Basic Words and Phrases in Norwegian
Reinier van der Windt
About Norwegian
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway. It is closely related to Danish and Swedish, forming a dialect continuum known as the Scandinavian languages. Norwegian has two official written forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål is more widely used and is based on Danish-influenced Norwegian, while Nynorsk is based on a combination of dialects and aims to preserve a more traditional Norwegian linguistic heritage. Norwegian uses the Latin-based alphabet with additional characters. Norwegian grammar features noun and adjective declension, verb conjugation, and grammatical cases. Norwegian is an important part of Norwegian culture and identity, with a rich literary tradition.
Basic Words and Phrases
Learning a foreign language opens up a world of opportunities, allowing you to connect with people from different cultures and expand your horizons. Whether you're planning a trip or simply curious about a new language, mastering some basic words and phrases is a great place to start.
| Yes | Ja |
|---|---|
| No | Nei |
| Please | Vær så snill |
| Yes, please | Ja, takk |
| No, thank you | Nei, takk |
| Thanks | Takk |
| Thank you | Takk |
| Thank you very much | Tusen takk |
| You're welcome | Vær så god |
| No problem | Ingen problem |
| Excuse me | Unnskyld |
| I’m sorry | Beklager |
| Sorry | Unnskyld |
| Cheers! | Skål! |
| Okay | Okei |
Greetings
Greetings are an essential part of any language. Saying "hello" and "goodbye" can create an instant connection with native speakers. In many languages, "hello" is a universal term, but learning the specific greeting for the language you're interested in can show respect and appreciation. Similarly, learning how to say "goodbye" will help you leave a positive impression.
| Hi | Hei |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hallo |
| Good day | God dag |
| Good morning | God morgen |
| Good afternoon | God ettermiddag |
| Good evening | God kveld |
| Good night | God natt |
| Goodbye | Ha det |
| See you later! | Vi sees senere! |
| Have a nice day! | Ha en fin dag! |
| Bye | Ha det |
Conversations
Next, let's explore basic conversation starters. Asking "how are you?" or "what's your name?" in another language is a friendly way to engage with others. These simple phrases can pave the way for more meaningful conversations and help you build rapport.
| How are you? | Hvordan har du det? |
|---|---|
| I'm fine | Jeg har det bra |
| Good, thank you! | Bra, takk! |
| And you? | Og du? |
| Nice to meet you! | Hyggelig å møte deg! |
| Pleased to meet you! | Hyggelig å møte deg! |
| What is your name? | Hva heter du? |
| My name is … | Jeg heter ... |
| Where are you from? | Hvor er du fra? |
| I am from … | Jeg er fra ... |
| I don't speak Norwegian | Jeg snakker ikke norsk |
| Do you speak English? | Snakker du engelsk? |
| I understand | Jeg forstår |
| I do not understand | Jeg forstår ikke |
| I like it | Jeg liker det |
| I don't like it | Jeg liker det ikke |
| How is the weather today? | Hvordan er været i dag? |
| Can you recommend any local attractions? | Kan du anbefale lokale attraksjoner? |
Hotel
When staying at a hotel in a foreign country, it's helpful to be familiar with some phrases that can assist you during your stay. Here are a few key phrases you can use in a hotel.
| Hotel | Hotell |
|---|---|
| Reception | Resepsjon |
| Reservation | Reservasjon |
| Hotel room | Hotellrom |
| Key | Nøkkel |
| Breakfast | Frokost |
| I have a reservation | Jeg har en reservasjon |
| I would like to book a room | Jeg vil gjerne bestille et rom |
| Do you have any rooms available? | Har du noen ledige rom? |
Restaurant
When dining at restaurants in a foreign country, it's helpful to know phrases that can assist you during your meal. Being able to request a table, order food and drinks, and ask for the bill are important for a pleasant dining experience.
| Restaurant | Restaurant |
|---|---|
| Menu | Meny |
| A table for one, please | Et bord for én, takk |
| A table for two, please | Et bord for to, takk |
| I would like a coffee, please | Jeg vil gjerne ha en kaffe, takk |
| Enjoy your meal! | God appetitt |
| Can I have the bill, please? | Kan jeg få regningen, takk? |
| Can you bring me the bill, please? | Kan du bringe meg regningen, takk? |
| I would like to pay, please | Jeg vil gjerne betale, takk |
| The bill, please | Regningen, takk |
| Can I pay with cash? | Kan jeg betale med kontanter? |
| Can I pay with card? | Kan jeg betale med kort? |
| Can I pay with credit card? | Kan jeg betale med kredittkort? |
| Could you suggest something for me? | Kan du foreslå noe for meg? |
| Can I have a glass of water, please? | Kan jeg få et glass vann, takk? |
| Do you have any local specialties? | Har dere noen lokale spesialiteter? |
Food and drinks
Being able to order food and drinks, ask for recommendations, and express preferences or dietary restrictions will enhance your dining experience and allow you to explore the local cuisine.
| Breakfast | Frokost |
|---|---|
| Lunch | Lunsj |
| Dinner | Middag |
| Food | Mat |
| Drinks | Drikke |
| Bread | Brød |
| Sandwich | Smørbrød |
| Cheese | Ost |
| Meat | Kjøtt |
| Fish | Fisk |
| Vegetables | Grønnsaker |
| Fruit | Frukt |
| Vegetarian | Vegetar |
| I am a vegetarian | Jeg er vegetarianer |
| Coffee | Kaffe |
| Tea | Te |
| Beer | Øl |
| Wine | Vin |
| Juice | Juice |
| Water | Vann |
| Milk | Melk |
| Dessert | Dessert |
| Salad | Salat |
| Soup | Suppe |
Places and Services
Just like how saying hello helps you connect with others, exploring phrases related to locations and services can greatly enhance your travel experience. Whether you're looking for important places like banks or post offices, these expressions can open up doors to immersing yourself in the local culture.
| ATM | Minibank |
|---|---|
| Bank | Bank |
| Beach | Strand |
| Library | Bibliotek |
| Park | Park |
| Pharmacy | Apotek |
| Post Office | Postkontor |
| Tourist Information | Turistinformasjon |
| Museum | Museum |
Shopping
Knowing how to ask for the price, request a different size or color, or simply say "I'm just looking" can be useful when shopping in local markets or stores.
| Store | Butikk |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Supermarked |
| Grocery store | Matbutikk |
| Market | Marked |
| Bakery | Bakeri |
| Bookstore | Bokhandel |
| How much does this cost? | Hvor mye koster dette? |
| Can I get a receipt? | Kan jeg få en kvittering? |
| I'm just looking | Jeg bare ser |
| Sunglasses | Sunglasses |
| Umbrella | Paraply |
Directions
Learning phrases related to asking for directions, understanding common landmarks, and getting around the city will help you navigate unfamiliar places with ease.
| Where is the toilet? | Hvor er toalettet? |
|---|---|
| Where is the beach? | Hvor er stranden? |
| How do I get to the airport? | Hvordan kommer jeg til flyplassen? |
| Left | Venstre |
| Right | Høyre |
| Straight ahead | Rett frem |
| Is it far from here? | Er det langt herfra? |
| Can you show it on the map? | Kan du vise det på kartet? |
| How long does it take to walk there? | Hvor lang tid tar det å gå dit? |
Transport
Familiarizing yourself with phrases for using public transportation, such as asking for a ticket, stating your destination, or inquiring about schedules, will make your travel experience smoother and more efficient.
| Airport | Flyplass |
|---|---|
| Plane | Fly |
| Train station | Togstasjon |
| Train | Tog |
| Bus station | Busstasjon |
| Bus | Buss |
| Taxi | Taxi |
| Ticket | Billett |
| Can I get a ticket to Oslo? | Kan jeg få en billett til Oslo? |
| I would like a ticket to Oslo | Jeg vil gjerne ha en billett til Oslo |
| I need a ticket to Oslo | Jeg trenger en billett til Oslo |
| A ticket to Oslo, please | En billett til Oslo, tak |
| What time is the next train to Oslo? | Hva tid går neste tog til Oslo? |
| When is the next train to Oslo? | Når går neste tog til Oslo? |
| When does the next train to Oslo leave? | Når går neste tog til Oslo? |
Emergencies
When you're in a different country, it's really important to be aware of emergency phrases such as 'help,' 'hospital,' and 'police.' Using expressions like 'emergency' and 'I need help' can help you overcome language barriers and make sure you're ready for any unexpected situations that might occur. Having a good grasp of these phrases will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind while traveling.
| Help! | Hjelp! |
|---|---|
| Help me! | Hjelp meg! |
| I need help | Jeg trenger hjelp |
| I need assistance | Jeg trenger hjelp |
| I need a doctor | Jeg trenger en lege |
| Police | Politi |
| Police Station | Politistasjon |
| Hospital | Sykehus |
| Ambulance | Ambulanse |
| Doctor | Lege |
| Fire department | Brannvesen |
| Fire! | Brann! |
Time
Effortlessly asking and telling the time enhances your travel experience, from coordinating schedules to catching transportation, adding a valuable layer to your linguistic toolkit for effective communication during your stay.
| What time is it? | Hva er klokka? |
|---|---|
| It is one o'clock | Klokka er ett |
| It is half past two | Klokka er halv tre |
| Morning | Morgen |
| Afternoon | Ettermiddag |
| Evening | Kveld |
| Night | Natt |
| Today | I dag |
| Tomorrow | I morgen |
| Yesterday | I går |
Numbers
Learning numbers is essential for tasks like counting, ordering quantities, or understanding prices.
| Zero | Null |
|---|---|
| One | En |
| Two | To |
| Three | Tre |
| Four | Fire |
| Five | Fem |
| Six | Seks |
| Seven | Syv |
| Eight | Åtte |
| Nine | Ni |
| Ten | Ti |
| Eleven | Elleve |
| Twelve | Tolv |
| Thirteen | Tretten |
| Fourteen | Fjorten |
| Fifteen | Femten |
| Sixteen | Seksten |
| Seventeen | Sytten |
| Eighteen | Atten |
| Nineteen | Nitten |
| Twenty | Tjue |
| Twenty-one | Tjueen |
| Twenty-two | Tjueto |
| Twenty-three | Tjuetre |
| Twenty-four | Tjuefire |
| Twenty-five | Tjuefem |
| Twenty-six | Tjueseks |
| Twenty-seven | Tjuesyv |
| Twenty-eight | Tjueåtte |
| Twenty-nine | Tjueni |
| Thirty | Tretti |
| Forty | Førti |
| Fifty | Femti |
| Sixty | Seksti |
| Seventy | Sytti |
| Eighty | Åtti |
| Ninety | Nitti |
| Hundred | Hundre |
| Two hundred | To hundre |
| One thousand | Tusen |
| Two thousand | To tusen |
| Three thousand | Tre tusen |
| Hundred thousand | Hundre tusen |
| Million | Million |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers play a crucial role in conveying sequence and order. Whether you're navigating travel itineraries, selecting seats, or exploring historical sites, understanding expressions like 'first,' 'second,' and so on is essential.
| First | Første |
|---|---|
| Second | Andre |
| Third | Tredje |
| Fourth | Fjerde |
| Fifth | Femte |
| Sixth | Sjette |
| Seventh | Syvende |
| Eighth | Åttende |
| Ninth | Niende |
| Tenth | Tiende |
| Eleventh | Ellevte |
| Twelfth | Tolvte |
| Thirteenth | Trettende |
| Fourteenth | Fjortende |
| Fifteenth | Femtende |
| Sixteenth | Sekstende |
| Seventeenth | Syttenende |
| Eighteenth | Attenende |
| Nineteenth | Nittenende |
| Twentieth | Tyvende |
Days of the week
Knowing the names of the days of the week will help you schedule activities, make appointments, or plan your itinerary.
| Monday | Mandag |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Tirsdag |
| Wednesday | Onsdag |
| Thursday | Torsdag |
| Friday | Fredag |
| Saturday | Lørdag |
| Sunday | Søndag |
Months
Being familiar with the names of the months will allow you to discuss dates, make reservations, or talk about specific time frames.
| January | Januar |
|---|---|
| February | Februar |
| March | Mars |
| April | April |
| May | Mai |
| June | Juni |
| July | Juli |
| August | August |
| September | September |
| Oktober | Oktober |
| November | November |
| December | Desember |
Question Words
Understanding basic question words like who, what, where, when, why, and how will enable you to ask for information or clarification in various situations.
| What? | Hva? |
|---|---|
| What is your name? | Hva heter du? |
| What is that? | Hva er det? |
| What is this called? | Hva kalles dette? |
| What do you need? | Hva trenger du? |
| What time is it? | Hva er klokka? |
| What do you like? | Hva liker du? |
| Where? | Hvor? |
| Where is the toilet? | Hvor er toalettet? |
| When? | Når? |
| When is the next train? | Når går neste tog? |
| When can we meet? | Når kan vi møtes? |
| Why? | Hvorfor? |
| Why is it expensive? | Hvorfor er det dyrt? |
| How? | Hvordan? |
| How are you doing? | Hvordan har du det? |
| How would you like to pay? | Hvordan vil du betale? |
| Which? | Hvilken? |
| Which car is yours? | Hvilken bil er din? |
| Which museum did you visit? | Hvilket museum besøkte du? |
| Which museums did you visit? | Hvilke museer besøkte du? |
| Which sandwich is yours? | Hvilken sandwich er din? |
| Which local dish do you want to try? | Hvilken lokal rett vil du prøve? |
| Who? | Hvem? |
| Who is that? | Hvem er det? |
| Whose? | Hvem sin? |
| Whose keys are these? | Hvem sine nøkler er dette? |
| Whose phone is ringing? | Hvem sin telefon ringer? |
| Whose bag is this? | Hvem sin veske er dette? |
| Whose book is this? | Hvem sin bok er dette? |
| How many? | Hvor mange? |
| How many books have you read? | Hvor mange bøker har du lest? |
| How many apples do you want to buy? | Hvor mange epler vil du kjøpe? |
| How much? | Hvor mye? |
| How much does this cost? | Hvor mye koster dette? |
Hey there! I'm Rainier and I'm the person behind Roaming with Rainier. I've always been really into traveling and photography. I've been fortunate enough to visit incredible destinations and there are still so many more on my bucket list. My plan is to explore breathtaking places around the world and share my experiences through articles and reviews.
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