Comments on: How To Say Please, Without Saying Please

By: Doug Brandt

Doug Brandt — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 06:43:18 +0000

Hmm…I’m betting Norwegian was the inspiration for Klingon. (LOL)
(“Trekkers” will get this one.)
Kaplagh!
(but “There is no word for “please” in Klingon.” (said with a sneer)).

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 21:41:59 +0000

it helps me a lot to know that I’m not the only one to avoid saying useless things or doing things that force me not to be myself. Politeness is a form of recognition but certainly not an obligation

By: Paola

Paola — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 06:58:23 +0000

I was also surprised by the lack of “please” in every day life conversation, though in the written language no doubt the politeness is communicated by the expressions explained above. I notice at a family dinner nobody says “can you pass me the water, please” it is just “can you pass me the water”. Initially I also thought this was rude. Then I found my own explanation, and that is that as in many other parts of Norwegian day to day life, they are not inclined to futility, rather very down to hearth people. However the sense of politeness is in the tone of their voice rather than in words. So I don’t think they are rude, or not any ruder than other people, simply politeness is in the intention not in the word.
That said, I wish you did an article on “takk” or better on the lack of it. I hear it very rarely. And the word exists. This bothers me even more, as I can still hear my parents reminding me as a child “say thank you” every time I was given something. I sound like a broken record with my own children too, and cannot help noticing here how it is totally omitted.

By: Chloe

Chloe — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 09:05:43 +0000

Just moved to Oslo and this is very helpful! I’m Canadian, and clueless. I’m hoping to avoid the development of a nervous tic every time I leave out “please” or “thank you.”

By: Eirik Birkeland

Eirik Birkeland — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 09:38:30 +0000

Gjerne

“Ja, jeg kommer gjerne i bursdagsbesøket ditt.”
“Yes, I’d love to come to your birthday party!”
Here “gjerne” means “love to.” Very important not to confuse with “please” in this context.

“Gjerne det” – “Yes, please.”
“Ja, gjerne det!” – “I’d love to.” – but the degree of volition is often lower than ‘I’d love to.’

“Det er gjerne like greit” – “It may be just as fine” (when settling for one thing over others; without any particular preference for the choice taken.”
“Han kommer gjerne” – “He may come.”

“Han kommer gjerne ikke som vanlig”, “He may not come as usual” / “He is wont not to come [as usual].”
I use “wont” illustratively because the word is frequently used when commenting on the likelihood of something happening or not. “He may not come” doesn’t seem to carry across that connotation.

Just my 2 cents on ‘gjerne.’ Thanks for giving me a chance to ponder my own language.

By: David Nikel

David Nikel — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:36:40 +0000

In reply to Sophie. Thanks so much Sophie! We're a growing team and thoroughly enjoying sharing our love of all things Norwegian :) Just been searching through your blog too, quite an adventure!

By: Sophie

Sophie — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:03:58 +0000

Gjerne could be translated as ‘happily’,… sort of.

(Just discovered your blog, btw – veldig bra!)

By: Odd Helge Lindseth

Odd Helge Lindseth — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:25:09 +0000

In reply to Bryce Miller. Thanks! I've seen Pavarotti as one of the Three Tenor Smurfs, but Pavarotti the communist guerrilla leader sounds better! :-)

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:14:33 +0000

a lot of it is ‘tonal’ also in norsk. Swedes ‘extract the urine’ by saying we sing when we talk, and you don’t realise it at first, but norsk is more ‘sung’ than just said. And the tone you say things in tends to emphasise the meaning more than what you actually say.
Personally, I tend to ask for ‘to pils, takk’
🙂

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:25:09 +0000

I read all this in your voice 😀