expression to make a positive suggestion.

    2- Se på komedie! Det vil nok muntre deg opp.

    Her high school friend, Mette, uses an expression meaning – “Watch a comedy! That’ll cheer you up.”
    This is another suggestion that should be helpful to help with fatigue.

    3- Du har jo en lett jobb!

    Her nephew, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “You have an easy job!”
    This is a somewhat sarcastic but mostly humorous comment.

    4- Nå må du ikke stresse for mye.

    Her boyfriend, Olav, uses an expression meaning – “Don’t get too stressed out. ”
    This phrase and suggestion shows caring and concern for the poster’s wellbeing.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • utslitt: “exhausted”
  • te: “tea”
  • komedie: “comedy”
  • lett: “easy”
  • mye: “much, a lot”
  • kopp: “cup”
  • If a friend posted something about being exhausted, which phrase would you use?

    Now you also know how to say you’re exhausted in Norwegian! Well done.

    9. Talking about an Injury in Norwegian

    So life happens, and you manage to hurt yourself during a soccer game. Very Tweet-worthy! Here’s how to do it in Norwegian.

    Olav suffers a painful injury, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Jeg ødela kneet på treningssenteret.
    “I busted my knee at the gym. ”

    1- Jeg ødela kneet

    First is an expression meaning “I busted my knee”.
    Although the literal translation of this expression is “I broke the knee,” it is implied that you are referring to “my knee.” This phrase does not necessarily imply a permanent or serious injury.

    2- på treningssenteret

    Then comes the phrase – “at the gym.”
    This shows the location and implies this happened during physical training at the gym. You can keep the same preposition and name a different place to refer to somewhere else.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Å nei, skal vi til legen?

    His girlfriend, Anne, uses an expression meaning – “Oh no, should we go to the emergency room? ”
    Use this suggestion to show you are feeling concern for the poster’s wellbeing.

    2- God bedring!

    His neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Get well soon!”
    Use this expression to wish the poster well. It is very commonly used and well known.

    3- Jeg håper du har en god sofa.

    His college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “I hope you have a good couch. ”
    Use this expression to show a bit of humour in a bleak situation.

    4- Det blir nok fort bedre, så sporty som du er!

    His friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “As sporty as you are, it’ll heal soon.”
    Use this expression if you are feeling optimistic about the poster’s prospects of healing.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • å ødelegge: “to destroy”
  • lege: “doctor”
  • God bedring!: “Get well soon!”
  • sofa: “couch”
  • fort: “fast”
  • kne: “knee”
  • If a friend posted something about being injured, which phrase would you use?

    We love to share our fortunes and misfortunes; somehow that makes us feel connected to others.

    10. Starting a Conversation Feeling Disappointed in Norwegian

    Sometimes things don’t go the way we planned. Share your disappointment about this with your friends!

    Anne feels disappointed about today’s weather, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    Å nei, jeg håpet på fint vær idag!
    “Oh no, I was hoping for nice weather today!”

    1- Å nei, jeg håpet

    First is an expression meaning “Oh no, I had hoped.”
    This is a simple expression stating that the speaker is disappointed and had previously hoped for something. It is often used when something does not turn out the way one wanted it to. It is usually used when there is a reason to hope for or expect something and is used mostly on social media, but is rarely written in more formal text.

    2- på fint vær idag

    Then comes the phrase – “for nice weather today..”
    In this case, the speaker had hoped that today’s weather would be nice, but you can substitute “nice weather” with a different expression.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær.

    Her boyfriend, Olav, uses an expression meaning – “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. (Norwegian idiom) ”
    This is a somewhat humorous expression to use related to the weather.

    2- Du får kose deg inne i stedet da.

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “You’ll have to have a cozy time inside instead then.”
    This is a suggestion showing perhaps that the poster could make the best of a bad situation.

    3- Dårlig vær bygger karakter.

    Her supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “Bad weather builds character.”
    Use this expression if you are feeling slightly humorous.

    4- Håper det blir fint etter hvert.

    Her friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “Hope it will clear up eventually.”
    Use this phrase if you want to wish for something good regarding the weather.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • vær: “weather”
  • dårlig: “bad”
  • inne: “inside”
  • deg: “you “
  • fint: “fine”
  • etter hvert: “eventually”
  • How would you comment in Norwegian when a friend is disappointed?

    Not all posts need to be about a negative feeling, though!

    11. Talking about Your Relationship Status in Norwegian

    Don’t just change your relationship status in Settings, talk about it!

    Olav changes his status to “In a relationship”, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    I et forhold med Anne.
    “In a relationship with Anne.”

    1- I et forhold

    First is an expression meaning “In a relationship.”
    This statement expresses the speaker’s state of being in a romantic relationship. It can also stand alone as a sentence by itself, where it will mean “in a relationship.”

    2- med Anne

    Then comes the phrase – “with Anne.”
    This simply shows that Anne is the person with whom the speaker is in a romantic relationship.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Jeg elsker deg.

    His girlfriend, Anne, uses an expression meaning – “I love you.”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling loving.

    2- Gratulerer!

    His neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations!”
    This is a common response to a positive announcement.

    3- Olav har endelig fått seg dame!

    His college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “Olav finally got a girlfriend!”
    This is a humorous comment that teases the poster a bit.

    4- Det var en hyggelig nyhet.

    His supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “This is pleasant news. ”
    Use this expression if you are feeling positive about the news.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • forhold: “relationship”
  • å elske: “to love”
  • å gratulere: “to congratulate”
  • endelig: “finally”
  • hyggelig: “pleasant”
  • nyhet: “news”
  • What would you say in Norwegian when a friend changes their relationship status?

    Being in a good relationship with someone special is good news – don’t be shy to spread it!

    12. Post about Getting Married in Norwegian

    Wow, so things got serious, and you’re getting married. Congratulations! Or, your friend is getting married, so talk about this in Norwegian.

    Anne is getting married today, so she eaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    I dag skal jeg gifte meg!
    “Today I’m getting married!”

    1- I dag skal jeg

    First is an expression meaning “Today I am going to.”
    This states something the speaker is intending to do today. It can be used for both something that will be a day-long activity or something shorter taking place sometime today.

    2- gifte meg

    Then comes the phrase – “get married.”
    In Norwegian, this is expressed literally as “to marry oneself.” It is a reflexive verb. The meaning, however, is the same as the English “to get married.”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Jeg gleder meg til seremonien.

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “I’m looking forward to the ceremony.”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted about attending the wedding.

    2- Nå blir det fest!

    Her college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “Now, let’s party!”
    Make this humorous suggestion if you feel exuberant and positive about the news.

    3- Du kommer til å se så fin ut i den kjolen Anne!

    Her friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “You’re going to look so nice in that dress, Anne!”
    Say this if you mean to compliment the bride on her choice of wedding dress.

    4- Du slår deg ned allerede?

    Her high school friend, Mette, uses an expression meaning – “You’re settling down already?”
    Use this expression if you feel humorous.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • å gifte seg : “to marry”
  • seremoni: “ceremony”
  • å bli: “to become”
  • kjole: “dress”
  • å slå seg ned: “to settle down”
  • å glede seg: “to look forward to “
  • How would you respond in Norwegian to a friend’s post about getting married?

    For the next topic, fast forward about a year into the future after the marriage…

    13. Announcing Big News in Norwegian

    Wow, huge stuff is happening in your life! Announce it in Norwegian.

    Olav finds out he and his wife are going to have a baby, posts an image of a pregnant Anne, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Jeg skal bli pappa!
    “I’m going to be a dad!”

    1- Jeg skal bli

    First is an expression meaning “I’m going to be.”
    This expresses that the speaker is going to experience a change of state and is a common phrase in Norwegian. You can also use it when you talk about your future career, where you will state the occupation after this phrase.

    2- pappa

    Then comes the phrase – “a dad.”
    In this case, the new state of being is as a father. “Pappa” is a colloquial word, much like the English “dad.”

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Du må fortsatt bli med meg ut på byen, min venn!

    His college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “My friend, you still need to go out on the town with me!”
    Use this expression if you are in a frivolous mood and want to be humorous.

    2- Dette var hjertevarmende nyheter!

    His neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “This was heartwarming news!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted and pleased about the news.

    3- Det gikk fort!

    His nephew, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “That went fast!”
    Use this expression to be slightly sarcastic and humorous.

    4- Jeg håper barnet vil ligne på Anne!

    His high school friend, Mette, uses an expression meaning – “I hope the child will look like Anne!”
    Use this expression to be humorous.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • pappa: “dad”
  • by: “city”
  • hjertevarmende: “heartwarming”
  • fort: “fast/quick”
  • å ligne: “to resemble”
  • barn: “child”
  • å måtte: “to have to “
  • Which phrase would you choose when a friend announces their pregnancy on social media?

    So, talking about a pregnancy will get you a lot of traction on social media. But wait till you see the responses to babies!

    14. Posting Norwegian Comments about Your Baby

    Your bundle of joy is here, and you cannot keep quiet about it! Share your thoughts in Norwegian.

    Anne plays with her baby, posts an image of the little one, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    Se på dette nydelige smilet!
    “Look at this lovely smile!”

    1- Se på dette

    First is an expression meaning “Look at this .”
    This is an expression often used to draw attention to something positive or nice.

    2- nydelige smilet

    Then comes the phrase – “lovely smile.”
    This is a standard way of complimenting a smile.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Ta kontakt om dere trenger en barnevakt!

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Let me know if you need a babysitter!”
    Use this expression to show your support and willingness to help.

    2- Hun blir nok snill og smart, som foreldrene sine.

    Her supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “She will probably be kind and smart, like her parents.”
    Use this expression to compliment the parents.

    3- Så flott hun er!

    Her friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “She is so beautiful!”
    Use this expression to compliment someone’s looks.

    4- Jeg er veldig stolt!

    Her husband, Olav, uses an expression meaning – “I am so proud!”
    Use this expression if you feel proud about something.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • smil: “smile”
  • nydelig: “lovely, gorgeous”
  • smart: “smart”
  • barnevakt: “babysitter”
  • stolt: “proud”
  • veldig: “very “
  • If your friend is the mother or father, which phrase would you use on social media?

    Congratulations, you know the basics of chatting about a baby in Norwegian! But we’re not done with families yet…

    15. Norwegian Comments about a Family Reunion

    Family reunions – some you love, some you hate. Share about it on your feed.

    Olav goes to a family gathering, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Da er familien samlet igjen hos mor og far.
    “The family is gathered again at mom and dad’s place.”

    1- Da er familien samlet igjen

    First is an expression meaning “The family is gathered again.”
    This is a common expression for when a family is rarely together at once in one place.

    2- hos mor og far

    Then comes the phrase – “at mom and dad’s place.”
    Directly translated this means “at mom and dad,” but the English translation becomes “at mom and dad’s place,” as the location is implied rather than specified.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Det var et utrolig koselig besøk!

    His wife, Anne, uses an expression meaning – “That was a very nice visit!”
    Use this expression if you also want to comment on the event.

    2- Olav, familiemedlemmene dine ser så like ut jeg klarer ikke se forskjell!

    His high school friend, Mette, uses an expression meaning – “Olav, your family members look so similar I can’t tell the difference!”
    Use this expression if you want to be humorous.

    3- Du må hilse så mye til dine foreldre.

    His supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “Give your parents my regards.”
    This is a standard, polite phrase to use if you wish to greet the poster’s parents via the poster.

    4- Dette må være den beste måten å nyte sommeren.

    His neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “This must be the best way to enjoy summer.”
    Use this expression if you want to comment positively on the event.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • familie: “family”
  • familiemedlem: “family member”
  • besøk: “parent”
  • besøk: “visit”
  • forskjell: “difference”
  • å nyte: “to enjoy”
  • Which phrase is your favorite to comment on a friend’s photo about a family reunion?

    16. Post about Your Travel Plans in Norwegian

    So, the family are going on holiday. Do you know how to post and leave comments in Norwegian about being at the airport, waiting for a flight?

    Anne waits at the airport for her flight, posts an image of the boarding gate, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    Nå er vi ved utgangen og venter på flyet.
    “We are now at the gate, waiting for our flight.”

    1- Nå er vi ved utgangen

    First is an expression meaning “We are now at the gate.”
    In Norwegian, the word indicating the gate that leads to a plane in an airport actually means “exit.”

    2- og venter på flyet

    Then comes the phrase – “waiting for the flight.”
    Since the sentence starts with “now,” it is important to keep all the verbs in the sentence in the present tense.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- God tur!

    Her supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “Have a good trip!”
    Use this expression to greet someone in an old-fashioned way.

    2- Hvor skal dere?

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Where are you going?”
    Use this expression if you’re curious about someone’s travel destination.

    3- Norge er vel bra nok, hvorfor dra noe annet sted?

    Her nephew, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “Surely Norway is good enough, so why go somewhere else?”
    Use this expression if you’re in a humorous, teasing mood.

    4- Jeg tror dere kommer til å ha en super tur.

    Her friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “I think you’re going to have a great trip.”
    Use this phrase to express your optimistic hopes for someone’s trip.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • utgang: “exit, gate”
  • god: “good”
  • hvor: “where”
  • hvorfor: “why”
  • annen: “other”
  • å tro: “to believe”
  • Choose and memorize your best airport phrase in Norwegian!

    Hopefully the rest of the trip is better!

    17. Posting about an Interesting Find in Norwegian

    So maybe you’re strolling around at your local market, and find something interesting. Here are some handy Norwegian phrases!

    Olav finds an unusual item at a local market, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Nå skal vi prøve ut mye nytt!
    “Now, we’re going to try out a lot of new things!”

    1- Nå skal vi prøve ut

    First is an expression meaning: “Now we’re going to try out.”
    A useful expression for stating that one intends to do something new, something one hasn’t experienced before.

    2- mye nytt

    Then comes the phrase – “a lot of new things.”
    This phrase directly translated simply means “a lot of new,” but the English meaning is “a lot of new things.” It can be used for both objects and happenings.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Mye var bra, og noe var litt merkelig…

    His wife, Anne, uses an expression meaning – “A lot was good, but some of it was a bit weird…”
    Use this phrase to express your ambivalent feelings about something.

    2- Det er alltid bra med litt forandring i hverdagen.

    His friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “It’s always good to have some variety in life.”
    Use this expression to share a stoic philosophy about life.

    3- Dere fortjener å kose dere masse!

    His neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “You deserve to enjoy yourselves (so much)!”
    Use this expression if you are feeling warmhearted and generous towards the travellers.

    4- Man lærer alltid nye ting av å reise en ny plass.

    His supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “One always learns so much from traveling to a new place.”
    Use this expression to share your idea of the virtues of traveling.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • å prøve: “to try”
  • mye: “much”
  • forandring: “change”
  • å fortjene: “to deserve”
  • alltid: “always”
  • ny: “new”
  • Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s interesting find?

    Perhaps you will even learn the identity of your find! Or perhaps you’re on holiday, and visiting interesting places…

    18. Post about a Sightseeing Trip in Norwegian

    Let your friends know what you’re up to in Norwegian, especially when visiting a remarkable place! Don’t forget the photo.

    Anne visits a famous landmark, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    Dette er noe av det flotteste jeg noensinne har sett!
    “This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen!”

    1- Dette er noe av det flotteste

    First is an expression meaning “This is one of the most beautiful things.”
    In this phrase, “the” and the adjective in the phrase have to be conjugated according to the noun in question.

    2- jeg noensinne har sett

    Then comes the phrase – “I have ever seen.”
    This phrase can be used when describing the worst/best/weirdest/etc. thing you have ever seen.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Jeg er helt enig.

    Her husband, Olav, uses an expression meaning – “I agree completely.”
    Use this expression if you agree full-heartedly with the poster.

    2- Fikk dere tatt mange bilder så jeg kan se senere?

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Did you take many pictures so that I can see later?”
    Use this expression if you are eager to see any photos the poster might have taken.

    3- Kult!

    Her college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “Cool!”
    Use this expression just so give a positive comment, showing your enthusiasm for whatever the poster shared.

    4- Jeg håper jeg også får tatt turen dit en dag.

    Her friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “I hope I get the chance to travel there someday too.”
    Use this expression to share your personal hopes for traveling to a specific location.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • noe: “something”
  • å være enig: “to agree”
  • bilde: “picture”
  • kul: “cool”
  • dere: “you “
  • tur: “trip”
  • Which phrase would you prefer when a friend posts about a famous landmark?

    Share your special places with the world. Or simply post about your relaxing experiences.

    19. Post about Relaxing Somewhere in Norwegian

    So you’re doing nothing yet you enjoy that too? Tell your social media friends about it in Norwegian!

    Olav relaxes at a beautiful place, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Her kan jeg bli for alltid!
    “I could stay here forever!”

    1- Her kan jeg bli

    First is an expression meaning “I could stay here.”
    This describes a place where you think you could stay for a long time or forever. It can be used as a sentence itself or combined with a phrase describing how long you want to stay.

    2- for alltid

    Then comes the phrase – “forever.”
    This indicates that they wish they could remain there forever.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Stranden var så deilig og sjøen blå!

    His wife, Anne, uses an expression meaning – “The beach was so lovely, and the ocean was so blue!”
    Use this expression to share your positive impressions of a location at the seaside.

    2- Håper dere kommer hjem brune og blide.

    His neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “I hope you come home tanned and happy.”
    Use this expression to show are feeling hopeful that the poster has enjoyed their stay in the sun.

    3- Husk solkrem! Dere er jo så bleke at dere kommer til å bli brente!

    His high school friend, Mette, uses an expression meaning – “Remember sunscreen! You’re so pale that you’re going to burn!”
    Use this expression to be both funny and has concern for the health of the poster’s skin.

    4- Jeg liker best når det er overskyet.

    His nephew, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “I prefer it when it’s cloudy.”
    Use this expression to share your preference for cloudy weather. In this context, it could be a bit funny too.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • å bli : “to stay”
  • sjø: “sea”
  • blå: “blue”
  • brun: “tan “
  • hvit: “white”
  • skyet: “cloudy”
  • Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s feed?

    The break was great, but now it’s time to return home.

    20. What to Say in Norwegian When You’re Home Again

    And you’re back! What will you share with friends and followers?

    Anne returns home after a vacation, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    Jeg skulle ønske ferien varte litt lengre…
    “I wish the vacation lasted a little longer…”

    1- Jeg skulle ønske

    First is an expression meaning “I wish.”
    This phrase is used to express a wish or desire.

    2- ferien varte litt lengre

    Then comes the phrase – “the vacation lasted a little longer.”
    Just like in English, in the sentence following the phrase “I wish,” the verb should be in the past tense.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Ja, men nå må vi tilbake på jobb.

    Her husband, Olav, uses an expression meaning – “Yes, but we need to go back to work.”
    Use this expression to remind the poster of the realities of work-life.

    2- Jeg håper dere nøt det så lenge det varte!

    Her friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted!”
    Use this expression if you’re hopeful that the poster enjoyed their stay.

    3- Jeg drar på guttetur i morgen jeg!

    Her college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “I’m going on a lads trip in the morning!”
    Use this expression to share some of your own experiences.

    4- Jeg kommer bort med boller jeg nettopp bakte!

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “I’ll come over with some sweet buns I just baked!”
    Use this expression to welcome the poster back with a gift of sweet buns.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • lang: “long”
  • tilbake: “back”
  • jobb: “work”
  • å dra: “to go”
  • gutt: “boy “
  • bolle: “bun”
  • å bake: “to bake”
  • How would you welcome a friend back from a trip?

    What do you post on social media during a public commemoration day such as the Norwegian Constitution Day?

    21. It’s Time to Celebrate in Norwegian

    It’s an historic day and you wish to post something about it on social media. What would you say?

    Olav watches Constitution Day fireworks show, posts an image of the spectacle, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Gratulerer med dagen kjære landsmenn.
    “Dear compatriots, happy Constitution Day.”

    1- Gratulerer med dagen

    First is an expression meaning “Happy Constitution Day (lit. Happy birthday).”
    This phrase, directly translated into English, actually means “congratulations with the day.” Although it is mostly used to congratulate someone on their birthday, it is also used on other special occasions, such as Constitution Day, mothers/fathers day, etc.

    2- kjære landsmenn

    Then comes the phrase – “dear compatriots.”
    On Constitution Day, Norwegians usually feel quite patriotic. This expression is typically only used on this day.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Hipp hipp hurra!

    His wife, Anne, uses an expression meaning – “Hip hip hooray!”
    Use this expression to show enthusiasm, and your agreement with the poster’s comment.

    2- Går dere i toget nå?

    His neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Are you walking in the parade now?”
    Use this question if you want to know more about the immediate poster’s activities, if there’s a parade going on.

    3- I dag skal jeg spise mange is på pinne.

    His friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “Today I’m going to eat a lot of ice lollies.”
    Use this expression to share your dietary plans for the day.

    4- Gratulerer med dagen til deg og.

    His supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “Happy Constitution Day to you too.”
    This is an old-fashioned, commonly used wish for Constitution Day.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • Gratulerer med dagen.: “Happy birthday.”
  • hurra: “hooray”
  • tog: “train, parade”
  • is på pinne: “ice lolly”
  • å gratulere: “to congratulate”
  • å spise: “to eat “
  • If a friend posted something about a holiday, which phrase would you use?

    Constitution Day and other public commemoration days are not the only special ones to remember!

    22. Posting about a Birthday on Social Media in Norwegian

    Your friend or you are celebrating your birthday in an unexpected way. Be sure to share this on social media!

    Anne goes to her birthday party, posts an image of all the guests, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    Tusen takk til alle som organiserte en herlig fest!
    “Thank you to all who organized the lovely party!”

    1- Tusen takk til alle

    First is an expression meaning “Thank you all.”
    This phrase is used to thank a group of people all at once.

    2- som organiserte en herlig fest

    Then comes the phrase – “who organized a lovely party.”
    “Herlig” is a Norwegian word that does not have a direct translation in English, but the meaning is the same as “lovely” or “wonderful.” It is used a lot by the younger generations to describe things they like.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Ha en bra dag!

    Her college friend, Morten, uses an expression meaning – “Have a good day!”
    Use this expression to wish the poster well for the day.

    2- Jeg håper året som kommer bringer like mye lykke og kjærlighet som det forrige!

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “I hope the coming year brings as much happiness and love as the last one did! ”
    Use this expression to share a special wish for their next life year.

    3- Gratulerer med dagen kjære venn!

    Her friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “Happy birthday, my dear friend!”
    This is the traditional birthday wish, together with a term of endearment for a good friend.

    4- Ikke lenge til du er gammel og skrukkete nå!

    Her high school friend, Mette, uses an expression meaning – “Not long until you’re old and wrinkled now!”
    Use this expression if you’re in a humorous mood.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • å organisere: “to organise”
  • herlig: “wonderful”
  • å ha: “to have “
  • venninne : “friend (girl)”
  • lenge: “long”
  • skrukkete: “wrinkled”
  • If a friend posted something about birthday greetings, which phrase would you use?

    23. Talking about New Year on Social Media in Norwegian

    Impress your friends with your Norwegian New Year’s wishes this year. Learn the phrases easily!

    Olav celebrates the New Year, posts an image of the celebrations, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Godt nyttår! Nytt år, nye muligheter.
    “Happy New Year! New year, new possibilities. ”

    1- Godt nyttår

    First is an expression meaning “Happy New Year .”
    This is how one would greet people in the New Year. It is the traditional expression used on midnight of December 31st to January 1st.

    2- Nytt år, nye muligheter

    Then comes the phrase – “New year, new possibilities.”
    This is a phrase one uses to express the new opportunities in the coming year, often referring to things that can get better than they were.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Målet mitt i år er å holde meg til hvertfall ett av nyttårsforsettene mine!

    His high school friend, Mette, uses an expression meaning – “My goal this year is to stick to at least one of my New Year’s resolutions!”
    Use this expression if you’re in a humorous mood.

    2- Jeg ønsker deg et godt år fremover.

    His supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “I wish you a good coming year.”
    Use this old-fashioned and simple, but appropriate phrase to wish someone a good year ahead.

    3- Det er jo bare enda en annen dag…

    His nephew, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “It’s just (yet) another day….”
    Use this expression if you are slightly sarcastic, but more funny.

    4- Jeg tror dette året kommer til å bli helt fantastisk! Skål!

    His friend, Julie, uses an expression meaning – “I think this year is going to be amazing! Cheers!”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic and enthusiastic about the new year.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • Godt Nyttår!: “Happy New Year!”
  • mål: “goal”
  • å ønske: “to wish “
  • fremover : “forward”
  • annen: “other”
  • skål: “cheers”
  • Which is your favorite phrase to post on social media during New Year?

    But before New Year’s Day comes another important day…

    24. What to Post on Christmas Day in Norwegian

    What will you say in Norwegian about Christmas?

    Anne celebrates Christmas with her family, posts an image of the festivities, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Anne’s post.

    God jul alle sammen!
    “Merry Christmas, everyone!”

    1- God jul

    First is an expression meaning “Merry Christmas.”
    This is the traditional Norwegian way to wish someone a Merry Christmas. It can be used before Christmas day as well.

    2- alle sammen

    Then comes the phrase – “everyone.”
    This can be literally translated to “all together.” It shows how Norwegians think of people being together in a group when addressing a group of people.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Anne’s friends leave some comments.

    1- God jul, kjære! Det var koselig å feire med din familie for første gang.

    Her husband, Olav, uses an expression meaning – “Merry Christmas, dear! It was nice to celebrate together with your family for the first time. ”
    Use this expression to show you are feeling grateful for a specific Christmas experience.

    2- Endelig en hvit jul.

    Her neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “Finally, a white Christmas.”
    Use this phrase to share your implicit positive feelings about snow on Christmas day.

    3- Fikk du mye fint?

    Her nephew, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “Did you get a lot of nice stuff?”
    Use this expression if you are somewhat humorous, but also curious.

    4- Ha en fortsatt god jul og nyttår!

    Her supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”
    This is a traditional phrase of well-wishes over the Christmas and New Year season.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • God jul: “Merry Christmas”
  • kjære: “dear”
  • jul: “Christmas”
  • å få : “to get “
  • nyttår: “New Year”
  • fortsatt: “still”
  • If a friend posted something about Christmas greetings, which phrase would you use?

    So, the festive season is over! Yet, there will always be other days, besides a birthday, to wish someone well.

    25. Post about Your Anniversary in Norwegian

    Some things deserve to be celebrated, like wedding anniversaries. Learn which Norwegian phrases are meaningful and best suited for this purpose!

    Olav celebrates his wedding anniversary with his wife, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

    POST

    Let’s break down Olav’s post.

    Gratulerer med bryllupsdagen, kjære Anne.
    “Dear Anne, happy anniversary.”

    1- Gratulerer med bryllupsdagen

    First is an expression meaning “happy anniversary”.
    In Norwegian, the expression used for wedding day and anniversary is the same, so the English meaning depends on the context.

    2- kjære Anne

    Then comes the phrase – “dear Anne.”
    Used in the same way as in English, the only difference is that, in Norwegian, this expression can be used at the beginning or the end of a sentence and still keep the same meaning.

    COMMENTS

    In response, Olav’s friends leave some comments.

    1- Takk, og det samme til deg! Jeg elsker deg.

    His wife, Anne, uses an expression meaning – “Thank you, and the same to you! I love you.”
    Use this expression to show you have similar feelings of love and gratitude as the poster.

    2- Dere to er så skjønne!

    His neighbor, Hanne, uses an expression meaning – “You two are so adorable!”
    Use this observational comment to express your appreciation of a couple’s loving interaction.

    3- Gratulerer, og tillykke med resten av ekteskapet.

    His supervisor, Per, uses an expression meaning – “Congratulations, and happy returns for the rest of your marriage.”
    This is a slightly more serious and traditional well-wish for a couple on their wedding anniversary.

    4- Så, du har overlevd et helt år?

    His nephew, Anders, uses an expression meaning – “So, you’ve survived a whole year?”
    Use this expression if you’re feeling humorous and want to use a bit of sarcasm too.

    VOCABULARY

    Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

  • bryllupsdag: “anniversary”
  • Jeg elsker deg.: “I love you. “
  • skjønn: “beautiful”
  • to : “two “
  • tillykke: “good luck”
  • å overleve: “to survive”
  • If a friend posted something about Anniversary greetings, which phrase would you use?

    Conclusion

    Learning to speak a new language will always be easier once you know key phrases that everybody uses. These would include commonly used expressions for congratulations and best wishes, etc.

    Master these in fun ways with Learn Norwegian! We offer a variety of tools to individualize your learning experience, including using cell phone apps, audiobooks, iBooks and many more. Never wonder again what to say on social media!

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    How to Say Sorry in Norwegian

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    Learn how to apologize in Norwegian – fast and accurately! NorwegianClass101 makes it easy for you to make amends. Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet – How to Improve Your Norwegian Skills! (Logged-In Member Only)

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    Table of Contents

    1. Common Ways to Say Sorry in Norwegian
    2. How To Refuse Something Politely in Norwegian
    3. Audio Lesson – Survival Phrases “How to Say Sorry”
    4. Why You Will NOT Be Sorry For Learning Norwegian through NorwegianClass101

    1. Common Ways to Say Sorry in Norwegian

    3 Ways to Say Sorry

    Nobody’s perfect, not anywhere in the world. Everybody makes mistakes, and does and says regrettable things. Then it’s time to apologize, as saying ‘I’m sorry’ is not in vain. It can be very healing! Did you know that hearing a sincerely-meant apology can have a noticeable effect on a person’s body? Research has shown that it slows down breathing and heart rate, and even causes a drop in blood pressure.

    Sometimes we cannot fix what’s broken, but we can make the experience a bit easier for anyone who suffered on account of our thoughtless actions or words.

    Here are a number of ways to say sorry in Norwegian. In any language, just make sure you really mean it! An insincere apology will not go down well with anyone.

    Woman Apologizing

    Unnskyld.
    I’m sorry

    These words should precede anything else you have to say. Use them sincerely and whenever you are clearly in the wrong. Acknowledging your guilt and apologizing for any wrongdoing will lift your spirits too! Often, remorse can eat away at us, and a simple ‘I’m sorry’, in Norwegian or any other language, can open the door for forgiveness and resolution of a bad situation. It can be a true gift!

    Jeg vil gjerne be om unnskyldning.
    I would like to apologize.

    This is a slightly more formal way to say ‘I’m sorry’ in Norwegian. Use this phrase if you’re addressing your superiors and/or elders.

    Jeg beklager så mye.
    I sincerely apologize.

    If you feel strongly about your apology, this is another slightly more formal phrase to use. Keep it handy for graver errors, or you might come across as insincere!

    Jeg skal ikke gjøre det igjen.
    I won’t do it again.

    A promise you can only make if you intend to keep it! Few things feel as bad as having to hear repeated apologies from someone for the same behavior – it means the ‘sorry’ is not sincere. Don’t be that person!

    Jeg skal sørge for å ikke gjøre denne feilen på nytt.
    I’ll make sure not to make this mistake again.

    A beautifully strong phrase! Again, say this only if you mean it – not just in the moment, but always! A bit more formal, this is an especially good phrase to use when apologizing to superiors and/or elders. It will make an especially good impression at the workplace, where accountability is an excellent quality to display!

    Jeg mente det ikke.
    I didn’t mean that.

    This is a tricky one… What did you mean, then?! Clear up any confusion with sincerity. Also, use this phrase only if the harm done or mistake made was due to an accident, and then admit to thoughtlessness on your part, if appropriate.

    Det er min skyld.
    It’s my fault.

    If the fault is really yours, own up to it. You will gain respect in the eyes of others! However, don’t take the blame when it’s not truly yours. It won’t be good for you, and ultimately you will not be respected much for it.

    Jeg beklager for å være så egoistisk.
    I’m sorry for being selfish.

    This is a good phrase to keep handy, especially for your close relationships. It is difficult to admit you’re selfish, isn’t it?! However, it’s good to know when to be honest. We get used to our loved ones, which often means we forget that they need our good manners and unselfish behavior just as much as strangers do.

    Jeg håper du tilgir meg.
    I hope you will forgive me.

    This is a polite and gentle wish that can smooth over many harsh feelings. It also shows that the other person’s opinion and forgiveness are important to you.

    Jeg tar fullt ansvar.
    I take full responsibility.

    This strong statement is similar to admitting that an error or transgression was your fault. It speaks of courage and the willingness to take remedial action. Good one to use…if you mean it!

    Jeg burde ikke ha gjort det.
    I shouldn’t have done it.

    This phrase is fine to use if you did or said something wrong. It shows, to an extent, your regret for having done or said what you did, and demonstrates that you understand your role in the mistake.

    Sorry at jeg gir deg pengene tilbake sent.
    Sorry for giving your money back late.

    It’s rotten to have to loan money! Yet, it’s equally rotten to have to ask for the repayment of a loan. So, do your best not to pay late in the first place, but if it can’t be helped, this would be a good phrase to use!

    Vær så snill og ikke bli sint på meg.
    Please don’t be mad at me.

    Well, this is not a very advisable phrase to use if you are clearly in the wrong. If someone is justifiably angry with you, asking them not to be mad at you would be an unfair expectation. However, if you did something wrong by accident, and if the consequences were not too serious, this request would be OK.

    Beklager at jeg er sen.
    Sorry I’m late.

    Punctuality is valued in most situations, but if you really cannot help being late, then apologize! This way you show respect for your host, and win their approval.

    Jeg beklager for å være slem mot deg.
    I apologize for being mean to you.

    Acknowledging your own meanness towards someone is no small thing, so good for you! Use this apology only if your intention is to seriously address your mean tendencies, or these words could become meaningless over time.

    2. How To Refuse Something Politely in Norwegian

    Woman Refusing

    Congratulations! Now you know how to apologize in Norwegian! After you have apologized for a mistake, focus on fixing whatever you can, and don’t punish yourself over something that cannot be taken back or reversed. That’s healthy for you! Regret can eat away at the soul, and even destroy it. It is ultimately a useless emotion if it consumes you.

    However, in language, we use apologies not only when we’ve transgressed or made mistakes. They come in handy in other situations too, when there has been no wrongdoing. Sometimes we need to express regret for having to refuse a gift, an offer, or an invitation. This can be somewhat tricky. Learn from specialists at NorwegianClass101 about how to use the correct Norwegian words for this kind of ‘sorry’!

    3. Survival Phrases “How to Say Sorry”

    Say Sorry

    On the run and need a quick lesson on how to say sorry in Norwegian? Don’t fret, just listen and repeat! Click here for a recorded short lesson and learn how to give the perfect apology, with perfect pronunciation in Norwegian. A little can go a long way, and you will sound like a native!

    4. Why You Will NOT Be Sorry For Learning Norwegian through NorwegianClass101

    Man Looking at Computer

    Online learning is here to stay, that’s a fact. In 2015, the Digital Learning Compass Partnership released a report based on surveys to determine online enrollment trends in US institutions for higher education. Thirty percent of all their students learned online! And the number is growing! However, how can you be sure you will not regret your choice of an online language learning school? First, look at the school’s credentials and what it has to offer…

    • Fun and Easy Learning: It’s a commonly-known fact that when learning is made easy and fun, student motivation rises. And as motivation rises, so does the effort to learn – what a beautiful cycle! NorwegianClass101’s language learning system is designed to get you speaking from the onset. Learn at your own convenience and pace with our short, effective and fun audio podcast lessons. Our Learning Center is comprehensive and state-of-the-art, with a vibrant user community to connect to! Our lessons are recorded with native hosts and voice actors, providing a diverse range of dialects in your lessons. You can be confident that native speakers will understand you when speaking Norwegian!
    • Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
    • Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Norwegian with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Norwegian dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about NorwegianClass101…!
    • Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters, as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. Your can have your very own Norwegian teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
    • Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Norwegian word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Norwegian level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

    After this lesson, you will know almost every ‘sorry for’ in Norwegian, but don’t let it be that you’re sorry for missing a great opportunity. Learning a new language can only enrich your life, and could even open doors towards great opportunities! So don’t wonder if you’ll regret enrolling in NorwegianClass101. It’s the most fun, easy way to learn Norwegian!

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    Learn How to Confidently Introduce Yourself In Norwegian

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    Do you talk with strangers?

    If you’ve been to Norway before, or are currently in Norway, you’ve probably noticed that the Norwegian people are pretty informal and casual overall. That is, when you actually get to know them.

    Norwegians are known for seeming cold towards strangers. Even after you’ve mastered saying “my name is,” in Norwegian and other introductory sayings, it’s normal to not know the name or age—or anything—about a person you’ve taken the bus with over multiple years!

    If you do approach a stranger, there’s a big chance you’ll get a strange look instead of a friendly smile. However, this doesn’t mean that Norwegian people are actually cold. Yes, the weather might be cold. But as a people, Norwegians are warm and friendly.

    Women Walking Together in Snow

    If you’re in Norway for business, you’ll quickly understand that the hierarchy present in other countries doesn’t exist in Norwegian workplaces, for the most part. It’s not unusual to address your boss similar to how you would a friend. Still, Norwegians have formal ways of speaking and writing, but in daily life it’s not commonly used.

    This article will teach you the common and natural ways of introducing yourself in Norwegian. Like in all languages, there are different greetings and ways to introduce yourself, depending on the situation and environment you’re in. They might even change depending on where in the country you are! Don’t worry about this, though, as you’ll be understood no matter where you are in Norway by the time you finish our article!

    Table of Contents

    1. How to Greet Others in Norwegian
    2. How to Use “How are You?” in Norwegian
    3. Asking and Saying Your Name
    4. Asking and Saying Your Age
    5. Asking and Telling Where You’re From
    6. Saying Why You’re in Norway
    7. How NorwegianClass101 Can Help You Learn Even More Norwegian!

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    1. How to Greet Others in Norwegian

    First Encounter

    Greetings in Norwegian are usually informal and friendly. There are many ways to greet others in Norwegian, and here we’ll go through some of the more common ones. Most of them have longer and shorter versions, and the shorter ones are more friendly and natural to use. For the most part, it’s recommended to use the informal greetings unless you’ve just met each other.

    In the following sections, we’ll go over some common greetings and how they’re used; when introducing yourself in Norwegian, grammar is important for even the simplest greetings.

    1- Greeting Friends and Acquaintances

    When greeting friends, this is mostly done the informal way. However, as mentioned earlier, there are both longer and shorter versions of most greetings. Here, the longer version is formal, while the shorter one is informal. Also take note that greetings change depending on the age of the person you’re talking to. This is not a rule, but if you speak with older people, you’ll notice that they often use the formal way of greeting.

    Let’s take a look at a greeting mostly used with older or adult people you don’t know yet.

    Formal Greeting
    Hei, hyggelig å møte deg! “Hi, nice to meet you!”

    Informal Greeting
    Hei, hyggelig! “Hi, nice to meet you!”

    Both of these greetings mean the same thing. The formal greeting translates directly in English, but the informal greeting translates directly to “Hi, nice!” These two greetings are usually accompanied by a handshake. Both the formal and informal greetings are polite. It’s recommended to use one of these greetings when you’re meeting people you don’t know yet, or acquaintances of friends.

    Now, let’s jump into the most common ways to greet friends.

    These greetings are short and simple, and will remind you of the English ways of greeting friends. Most of these are informal and casual, as it’s very rare to greet friends in a formal way. Typically, a friendly hello in Norwegian does the trick. When you learn to introduce yourself in Norwegian, vocabulary is essential; these phrases serve as excellent building blocks for more elaborate greetings!

    Informal
    Hei! “Hi!”
    Heisann! “Hi!”
    Hallo! “Hello!”
    Halla! “Hello!”
    Nei, er det deg? “No, is it you?”

    Formal
    Hyggelig å se deg! “Nice to see you!”

    Woman Waving to Someone in Distance

    One of the above greetings probably peaked your interest, or maybe even confused you a little. The greeting Nei, er det deg? probably sounds strange in English. It’s common in Norway to add Nei in front of certain sentences, greetings, and goodbyes. This does not make the sentence negative. It’s used as an opening for the sentence, and is said in a happy tone. This kind of greeting with Nei in front of it is very common to use for older people, and it’s usually a fun and familiar way to greet someone.

    Both Heisann and Hei mean the same thing. Heisann is just a longer way of saying it, mostly used when you didn’t expect to see your friend. Hallo and Halla both mean “Hello,” though keep in mind that Halla is more of a slang word, commonly used among younger people.

    When it comes to the formal greeting, Hyggelig å se deg simply means “Nice to see you,” and is a very friendly way of greeting someone you know.

    2- Greeting Colleagues

    If you’re working or doing business in Norway, it’s important to note that the work environment is casual in most places. This means that the hierarchy in the workplace isn’t as noticeable as in other countries. At times, it can even be difficult to know who the boss is! Greetings in the workplace are often the same as greetings for friends, or similar to those used with acquaintances. Here’s how you’ll typically say “hello” and “nice to meet you” in Norwegian in the workplace.

    Formal
    Hei, hyggelig å treffe deg. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
    God dag. “Good day.”

    Informal
    Hallo “Hello”
    Hei “Hi”

    A new greeting in Norwegian is mentioned here, God dag, meaning “Good day.” This is a very formal way of greeting someone and is rarely used. However, you’ll probably encounter it at least once in a workplace, and it’s normal to reply with the same greeting. The rest of the greetings are similar to how one greets friends and acquaintances.

    Hei, hyggelig å treffe deg means the same as Hei, hyggelig å møte deg. The only difference is that treffe is used instead of møte. These words mean the same thing, but carry different weight. Treffe carries more weight compared to møte and therefore sounds more polite, even though both are formal.

    3- Greeting Strangers

    Introducing Yourself

    Greeting strangers in Norwegian isn’t done often. There are some places in Norway, usually more rural areas, where greeting strangers is more common. There are no special greetings for this, and the simple “Hello” or “Hi” is normal to use.

    4- Greetings Depending on the Time of Day

    Good Morning Cartoon

    In Norwegian, there are greetings that depend on the time of day. The times used for these greetings are morning, midday, afternoon, and evening.

    A fun fact is that all of these can both be used as greetings and goodbyes. If you want to say goodbye with these greetings, you simply add Ha which means “Have,” in front of the greeting.

    So, let’s take a look at more time-specific greetings. As you learn to introduce yourself in Norwegian, phrases like this are immensely helpful.

    Morning – Normally used from 7am to 10am.
    God morgen! “Good morning!”

    Midday – Normally used from 10am to 2pm.
    God formiddag! “Good morning!”

    Afternoon – Normally used from 2pm to 6pm.
    God ettermiddag! “Good afternoon!”

    Evening – Normally used from 6pm and out.
    God kveld! “Good evening!”

    In Norwegian, there is a greeting for “midday” or “noon.” In English, the equivalent is “morning.” The times for when to use these greetings are not set in stone. It’s not unusual to say “good morning” if you wake up late, for example at noon or one o’clock. Just use what you feel is most natural to use depending on the time of the day. For example, some people consider the evening to start later or earlier than six o’clock.

    Note that God natt, meaning “Good night,” is not used unless you’re going to bed.

    2. How to Use “How are You?” in Norwegian

    Something a lot of people are confused about when learning to greet people in Norwegian is the lack of the question “How are you?” When this question is used in Norwegian, it’s used as a genuine question and not just a greeting. You can ask this in a greeting, but you have to note that if you ask this in Norwegian, you will get a genuine answer. This means that you’ll have to prepare for either a positive or negative answer.

    Obviously, there are always exceptions to the rule. The answer you get can depend on your relationship with the person you’re asking. If you don’t really know them, there’s a chance of you getting the polite Det går bra, meaning “I’m fine.”

    However, when asking a friend, or even a colleague, you’ll usually get a long answer. If you ask someone Hvordan går det? which means “How are you?” and they’re having a bad day, you’ll hear about it. If you’re not prepared or interested in their answer, it’s better to avoid the question.

    This also affects you if you’re the one being asked. If a Norwegian asks you this question, they actually wonder or care about how you’re feeling. We’ll talk more about how to answer further down.

    1- How to Ask Someone “How are You?” in Norwegian

    Woman Chatting Over Drinks

    Hvordan går det? “How are you?”
    Hvordan har du det? “How are you (feeling)?”

    These ways of asking “How are you?” are used in both formal and informal situations. The latter, Hvordan har du det? sounds more like a personal question. Directly translated, it means “How are you feeling?” but it’s still used in all situations. The most commonly used is Hvordan går det?

    2- How to Answer “How are You?” in Norwegian

    Now, here comes the tricky part. How you answer this question totally depends on you and what you’re comfortable with. It’s okay to answer with a simple Det går bra, but some might take this as you being cold towards them.

    Below are a few common ways to answer, depending on your mood. You’ll see that Norwegian people often start with the simple Det går bra or similar answers, but almost always add a sentence or two (or even more) about how they’re feeling that particular day.

    Let’s take a look at how to start off the sentence when answering this question.

    Positive
    Det går bra. “It’s fine.”
    Jeg har det fint. “I’m fine.”
    Joda, bra her. “Sure, all good here.”
    Nei, går flott her. “No, everything is great here.”
    Bare bra her. “Just fine here.”

    These will, and do, sound strange in English. They’re all versions of saying that you’re doing fine. If you’re a beginner in the Norwegian language, it’s best to keep to the simple ones, like the first two listed. It’s good to take note of the others, too, since you’ll hear them (and different versions of them) quite often. As you might have noticed, some of the answers are used without a pronoun (me, I).

    Negative
    Nei, det går. “No, it’s okay.”
    Går som det går. “Goes like it goes.”
    Ikke særlig bra. “Not that good.”
    Nei, ganske dårlig her. “No, pretty bad here.”
    Ikke noe særlig. “Nothing much.”

    Like some of the positive ones, the negative responses are often used without pronouns. Note that the word går is used often. Går actually means “going/walking,” and is commonly used when explaining how you’re feeling.

    Below are some examples of actual answers you can get, or even give if you want to. These use some of the words from above, but with added sentences—which is how you’ll hear the answers in the wild!

    Remember that after you’ve answered, always add at least Du da? which means “You?” like you would in English.

    Positive

    • Det går bra her, jeg er litt sliten da. Men sånn er jo mandager! Du da?
      “It’s good here, I’m tired. But that’s how Mondays are! You?”
    • Det går flott med meg, jeg har ferie om to uker. Hva med deg?
      “I’m doing great, I have my holiday in two weeks. What with you?”
    • Joda, det går! Gleder meg til helgen, jeg skal ut å fiske. Og du da?
      “Sure, it’s good! I’m looking forward to the weekend, I’m going out fishing. And you?”
    • Nei, går flott her, er jo så fint vær!
      “No, it’s going great, the weather is so good!”

    Negative

    • Nei, det går. Sov litt lite i natt. Du da?
      “No, it’s okay. I didn’t sleep much last night. You?”
    • Joda, veldig sliten. Trente litt hardt i går.
      “Yeah, very tired. Worked out a little hard yesterday.”
    • Ikke så veldig bra, tror jeg begynner å bli syk. Hva med deg da?
      “Not very good, I think I’m starting to catch a cold. How about you?”

    3. Asking and Saying Your Name

    Woman Holding Question Mark Sign Over Face

    Before you learn how to say your name in Norwegian, it’s important to know how to ask for someone else’s. If not, how will you know if someone is asking you? Asking “What’s your name?” in Norwegian is very similar to how you would in English.

    Hva heter du? “What’s your name?”
    Hva er navnet ditt? “What’s your name?”

    Hva er navnet ditt? is informal, but of the two, the more polite way to ask. This is often used among adults or strangers. There’s also a third, less-used way of asking: Hva er ditt navn? which directly translates to “What is your name?” This is the formal way of asking, but it’s very rarely used.

    Now that you know how to ask, you need to learn how to answer!

    Jeg heter Anders. “My name is Anders.”
    Navnet mitt er Anders. “My name is Anders.”

    Again, two different ways to answer! Jeg heter is the common way of telling your name. It doesn’t matter if the person asked in a formal or informal way, you can still use this answer. You can also answer with Jeg er, which means “I am.”

    4. Asking and Saying Your Age

    Asking someone their age is done with a simple question, very similar to the English way. Let’s take a look at how to ask someone about their age.

    Hvor gammel er du? “How old are you?”

    This is the way everyone will ask for your age. It doesn’t matter if you’re family, friends, colleagues, or strangers.

    Now, over to how to answer the question. You can answer in two ways.

    Jeg er 30 år gammel. “I’m 30 years old.”
    Jeg er 30. “I’m 30.”

    Jeg er 30 år gammel means exactly the same as its English counterpart: “I’m 30 years old.” You can also choose to shorten this down, and only answer with Jeg er 30 år, omitting the gammel (meaning “old” in Norwegian). If you want, you can instead just say a simple Jeg er 30.

    As you might already have noticed, or will with time, some Norwegian questions or sentences often have both a full version and a shorter version where a word or more is omitted. It can be more polite to say the full sentence, but you won’t raise any eyebrows if you choose to say the short version.

    5. Asking and Telling Where You’re From

    Countries in Norwegian

    In Norwegian, there are a few ways to ask where someone’s from.

    Hvor er du fra? “Where are you from?”
    Hvor kommer du fra? “Where are you from?”
    Hvilket land kommer du fra? “Which country are you from?”

    The one you’ll get asked the most when visiting Norway is Hvor kommer du fra? Directly translated, this means “Where are you coming from?” This way of asking, as well as Hvor er du fra? is the informal way of asking. Hvilket land kommer du fra? is still informal, but it’s the most polite way to ask.

    If you ask someone Hvor er du fra? there’s a chance that they’ll answer the city that they’re from, or even their nationality, as this question is used for this information as well. It can be considered rude in Norway to ask for someone’s nationality however, so in most cases, they’re referring to country or city when asking this.

    So let’s take a look at how to answer this question. We’ll look at how to answer with your country and nationality, plus a combination of both.

    Jeg er fra England. “I’m from England.”
    Jeg er engelsk. “I’m English.”
    Jeg er fra England, men jeg er fransk. “I’m from England, but I’m French.”

    The first example is how you answer when you’re asked about which country you’re from. If you’re answering with a city, the sentence is the same, just switch the country with the city.

    The second example is for nationality. Below, you’ll find a few examples of how to say different nationalities in Norwegian.

    The third example is a combination of both. It’s possible to use a shorter version of this, which would be: Jeg er fra England, men er fransk. Here, you just omit the second pronoun. All of these examples mean the same directly translated from English, which makes them simple to remember!

    1- Examples of Countries and Corresponding Nationalities

    Countries
    Amerika/USA “America/USA”
    Canada “Canada”
    Australia “Australia”
    Tyskland “Germany”
    Frankrike “France”
    Spania “Spain”
    Kina “China”
    Sør-Korea “South Korea”
    England “England”

    Nationalities
    Amerikansk “American”
    Canadisk “Canadian”
    Australsk “Australian”
    Tysk “German”
    Fransk “French”
    Spansk “Spanish”
    Kinesisk “Chinese”
    Sør-Koreansk “South Korean”
    Engelsk “English”

    6. Saying Why You’re in Norway

    About Yourself

    The last thing to know when you’re learning to introduce yourself in Norwegian is how to say why you’re in Norway!

    Jeg er her på jobb. “I’m here on work.”
    Jeg er her på ferie. “I’m here on holiday.”
    Jeg besøker familie. “I’m visiting family.”

    Usually, the structure is Jeg er her, followed by the reason you’re in Norway. Jeg er her means “I’m here,” so again, it’s the same as in English! The last example shows a different structure. Here, Jeg is followed by the verb besøker. As long as you know the verb you want to use, this is also an easy sentence to use in different situations.

    7. How NorwegianClass101 Can Help You Learn Even More Norwegian!

    As mentioned throughout this article, there are multiple ways of introducing yourself in Norwegian. If you’re a beginner, it can seem a little overwhelming, and maybe even scary. However, practice makes perfect! Using this article as a reference can really help you when it comes to introducing yourself in Norwegian and making conversation.

    You can also check out NorwegianClass101 if you want to learn more Norwegian. Here, you can find in-depth articles that will help you on your way to learning the Norwegian language. Maybe you still want to learn more about Norwegian greetings? Then you can take a look at our blog post about greetings to get a better and more in-depth understanding of the different greetings. If you want to know how to say your age, we have an article all about the numeric system in Norwegian, as well.

    NorwegianClass101 has articles for both beginners and advanced users, so no matter where you are in your learning curve, you’ll find something that can help you on your way to mastering the Norwegian language.

    Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about self-introductions in Norwegian! Do you feel more confident now, or are you still struggling with something? To practice, write us a self-introduction in Norwegian language in the comments. 🙂 We look forward to hearing from you!

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