Learning Norwegian can be a fascinating journey, but certain words often trip up learners—especially when expressing thoughts and opinions.

Norwegian has multiple verbs that translate to “think” or “believe” in English, but they each carry distinct meanings and nuances. Choosing the right word at the right time is key to sounding natural and confident while you’re learning Norwegian.

While some distinctions are clear-cut, others depend on context and subtle differences in meaning. Mastering these variations will help you express yourself more precisely and engage in more natural conversations.

This article will break down the differences between tenke, tro, and synes to help you use them correctly, before introducing mene and anta.

Before we get started: Check out our language learning partners NorwegianClass101 and The Mystery of Nils (affiliate links) for a head-start on learning Norwegian online.

Tenke: To Think (Process of Thinking)

The verb å tenke is used when referring to the act of thinking itself, reflecting, or considering something. Unlike tro and synes, it does not express an opinion or belief but rather the mental process of forming thoughts.

Examples:

• Jeg tenker på deg. (I am thinking about you.)
• Hva tenker du om dette? (What are your thoughts on this?)
• Jeg må tenke litt før jeg svarer. (I need to think a little before I answer.)

If you are discussing the act of considering or reflecting on something, tenke is the appropriate choice.

Tro: To Believe (in Something Uncertain)

The verb tro is used when expressing a belief about something uncertain or something you do not have direct knowledge of.

It often conveys the idea of “having faith that” something is true, rather than knowing it for sure. This makes tro useful in discussions of faith, predictions, or assumptions based on incomplete information.

Examples:

• Jeg tror det blir sol i morgen. (I think it will be sunny tomorrow.)
• Jeg tror på Gud. (I believe in God.)
• Jeg tror han kommer klokka åtte. (I think he will arrive at eight.)

A key feature of tro is that it expresses uncertainty or a guess rather than a personal opinion based on experience. If you could rephrase it as “I have faith that…” or “I believe that…” in English, tro is likely the right choice.

Synes: Personal Opinion Based on Experience

The verb å synes is used when expressing a personal opinion about something that you have directly observed or experienced. It is subjective and often used when giving an evaluation or a preference.

Examples:

• Jeg synes denne filmen er bra. (I think this movie is good.)
• Jeg synes det er vanskelig å lære norsk. (I think learning Norwegian is difficult.)
• Jeg synes du ser fin ut i den jakken. (I think you look nice in that jacket.)

A useful trick: If you can replace “I think” with “in my opinion” in English, synes is probably the correct choice.

Introducing ‘mene' and ‘anta'

�³󾱱�����tro,��synes, and tenke cover most thinking and belief-related contexts,��mene�����Ի���anta are also useful, although less commonly used in daily speech.

Mene is used when expressing a strong or reasoned opinion, often in discussions or debates. For example, Jeg mener at vi burde forby plastposer (I think we should ban plastic bags.)

Anta is used when making an assumption based on logic or evidence, such as Jeg antar at bussen er forsinket (I assume the bus is delayed.)

Before we get started: Check out our language learning partners NorwegianClass101 and The Mystery of Nils (affiliate links) for a head-start on learning Norwegian online.

How to Think in Norwegian (!)

Understanding the nuances of these Norwegian verbs will help you express your thoughts more accurately. If you're ever in doubt, ask yourself:

• Am I making a guess, unsure about something, or expressing faith? Use tro.
• Am I giving a personal opinion based on experience? Use synes.
• Am I discussing the process of thinking? Use tenke.
• Am I stating a strong opinion? Use mene.
• Am I making a logical assumption? Use anta.

With practice, these distinctions will become second nature, making your Norwegian sound much more natural!

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Whether you're visiting Norway for its stunning fjords and northern lights or planning to move here for work or study, mastering the basics of the language can greatly enhance your experience.

One of the foundational aspects of any language is learning the colours, as they are frequently used in daily conversations, descriptions, and even cultural references.

In this article, we'll explore the colours in Norwegian (fargene på norsk), providing you with a comprehensive guide to help you get started on your language learning journey.

Introduction to Norwegian Colours

Colours are a fundamental part of our daily lives, used to describe everything from the clothes we wear to the food we eat and the scenery around us.

By tackling colours early in your journey of learning Norwegian, you'll not only be able to describe your surroundings more accurately but also engage in more detailed conversations with locals. Additionally, understanding colours in Norwegian can help you appreciate the country's rich culture and natural beauty even more.

Norwegian, like English, uses a variety of words to describe colours. Some of these words may sound familiar, while others might be entirely new to you. There's also a major grammatical difference to understand.

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

In Norwegian, the spelling of colours changes based on grammatical context. For instance, “rød” (red) changes to “rødt” when describing a neuter noun and “røde” when used in plural or definite forms.

Understanding these variations is crucial for accurate communication, as it reflects the gender, number, and definiteness of the nouns they describe.

Primary Colours in Norwegian

Let's start with the basics: the primary colours. These are the colours from which all other colours are derived, and so they are essential to know.

Red (Rød)

• Pronunciation: [røːd]
• Example sentence: “Hun har på seg en rød kjole.” (She is wearing a red dress.)
• Alternate spellings: “rødt” (neuter singular), “røde” (plural/definite)

Blue (Blå)

• Pronunciation: [blɔː]
• Example sentence: “Himmelen er blå i dag.” (The sky is blue today.)
• Alternate spellings: “blått” (neuter singular), “blåe” (plural/definite)

Yellow (Gul)

• Pronunciation: [ɡʉːl]
• Example sentence: “Solen er gul.” (The sun is yellow.)
• Alternate spellings: “gult” (neuter singular), “gule” (plural/definite)

Secondary Colours in Norwegian

Next, we'll look at the secondary colours, which are created by mixing primary colours. These are also important to know and are commonly used in everyday language.

Green (Grønn)

• Pronunciation: [ɡrønn]
• Example sentence: “Gresset er grønt.” (The grass is green.)
• Alternate spellings: “grønt” (neuter singular), “grønne” (plural/definite)

Orange (Oransje)

• Pronunciation: [uˈranʃə]
• Example sentence: “Hun spiste en oransje appelsin.” (She ate an orange orange.)
• Alternate spellings: “oransje” remains the same in all contexts.

Purple (Lilla)

• Pronunciation: [ˈlilːa]
• Example sentence: “Blomstene er lilla.” (The flowers are purple.)
• Alternate spellings: “lilla” remains the same in all contexts.

Other Colours

In addition to primary and secondary colours, it's useful to know some tertiary colours and other common shades. Here are a few more colours to add to your vocabulary:

Pink (Rosa)

• Pronunciation: [ˈruːsa]
• Example sentence: “Hun liker rosa blomster.” (She likes pink flowers.)
• Alternate spellings: “rosa” remains the same in all contexts.

Brown (Brun)

• Pronunciation: [brʉːn]
• Example sentence: “Bjørnen er brun.” (The bear is brown.)
• Alternate spellings: “brunt” (neuter singular), “brune” (plural/definite)

Black (Svart)

• Pronunciation: [svart]
• Example sentence: “Kaffen er svart.” (The coffee is black.)
• Alternate spellings: “svart” (neuter singular), “svarte” (plural/definite)

White (Hvit)

• Pronunciation: [ʋiːt]
• Example sentence: “Snøen er hvit.” (The snow is white.)
• Alternate spellings: “hvitt” (neuter singular), “hvite” (plural/definite)

Gray (Grå)

• Pronunciation: [ɡrɔː]
• Example sentence: “Skyene er grå.” (The clouds are gray.)
• Alternate spellings: “grått” (neuter singular), “gråe” (plural/definite)

Cultural Significance of Colours in Norway

Colours in Norway, like in many cultures, can have specific connotations and cultural significance.

For example, the colour red (rød) is often associated with Christmas (jul) in Norway, where it symbolises warmth and festivity. Yet, as with many cultures, it also signifies danger on road signs.

Similarly, white (hvit) is linked to purity and is commonly seen during winter when the landscape is blanketed in snow.

Understanding these cultural nuances can enrich your language learning experience and help you connect more deeply with Norwegian culture.

Useful Phrases and Expressions

In addition to individual colour words, it's helpful to learn some common phrases and expressions that use colours. Here are a few examples:

1. “Å se rødt”
   • Literal translation: “To see red”
   • Meaning: To become very angry
   • Example: “Han så rødt da han hørte nyheten.” (He saw red when he heard the news.)
2. “En hvit løgn”
   • Literal translation: “A white lie”
   • Meaning: A harmless or small lie
   • Example: “Hun fortalte en hvit løgn for å ikke såre ham.” (She told a white lie not to hurt him.)
3. “Grønn av misunnelse”
   • Literal translation: “Green with envy”
   • Meaning: Very envious or jealous
   • Example: “Hun var grønn av misunnelse da hun så bilen hans.” (She was green with envy when she saw his car.)

Top Tips for Learning Colours in Norwegian

Here are some practical tips to help you remember and use colours in Norwegian:

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

1. Practice with Flashcards: Create flashcards with the colour on one side and the Norwegian word on the other. This can help reinforce your memory through visual association.
2. Label Objects Around You: Use sticky notes to label objects in your home with their Norwegian colour names. This constant exposure can help you remember the words more easily.
3. Use Colours in Sentences: Practice forming sentences using colours. This will not only help you remember the words but also improve your overall language skills.
4. Engage with Native Speakers: If possible, try to practice with native Norwegian speakers. This can provide you with real-life context and usage examples, making the learning process more effective.
5. Watch Norwegian Media: Watching Norwegian TV shows, movies, or YouTube channels can expose you to how colours are used in everyday conversations. Pay attention to how colours are described and try to mimic the pronunciation.

Learning the colours in Norwegian is a great way to start building your vocabulary and getting comfortable with the language.

Colours are used in many aspects of daily life, and by mastering them, you'll be better equipped to describe your surroundings, express yourself, and engage in conversations.

So, whether you're marvelling at the red sunsets, the blue fjords, or the green forests of Norway, you'll now have the words to describe these beautiful scenes in Norwegian.

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Whether you're planning a scenic trip to the fjords, considering a new life in the vibrant cities of Oslo or Bergen, or just fascinated by the allure of Scandinavian culture, learning Norwegian can open doors to a richer experience.

Speaking even a little of Norway’s language not only enhances interactions but also deepens your appreciation of its unique heritage and traditions.

But are you wondering how to learn Norwegian? You're not alone. Yet, in today's connected world, diving into a new language has never been more accessible.

Free online resources and innovative tools can help you start understanding and speaking Norwegian from the comfort of your home, regardless of your prior language learning experiences.

This guide aims not only to prepare travellers for their Norwegian adventures but also to offer insights for those contemplating a longer stay or simply wishing to connect more deeply with Norwegian culture.

Introducing the Norwegian Language

Norwegian, a North Germanic language, is primarily spoken in Norway where it has two official written forms: ���ǰ쳾å�� and Nynorsk.

���ǰ쳾å�� is the more prevalent, used by the majority of the population, while Nynorsk is embraced in various regions, particularly the rural fjords region.

Spoken Norwegian also varies widely across the country, with numerous regional dialects. As such, learning Norwegian offers insights into Norway's rich linguistic landscape and the cultural nuances that define different regions.

Do You Need to Learn Norwegian?

Norwegians are ranked fourth globally for their English skills according to the EF English Proficiency Index. English is widely spoken, especially in big cities like Oslo and Bergen.

In rural areas, most people still speak English well enough to assist travellers. This widespread English fluency comes from years of education and exposure to English through media, sports, and travel.

Even if it's not necessary, speaking a bit of Norwegian can greatly please the locals during your stay. Learning Norwegian isn't essential for short visits, but if you're considering moving to Norway, it becomes much more important.

Best Free Resources

If you are serious about learning Norwegian, it's wise to invest in a good online course. We recommend NorwegianClass101 and The Mystery of Nils to get you going.

However, if budget is an issue, there are a lot of free resources out there. There are free courses for absolute beginners to start, and there are free resources to help more advanced learners on their way. Let's take a look.

1. Online Course from NTNU

While many online Norwegian courses require payment, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) provides an excellent free option for beginners.

Their course, “,” is a 12-part series that helps newcomers quickly pick up basic language skills. It uses stories, audio, and flashcards, following the experiences of new families in Norway.

Learners can access a 139-page textbook, grammar tables, and audio tracks. Though primarily designed for new residents, the first two lessons are perfect for travellers, covering introductions and essential travel phrases.

2. Online Course from UiO

Additionally, the University of Oslo offers a free introductory Norwegian course on the platform, available at no cost for a limited period.

The aim of the free four-week course is for participants to learn to speak, write, and understand basic Norwegian. More than 100,000 people have registered for the course, and a waiting list is now in operation.

3. Duolingo App

One of the most popular language learning apps is Duolingo. It's free to download and use on your smartphone or computer. There is also a paid version, but the free version is very effective for daily practice.

Duolingo uses games to make learning a new language enjoyable and to help you establish a routine of daily practice.

4. Memrise App

Flashcards are a simple yet effective learning tool that help you memorize new words through repeated exposure and practice. They are especially useful in language learning because they allow you to quickly recall and reinforce vocabulary.

Another great app is Memrise, which specifically uses the flashcard method to enhance memory retention.

It introduces you to essential Norwegian phrases, helping you learn how to introduce yourself, navigate new places, and use friendly expressions that are sure to bring a smile to locals.

5. Listen to Norwegian Music

Exploring Norwegian music offers an effective method for immersing yourself in the language and culture.

By listening to songs performed in Norwegian, particularly those within the folk and children's music genres, you can significantly enhance your language learning journey.

These genres are not only rich in melody but also in simple, clear language, making them ideal for beginners. Following along with the lyrics while listening can improve your vocabulary, pronunciation, and understanding of grammatical structures.

To get you started, try the contemporary folk songs on “Tusenfryd” by Siri Nilsen, or the clear lyrics on “Haba Haba” by Lillebjørn Nilsen. Want more? Check out these Norwegian language albums to get you started.

6. Klar Tale Podcast

Mastering pronunciation can be challenging when learning a new language. Fortunately, a variety of Norwegian music and podcasts are readily available to aid your pronunciation skills.

Regularly listening to Norwegian—whether or not you understand every word—helps you become familiar with the language's rhythm and unique sounds.

This practice can significantly improve your ability to comprehend responses during actual conversations.

For reading practice, the weekly print newspaper and website, Klar Tale, publishes news in straightforward Norwegian and offers a that reads articles aloud, ideal for auditory learning.

7. Listen to Slow Norwegian

Getting to grips with oral comprehension is a challenge no matter the language. Simply put, native speakers talk quickly. In addition to Klar Tale, there is another podcast you may find useful.

Although is no longer producing new episodes, its existing episodes remain accessible online. These feature a licensed hypnotherapist reading bedtime stories slowly in Norwegian. It's perfect for beginners.

Other Tools & Resources

Modern artificial intelligence (AI) tools offers a versatile approach to learning Norwegian, from correcting sentence structure to explaining grammatical rules in real time.

For beginners, it can simplify learning by focusing on conversational skills and basic word order, adjusting the complexity of responses based on the learner's proficiency.

Advanced learners can benefit from nuanced explanations of dialectal variations and idiomatic expressions, enhancing both understanding and usage of the language across various contexts of Norwegian​.

AI language tools are a valuable resource for anyone looking to master Norwegian efficiently​. Free tools are available, but there are more powerful tools available for a fee. Learn more about using AI tools to help you learn Norwegian.

Finally, if you can’t take an in-person course, consider a paid online course to help provide you with structure and pacing. We recommend NorwegianClass101 and The Mystery of Nils to get you going.

How did you get started learning Norwegian? Feel free to share your favourite tips, tools and resources down in the comments.

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Learning Norwegian is an important step to integration when moving here. But learning any language is a long-term commitment and a real challenge, no matter what your native language is or where you come from.

Many sources claim Norwegian is one of the easier languages for a native English speaker to learn, because of its small vocabulary and relatively simple sentence structures.

There's certainly validity in that argument, but what it doesn't take into account is the vast range of regional dialects in Norway. This makes oral comprehension in Norwegian more of a challenge than reading, writing, or even speaking.

There's also the two written variants of Norwegian–bokmål and nynorsk–to consider, but in this article we'll just deal with spoken dialects.

Shortly before moving from Oslo to Trondheim, the Norwegian speakers in my office all laughed together and started emailing me things like “æ e trønder æ!” which confused me greatly.

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

As it turned out, that was my introduction to �հ�ø�Ի�������, the regional dialect of Trøndelag (central Norway), and the beginning of my fascination with trying to distinguish the dialects of Norwegian.

Why are there so many regional dialects in Norway?

Before we get on to specifics, let's look at the reasons behind the dialects of Norwegian. Norway's geographical layout plays a pivotal role in the proliferation of its regional dialects.

Stretching over 1,770 kilometres from its southernmost point to the northern tip, Norway's elongated and slender shape, characterised by its rugged coastline peppered with fjords, creates distinct regional separations.

These vast distances mean that historically, communities were isolated from each other, with travel between them being arduous and time-consuming.

In the absence of today's modern transportation methods, these communities evolved over centuries with minimal influence from their neighbours, nurturing unique dialects within each region.

Norway's political history also significantly influenced its linguistic landscape. For hundreds of years, Norway was under Danish rule, during which Danish was the official language of administration and higher education.

This period left a lasting impact on the Norwegian language, particularly in urban centers and the elite's communication, further diversifying the linguistic variation of the nation.

These factors combined—the country's challenging geography and its complex historical ties with Denmark—have fostered a rich diversity of dialects in Norway.

Regional dialects in Norway

As I've said, there's a huge variety of Norwegian dialects to be found across the country. It's impossible to put an exact figure on it, as language develops over time.

In some regions, the dialect is fairly consistent across a large area, while in others, it can vary significantly from town to town.

What linguists do agree on, however, is that there are four high-level groupings of Norwegian dialects: Eastern, Western, Central, and Northern. Some would argue that Midland and Southern are also distinct dialects, but let's stick to the main four.

Eastern Norwegian (Østnorsk)

The dialect of Oslo and the Eastern region of Norway, Østnorsk offers a crisp and clear speech pattern, making it the go-to for learners of Norwegian.

It's also the most commonly heard dialect in media–although regional dialects are heard far more on TV here than in other countries.

With its open vowels and precise pronunciation, Østnorsk is accessible and straightforward. Notably, it maintains the “hv-” sounds distinctively (e.g. hvor, hvordan) and tends to pronounce the final -r and -t in verbs, setting it apart from other dialects.

Western Norwegian (Vestlandsk)

‘Vestlandsk' is the voice of the west, where the language mirrors the robust, rugged landscapes. Known for its strong speech pattern, this dialect is characterized by hard consonants, including the distinctive “skarre-r” that resonates with the French r.

It's a dialect with a bit of roughness, giving it a unique edge. Words like “vattn” for water and “håve” for head are just glimpses into its unique vocabulary.

In areas like Stavanger, infinitive verbs often end with an -a, and there's a tendency to soften “k” sounds to “g” in the middle of words, adding a local flavour to the speech.

Central Norwegian (�հ�ø�Ի�������)

The �հ�ø�Ի������� dialect of Central Norway brings a musicality to Norwegian, with a rhythmic flow that's unmistakable. This dialect has a melodic quality, with guttural sounds adding to its distinctiveness.

By the way, the word ‘trøndersk' is an adjective describing a Trønder (a person from the county of Trøndelag) or anything coming from or relating to Trøndelag.

The �հ�ø�Ի������� dialect features some interesting linguistic twists, such as replacing “hv-” with “k-” or “kv-” and a phenomenon known as “levelling,” where vowels in the middle and end of words harmonize.

Additionally, the palatalisation of “n” and “l” (especially in the northern part of the region) adds a unique texture to words, making �հ�ø�Ի������� a dialect that sings.

Differences in personal pronouns are prevalent across Norwegian dialects, but there is particularly high variability in �հ�ø�Ի�������.

For example, in the Trondheim sub-dialect, the first person singular nominative is pronounced /æː/ and spelled “æ,” contrasting with the standard “jeg” (���ǰ쳾å��) or “eg” (Nynorsk), while the second person plural accusative is pronounced “dokker” diverging from the standard “dere” (���ǰ쳾å��) or “dykk” (Nynorsk).

Northern Norwegian (Nordnorsk)

The dialect of the north, Nordnorsk, is slow and deliberate, with a pronounced emphasis on each sound. I say dialect, but nordnorsk, perhaps more than any other, is a dialect group with significant variation across the vast northern region.

Nevertheless, there are some common traits. Nordnorsk dialects feature distinctive linguistic traits, such as lowering front vowels and replacing “hv-” with “k-,” contributing to a dialect that is both vibrant and expressive.

Nordnorsk is known for its rich and colorful vocabulary, with many words and phrases not found in other parts of the country. These vary from town to town. That also includes some inventive curse words.

Dialects when learning Norwegian

Don't worry too much about dialects in the early stages of your language learning journey. All that's needed is to know that they exist!

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

If you are learning the language in a place outside of Oslo, it's worth checking with your tutors what their local dialect is.

If you're learning in somewhere with a strong, distinct dialect like Bergen or Trondheim, ask to hear sentences and phrases in the local dialect as you learn them. You don't have to speak that way, but you'll quickly be able to recognise the dialect when being spoken to on the street.

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Over the last decades, there has been plenty of great music coming from Norway, in English. But there is also a lot more good music in Norwegian. Because they record in Norwegian, these artists and albums are little known outside of Norway.

Listening to some Norwegian music–in Norwegian–can be incredibly helpful when you are trying to learn the language.

It’s a fun way to develop your vocabulary and it can help enormously with pronunciation and even getting to know dialects. Here is a list of 10 albums I recommend to help you learn Norwegian through the power of music.

Trygve Skaug – Sanger du skal få når du våkner

The very poetic songs by singer-songwriter Trygve Skaug are a really good start when it comes to listening to music in Norwegian. On the 2020 album “Sanger du skal få når du våkner” are 11 more or less slow songs and his good and clear pronunciation really helps to understand the lyrics.

Marius Müller – Marius

The self-titled album “Marius” turns 40 this year and contains a great collection of songs. Marius Müller was known for his great guitar playing and this album provides a great rock groove.

Karpe – Kors på halsen, ti kniver i hjertet, mor og far i døden

The rap duo Karpe is a great option for everyone who wants to learn the language through rap music.

“Kors på halsen, ti kniver i hjertet, mor og far i døden” was released under their old name “Karpe Diem” in 2012 and even though it’s a really good album it is obviously a bit more difficult to follow the lyrics in rap music than it is in slower genres.

Morten Abel – I Fullt Alvor

More known as the frontman of the band The September When, Morten Abel has a few great solo albums in Norwegian. “I Fullt Alvor” is one of them and certainly a good choice if country rock is the preferred genre.

CC Cowboys – Perfekt normal

Fredrikstad based rock band CC Cowboys released 13 albums over the last three decades. “Perfekt normal” is a guitar driven country rock album with some really groovy songs and good understandable lyrics.

Kaizers Orchestra – Violeta Violeta Volume 1

Those who have been following the Norwegian music scene over the last year have probably heard of Kaizers Orchestra. The 2000 founded punk rock band split in 2013 and announced their comeback in 2022. “Violeta Violeta Volume 1” is the first album of their Violeta Trilogy.

deLillos – Sent og tidlig

The rock band deLillos has released an impressive amount of albums since their forming in 1984. “Sent og tidlig” is one of their less rockier albums but still has good songs on it. Perfect album for those who just started learning Norwegian.

Michael Krohn – Idiot Rock

A very raw sounding album from rock singer Michael Krohn. Some songs almost have a hard rock feel to them and it’s not always easy to grab and understand the words. A good album for advanced Norwegian speakers.

Lillebjørn Nilsen – Original Nilsen

Jokingly called “The Voice of Oslo” , Lillebjørn Nilsen has been releasing music since 1971 and has written several songs about the capital city. The album “Original Nilsen” has a great nostalgic jazzy sound and is a good choice when you want to listen to some more traditional music.

Morten Harket – Vogts Villa

It is impossible to avoid a-ha when exploring the Norwegian music scene. A-ha frontman Morten Harket has released a couple of solo albums over the years and “Vogts Villa” is a great album in Norwegian. He has a very clear and easy understandable pronunciation, good for Norwegian beginners.

I hope this list inspires you to use music to help you learn Norwegian. Do you know some Norwegian artists that didn’t make this list? Who would you recommend? Let me know in the commend below. 

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For many people, learning Norwegian is a challenge. As I often say to people, you’re not just doing one thing when you learn a language. You’re really learning four different things at once: to write, to read, to listen and to speak.

In recent years it’s never been easier to get started with learning a new language thanks to technology.

Language learning apps like Duolingo and Memrise are wonderful tools to accompany formal lessons, while the internet and streaming services has made access to Norwegian TV shows and music easier than ever before.

But now, artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT have taken the ability to learn Norwegian to a whole new level. Here’s how it works, and how you can try it yourself.

The emergence of AI tools

When we look back at 2023, I have no doubt the year will be remembered for one thing. It’s the year AI tools have hit the mainstream.

I use AI on a daily basis to help with idea generation, editing, and headline ideas—and to have a lot of fun, too. The tool I use is called ChatGPT. The recent launch of ChatGPT 4 took things to a while new level.

I have a few friends who are big AI chat fans too and we spend a lot of time sharing our prompts and the results with each other.

Every day, we learn a little more about what these incredible tools are capable of doing. Recently, we figured out how it could help you learn Norwegian.

Learning Norwegian with AI

You cannot learn Norwegian from start to finish using AI, but it can speed up your learning significantly. Apps can help you revise and practice, but AI can help you understand. It can translate, correct your mistakes and explain those mistakes.

Essentially, it’s like having your own private tutor working with you between your formal language classes. But just like any technology, the output is only as good as your input, so you need to spend some time learning how to use it to get the most benefit.

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

There are many resources for people looking to learn how to use AI tools at a general level, For example, check out on the excellent tech blog, Tom’s Guide.

Because of this, I’m not going to cover the technical side of using an AI tool, or best practice for prompts. Instead, I will focus on showing you the possibilities when it comes to language learning.

For reference, I use the paid premium plan for ChatGPT at OpenAI, which gives me limited access to the new GPT-4 model. It costs $20 per month, but the regular tool is completely free. All the following examples use GPT-4.

Example 1: A personal tutor

In my personal language learning journey, hiring a personal tutor was the biggest single difference maker. Having significant one-on-one time was the biggest reason I was able to improve my skills enough to be able to get Norwegian citizenship.

Now, I won’t claim that ChatGPT can replace a human tutor. But if you can’t afford one-on-one tuition, AI tools can at least help you out when you get stuck. Here’s an example.

My prompt: I am learning Norwegian. I am trying to write a diary entry about my day. Please can you identify any mistakes and explain why they are mistakes? Here is the entry: “Heisann, i dag jeg reiste til Spania. Jeg skal til en fotballkamp i morgen!”

AI response: Correction: Heisann, i dag reiste jeg til Spania. Jeg skal på en fotballkamp i morgen!

Explanation: There are two small mistakes in the original text:

In the first sentence, the verb “reiste” (traveled) comes after the subject “jeg” (I). In Norwegian, the verb should come in the second position in the sentence, especially in main clauses. Thus, the correct word order is “i dag reiste jeg” (today, I traveled).

In the second sentence, the preposition “til” is used. However, the correct preposition to use when talking about attending an event like a football match is “på”. So, the corrected sentence should be “Jeg skal på en fotballkamp i morgen!” (I am going to a football match tomorrow!).

Pretty good, eh? Now, at this point you can try again or perhaps try a different sentence structure. Or you could ask for clarification if the AI’s response wasn’t clear or you simply didn’t understand.

My prompt: I don’t understand the first point. Could you explain the rule on word order that applies to that sentence in more detail?

AI response: Sure! In Norwegian, the word order in a sentence generally follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure, similar to English. However, there are some rules to consider when constructing sentences in Norwegian, particularly when it comes to main clauses:

V2 (Verb second) rule: In a declarative main clause, the verb must always be in the second position. This means that if an adverb or another element comes first in the sentence, the subject will come after the verb.

Examples:

– “I dag reiste jeg til Spania.” (Today, I traveled to Spain.)
– “I morgen skal jeg på en fotballkamp.” (Tomorrow, I am going to a football match.)

In both examples, the time expression (i dag, i morgen) comes first, the verb (reiste, skal) comes second, and the subject (jeg) comes after the verb.

Now, the AI did continue to explain other points on word order, but I clipped its response there for this post. If you still don’t understand the point, you now know enough about the issue to do your own research and find detailed articles about the V2 word order rule in Norwegian.

Example 2: Understanding Nynorsk

This time, I put myself in the situation of a beginner who has started to read articles on NRK. In this case, I imagined stumbling upon and noticing some unusual spellings. Rather than try to figure out what is happening, you could simply ask the AI.

My prompt: Hi, this piece of Norwegian is confusing to me. Words seem to look different and I don’t really understand. I am only just starting to learn Norwegian. Can you explain what is going on?

“Noreg skal verne meir av Noreg. Internasjonal avtale om å verne 30 prosent av naturen aukar presset på norske utbyggingsprosjekt. No startar arbeidet med ein ny naturplan.”

AI response: This piece of text is written in Norwegian Nynorsk, one of the two official written standards of the Norwegian language, the other being ���ǰ쳾å��. Nynorsk is based on rural dialects and has a distinct set of grammar rules and vocabulary compared to ���ǰ쳾å��. It can be more challenging to understand for those who are starting to learn Norwegian and are more familiar with ���ǰ쳾å��.

Here is a brief translation of the text in English:

“Norway shall protect more of Norway. An international agreement to protect 30 percent of nature increases pressure on Norwegian development projects. Now, the work on a new nature plan begins.”

If you are just starting to learn Norwegian, you might find it helpful to initially focus on one of the written standards, usually ���ǰ쳾å��, as it is more widely used and more similar to Danish, which can make it easier for beginners. Once you have a strong foundation in ���ǰ쳾å��, you can then explore Nynorsk and learn to understand and use it as well.

Once again, you now have a choice. You could go away and do some independent research on the Nynorsk variant of Norwegian. Or, you could continue to ask the AI more questions based on what it has already told you.

My prompt: Could you write the Nynorsk text in ���ǰ쳾å�� for me?

AI response: Of course! Here is the original Nynorsk text followed by the ���ǰ쳾å�� version:

Nynorsk: “Noreg skal verne meir av Noreg. Internasjonal avtale om å verne 30 prosent av naturen aukar presset på norske utbyggingsprosjekt. No startar arbeidet med ein ny naturplan.”

���ǰ쳾å��: “Norge skal verne mer av Norge. Internasjonal avtale om å verne 30 prosent av naturen øker presset på norske utbyggingsprosjekter. Nå starter arbeidet med en ny naturplan.”

The main differences in this text are in spelling, such as “Noreg” (Nynorsk) vs. “Norge” (���ǰ쳾å��), “aukar” (Nynorsk) vs. “øker” (���ǰ쳾å��), and “no” (Nynorsk) vs. “nå” (���ǰ쳾å��). Additionally, there are differences in some words and grammatical forms, like “ein” (Nynorsk) vs. “en” (���ǰ쳾å��).

Example 3: Conversation practice

Now, it’s much harder to use the AI to have a spoken conversation at the moment. With voice assistants such as Siri improving all the time, it surely won’t be long until that’s possible.

In the meantime, you can practice conversational Norwegian with the AI chat bot. The way you prompt the AI is important here. Here’s a quick example.

My prompt: Hi! Can we have a chat in Norwegian? I am a beginner so please only write back to me in simple Norwegian. Also don’t correct my mistakes. My name is David. Your name is Hildegunn.

Hildegunn: Hei, David! Selvfølgelig kan vi snakke norsk. Jeg heter Hildegunn. Hvordan går det med deg?

David: Det går fint, takk! Kan vi snakke om familiene våre? Hvor mange søsken har du?

Hildegunn: Som en AI har jeg ikke en ekte familie eller søsken, men vi kan gjerne snakke om din familie. Hvor mange søsken har du, og hva liker de å gjøre?

David: Jeg har tre brødre. De heter Magnus, Pontus og Willie. Men de bor i utenlands så vi se hverandre sjelden.

Hildegunn: Det er fint å ha brødre. Det er trist at dere ikke kan møtes ofte. Hva liker dere å gjøre sammen når dere møtes?

My prompt: Out of character: Thanks! Can you let me know if I made any mistakes?

AI response: Of course! Here are the corrections to your sentences:

“Men de bor i utenlands så vi se hverandre sjelden.” should be “Men de bor i utlandet, så vi ser hverandre sjelden.”

Keep up the good work, and don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions or need more help!

As you can see, it’s possible to use the AI to practice writing Norwegian, especially conversational Norwegian. Important here is asking it not to correct you. But because it has the capability to “remember” past interactions, you can ask it to correct you afterwards.

You could also ask the AI to act in a more formal way, to mimic a government official for example. Or perhaps ask it to have a much more informal conversation over text message.

Example 4: Motivation

Not feeling like learning Norwegian today? Or perhaps your confidence has been knocked by Norwegians always switching to English. The AI could help here, too!

My prompt: Norwegians have a habit of immediately switching to English when they hear someone struggle in their language. This makes learning and practicing Norwegian difficult for beginners. Do you have any tips to deal with this situation?

AI response: Yes, it can be frustrating when trying to learn and practice a new language, and people keep switching to a language you already know. Here are a few tips that may help you in dealing with this situation:

Be confident: Even if you're struggling to find the right words, try to speak as much Norwegian as possible. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, as making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process.

Ask for help: If you're having trouble understanding something, don't hesitate to ask for clarification. You can say something like, “Can you please explain that in Norwegian?” or “Can you say that again in Norwegian?”

Be persistent: Keep speaking Norwegian even if others switch to English. If you continue speaking Norwegian, they will eventually understand that you want to practice and learn the language.

Find a language exchange partner: A language exchange partner is someone who wants to learn your native language while teaching you theirs. This is an excellent way to practice speaking with someone who is patient and understanding.

Join a language group: Joining a language group can be a great way to meet other people who are also learning Norwegian. You can practice speaking with them, and they can provide you with tips and advice.

These are just four examples of how you could use ChatGPT or any other AI chat bot to help you learn Norwegian. I still recommend starting a formal course (consider for example) but AI tools can help speed up your learning significantly.

An important word of warning

If you begin to use AI tools regularly, you’ll soon learn that not all the responses are to be trusted.

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

At the time of writing, ChatGPT doesn’t have direct internet access in terms of being able to access current information to incorporate into its results. This means that if you are asking any AI tool for facts, you should apply a “sanity check” to the results just as if you were doing a regular Google search.

That being said, when using the tools for language learning I have been thoroughly impressed with the quality of results.

What do you think about learning Norwegian with the help of AI? Have you tried it? Let us know your experience in the comments.

The post How AI Can Help You Learn Norwegian appeared first on 51�Թ���.

Every year, the Language Council announces the top ten words of the year, crowning one with the title. To source the possibilities, the Council studies word usage in the media.

“We look for words that stand out for each year. It can either be completely new words or words that may have been in use a little from before, but which have increased in use or gained a new meaning,” said director Åse Wetås to .

Previous winning words have included finanskrise (financial crisis), nave/naving (living on benefits from NAV without needing them), sake-TV (slow TV), hverdagsintegrering (everyday integration) and falske nyheter (fake news). In 2021, sportsvaske (sportswashing) was the winner.

This year’s word of the year is krympflasjon, which is the Norwegian term for shrinkflation.

What is shrinkflation?

Driven in part by high electricity prices across Europe, there is no doubt we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Inflation is essentially the increase in prices of things, but that’s not the only measure relevant to the cost of living.

Shrinkflation—or krympflasjon—describes the phenomenon of consumer goods getting smaller while prices remain the same, or don’t reduce by an equivalent amount.

“Krympflasjon sums up 2022 in a striking way. There are many who are experiencing difficult times because of the price development we have seen,” said Wetås.

If you’ve ever bought a chocolate bar and thought, “I’m sure this used to be bigger,” you might actually be right.

NRK described an example of a popular brand of Norwegian lefse, which suddenly went from being a five-pack to a four-pack. The popular taco shells from Santa Maria also shrunk from a 14-pack to a 10-pack. These are just two of many examples.

Not a new phenomenon

The practice of reducing pack sizes while charging less is not new, but the word has only this year become widely used.

This shows the power of words to describe societal issues and shape public opinion. Having a specific word for the phenomenon helps us see it and describe it. It helps to understand that inflation is happening even when it's not immediately obvious.

Other popular words in 2022

War, conflict and the cost of living are key themes in Norway's word of the year list. It sums up a pretty depressing 2022!

Kyiv was placed fifth on the list. This year the Language Council and Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised people to use this spelling of the Ukrainian capital. Previously the spelling Kiev was more common in Norway.

The word ���ٰ�ø������������ (power smart) is in third place. It's a word that many of us can relate to in these times of high electricity prices. The Language Council said that ���ٰ�ø������������ refers to situations in which people have found clever ways to cut electricity consumption, and for the solutions that enable it.

The post Krympflasjon: Norway’s Word of the Year Explained appeared first on 51�Թ���.

Picture the scenario: you spent countless hours learning Norwegian in Oslo. You are quite proud to be able to understand news broadcasts (mostly) and chat to your barista while waiting for your morning coffee.

Then you sit on a northbound train for a few hours and when you get off, every other encounter with a stranger shatters your already shaky confidence in learning Norwegian.

What people are saying vaguely sounds like words, but often it seems like it’s a succession of vowels being sung to some abstract tune.

Welcome to your first contact with �հ�ø�Ի�������: the dialect(s) of Trondheim and the surrounding areas. It may seem daunting at first – that’s because it is, largely – but hopefully our little guide will help deconfuse stuff a little bit.

What is a dialect?

A dialect is a regional variety of a language that distinguishes itself by features such as vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar. The line between dialect and language is fuzzy.

Fully-blown languages often start as a regional dialect that gets elevated for geographical and practical reasons.

French is an example of this. In the 17th and 18th century, the Parisian version of French became the “official” one, with other variations deemed inferior and shameful.

In Norway, regional dialects are anything but shameful. On the contrary, they are often a source of pride, and it is common for people to hold on to their local dialect years after having left the area where it is commonly spoken.

What does �հ�ø�Ի������� sound like?

�հ�ø�Ի������� sounds quite different from the Norwegian spoken in Oslo. So different in fact, that an acute listener that knows nothing of Norwegian can hear the difference.

The difference for this is threefold: tonality, vowels, and something called palatalisation.

Tonality in Norwegian and �հ�ø�Ի�������

To a native English speaker, Norwegian as a whole sounds oddly melodic. Norwegian speakers adopt tonal patterns that sound unusual when you have never heard them before.

People who speak �հ�ø�Ի������� adopt even more peculiar tonal patterns. Since it’s so difficult to describe, here’s a video.

There is applause and laughter because this clip was used in a humour show as an example of a dialect that is difficult to understand. But it is a very good example of the strange singing that is used in Norwegian – and even more so in �հ�ø�Ի�������.

Note that Norwegian is not a tonal language (like Mandarin or Vietnamese) but falls in the similar-but-different category of .

Vowels in �հ�ø�Ի�������

Disclaimer: I am about to oversimplify quite a bit. But people speaking �հ�ø�Ի������� sound like they use vowels more.

To a person not familiar with the language and listening to people speaking it, “standard” Norwegian has a good balance between consonants and vowels. It “flows”, a bit like Japanese.

�հ�ø�Ի�������, though, sometimes sounds like a succession of vowels. There are several reasons for this.

The first one is that many words used in �հ�ø�Ի������� have fewer consonants than their Østlandsk (Oslo) equivalents. The pronoun “hun”, for example (she), becomes “hu”. The pronoun “henne” (her) becomes simply “a”. In both cases, consonants disappear.

The second reason is called . This is a linguistics term that means that the last vowel or syllable of a word is left unpronounced.

Paradoxically, dropping the last vowel of a word sometimes makes the whole word sound more “vowelly”. Take the verb “å kjøpe” for example (uh shuh-puh). In �հ�ø�Ի�������, people will more often than not say “å kjøp” (uh shuuhp).

Because the last vowel is skipped, more length/importance is given to the only one that’s left.

Palatalisation: how to make your consonants ‘moist'

Palatalisation is a linguistic term that means pushing your tongue against your palate when pronouncing a consonant. When you say “n”, for example, the tip of your tongue typically touches an area of your palate just above your teeth.

With palatalisation, you press a larger portion of the tongue against the palate. It has the effect of making you sound funny.

Because of this, in �հ�ø�Ի�������, “han” (he) becomes “hañ” (often spelt hanj). The sound is similar to the ñ in jalapeño – assuming the word is pronounced in the proper Spanish way.

�հ�ø�Ի������� vocabulary

In addition to pronunciation and tonality quirks, �հ�ø�Ի������� has its own vocabulary that makes it sound different. This is particularly problematic for foreign speakers, because it means that they will have no knowledge of many of the words commonly used.

You see, more often than not, when a dialect uses a completely different word, it’s one that’s used very commonly, such as “I”, “girl”, “how” or “tired”. This applies not only to �հ�ø�Ի������� but to all Norwegian dialects.

The upside of this is that if you learn the 100 most common words in a given dialect, you’ll have come a long way in reducing the noise and increasing your understanding.

The more complicated words, like “philosophy”, “contemporary art” or “metaphysics” are likely to be exactly the same regardless of the dialect.

Examples of �հ�ø�Ի������� vocabulary

Here are examples of these common words that become totally different in �հ�ø�Ի�������.

The pronoun for “I” is one that can help you pinpoint which dialect people are speaking. In �հ�ø�Ի������� it is usually “æ”. Describing with words how to pronounce vowel sounds is notoriously difficult, but “æ” has been described as similar to the sound made by the letter “a” in “sad”.

“Veitj” is another word you may come across that can be very confusing because it’s so different from the bokmål word it replaces. Not all people who view themselves as speaking �հ�ø�Ի������� use it though; some use “jente”, but with the “n” palatalised as described above.

“How” is another word that varies a lot from one dialect to the other. In �հ�ø�Ի�������, it becomes “koss” or “kossen”, more often than not.

“Klar”, confusingly, exists in bokmål as well but means something completely different: “ready”. When suppressing a jet lag induced yawn at a wedding, I was asked “Er du klar?”, to which to my �հ�ø�Ի�������-ignorant self answered “Klar til hva?” (Ready for what?).

Mytji, for which I won’t even attempt to describe the pronunciation, means “much” or “a lot”, and is one of those examples where the boundary between unusual pronunciation and different vocabulary becomes fuzzy.

There is more than one �հ�ø�Ի�������

Before my inbox gets inundated, let me make something clear: the list above is not written in stone. Not all people who view themselves as speaking �հ�ø�Ի������� use the words above.

Some use even more obscure ones, others use the bokmål equivalents. Language is fluid and ever-evolving, and the dialect a person speaks really depends on their background: such as where they are from specifically, where they live currently and how old they are.

How to understand �հ�ø�Ի�������

So now that you know a bit more about �հ�ø�Ի�������, here are some tips to understand it better.

Keep an open mind

Some of the words that are different from one dialect to another are quite different – like those we listed above – but others are just pronounced a little differently. If you open up your mind to accept pronunciation differences, you’ll get a lot for free.

The bokmål word for floor, “gulv”, often becomes “gølv” in �հ�ø�Ի�������. Some words with “i” suddenly take an “e” in �հ�ø�Ի�������. Seeing vowels as largely interchangeable will help you figure out the meaning of words that, when first hearing them, seem completely unknown.

Learn the most common words

There are about a dozen ways to say “how” in Norwegian dialects, and the solution to that as a non-native speaker is, unfortunately, to learn them. If your focus is �հ�ø�Ի������� exclusively, then knowing both “hvordan” and “koss/kossen” should be sufficient.

Similarly, you’ll need to learn the other very commonly used ones. Here, the book is invaluable.

It provides a very useful introduction to the large Norwegian dialect families, with word lists and details on their pronunciation particularities. It’s a relatively quick read as well, so I can’t recommend it enough if you are interested.

Ask questions

Learning a languages goes hand in hand with accepting that you’ll sound stupid from time to time. One part of that means making mistakes, the other means asking people about that word they just used that you didn’t understand.

No matter how good you are at finding information yourself and learning new words and pronunciation rules, you are guaranteed to come across words that you either forgot or never encountered. Luckily, Norwegians are happy to help, most of the time, and they are usually pleased to see someone showing interest in their native dialect.

Tell us what you think

Do you know someone who speaks �հ�ø�Ի�������? Have you been in the Trondheim or Trøndelag area before? What do you think about dialects? Let us know in the comments!

The post �հ�ø�Ի�������: The Dialects of Middle Norway appeared first on 51�Թ���.

Sometimes, when you ask a Norwegian the meaning of a specific word, you get a blank stare followed by a lot of head scratching.

That is because some Norwegian words are untranslatable – to English, that is. This list presents to you the best examples of such words that we could find.

When we say “untranslatable”…

Norwegian, as a North Germanic language, is related to English, but has a much smaller vocabulary. That being said, there are still many words and expressions you'll come across when learning Norwegian that are not directly translatable.

Now bear in mind that when we say “untranslatable”, we don’t mean it literally. Nothing is entirely untranslatable to a skilled translator.

What we mean is that the words and expressions in question have no direct equivalent. To translate them to English, you have to choose either a different word, that conveys a close-but-not-the-same meaning, or a phrase that amounts to a little definition.

And with that disclaimer out of the way, let’s jump into our list of 21 untranslatable Norwegian words.

��ø���Ա�������

We start with one of our favourites. To understand ��ø���Ա�������, we need to split it into its two components.

��ø���� is a Norwegian word that means “day”, but not in the sense of daytime or “have a nice day”. Rather, it refers to the whole period of 24 hours that constitutes a day – from midnight to midnight.

Vill is similar to “wild” in meaning, but it is sometimes used to convey the sense of being lost. Å gå seg vill means to get lots, or lose sense of where you are.

Together, the two words mean having lost the sense of what time of the day it is. The English word “jetlagged” has a similar meaning, but is more restrictive, applying to that sensation one gets from changing time zones rapidly.

You can get ��ø���Ա������� because you were up late drinking – or up late for any other reason, really. The midnight sun may also make you a bit ��ø���Ա�������, if you ever travel to northern Norway to experience it.

Matpakke

This word means something close to “packed lunch”. But what makes it difficult to translate is the exact composition of the lunch that the word often entails.

A traditional Norwegian matpakke consists of several slices of bread garnished with pålegg (roughly pronounced paw-leg) and sometimes a piece of fruit or some raw vegetables. The bread used is whole grain and quite dense when compared to standard US, UK or French bread.

You can learn more by reading the whole article we dedicated to the matpakke. “But wait!”, I hear you say. “What’s this paw-leg you mentioned?”. Well that, my friend, is our next untranslatable word.

��å���𲵲�

��å���𲵲� literally translates as “on-layer”. But what it really means is “stuff you put on bread”.

Like spreads? Yes, spreads such as peanut butter, jam, Nutella, cream cheese and liver paté are all pålegg. But pålegg includes other things that are not spreads.

Sliced meats and cheeses, smoked fish, hard boiled eggs and sardines all fall under the umbrella term of pålegg. This sheer variety is what makes the word so difficult to translate. You can learn more by reading our article about pålegg.

���ٳٱ�å������ٳ�

This cute little word refers to a child born long after their older siblings. It is composed of ���ٳٱ�å (in addition) and klatt (a little lump – of butter, for example).

When you say that you are the ���ٳٱ�åklatt of the family, people will immediately understand that you are much younger than your siblings. The necessary gap required to be able to call yourself an ���ٳٱ�åklatt is unclear, but anything 10 years and above is definitely enough.

The limit is probably somewhere around 7-8 years – but this understanding may vary from person to person. Also, beware: you may be tempted to translate ���ٳٱ�åklatt with “surprise” or “happy accident”, but this would be wrong: the Norwegian term says nothing about whether the child was planned or not.

Dugnad

A dugnad is a collective, volunteer action by a community that benefits the entire community. Think old time barn raising – a whole village getting together to rebuild a barn after a fire, but applied to a wider range of situations.

The common denominator for a dugnad is that no one gets paid, and that people feel a need to contribute because of the greater good. In the barn raising example, even if only one farmer benefits, the whole community benefits from the concept of having this basic form of fire insurance where your barn is rebuilt by your community.

Volunteer work in Norway is a big part of the culture. In modern times, you will often encounter dugnader (that’s the plural form of the word) in or around apartment buildings – cleaning the yard in the spring, a week or two before 17^th of May, is a classic.

A dugnad may also be organised in conjunction with a child sports event, to fix or improve some local infrastructure (like a playground) or to help out people struck by disaster.

Be aware that the word is sometimes misused by unscrupulous employers who want to guilt-trip their staff into doing unpaid work. Such activities, of course, are not technically dugnader because they serve the company bottom line, not the greater good.

Utepils

Utepils is made of ute (outside) and pils. Pils is the abbreviation for pilsner, which is a specific type of lager beer. But in Norway, it is often used as a generic term for beer.

In short, an utepils is a beer enjoyed outside. Most people associate the term with drinking at a bar or restaurant that has an outdoors seating area, but some may also think of it as drinking in a public park – though the latter is technically forbidden.

Be aware that Norwegian laws governing the sales of alcohol are quite strict. As such, you may not walk around with your utepils in hand like you would outside a London pub.

On the contrary, you need to stay within the enclosed area where alcohol is served (it is usually quite clearly delimited with some kind of physical/visual barrier).

While ordering at the bar is common, you may not walk out and go to your table with your beer in hand – instead, tell the bar staff your table number and they will bring your drink to you.

��ø�ԲԾ��Բ����辱����

��ø�ԲԾ��Բ����辱���� is one of those words that you may encounter if you move to Norway, after getting a job. It roughly translates to “salary beer”, or “payday beer”. It refers to colleagues going out for a beer, often on the day they get paid (or shortly thereafter).

To a foreigner, the word makes perfect sense given the astronomical prices of beer in local bars and pubs – it seems perfectly doable to spend an entire salary on a night out.

Hyttekontor

Hyttekontor is one of those concepts that became popular during the pandemic. A hytte is a cabin – traditionally quite basic, but in recent years so modern and convenient as to be considered a second house.

Kontor means office. So hyttekontor means working remotely, from your cabin.

Nice weather is precious in Norway, and working from your cabin may be a good way to make the most of a few weeks of good weather. In a sense, it’s a bit like a working vacation; you’re working remotely, like when you work from home, but the setting is a place where you would normally spend time off.

Obviously, this should not be abused – you may work from your cabin for a few weeks, maybe a month, but certainly not half the year.

Your experience may vary of course. Your workplace’s culture and your boss’ laid-backedness – or lack thereof – will determine if hyttekontor is a perk you can enjoy.

The sibling word of hyttekontor is the more often used hjemmekontor (home office), to which many Norwegian workers were confined for many weeks – or even months, in some cases – during the pandemic.

�ձ�Գٱ��ø������

How about a waiting sausage – or waiting hot-dog? This is the meaning of ����Գٱ��ø������: a hot-dog you consume while waiting for the main attraction of the day’s barbecue to be ready.

Barbecuing (locally referred to as grilling) is a big deal in Norway. Local supermarkets have a wide array of sausages and pre-marinated meats on sale for the season, usually starting around April.

Engangsgriller – disposable barbecues, can you imagine – are a common sight in public parks in the summer.

Skadefryd

Okay, this one is technically not untranslatable because it means exactly the same as schadenfreude. But come on, that’s German, not English, so surely it still counts?

Like schadenfreude, skadefryd refers to the delight experienced when witnessing other people’s misfortune. It is usually used for more minor instances of suffering, like chuckling at someone stumbling on their shoelaces.

More psychopathic behaviour, like enjoying watching someone getting physically mistreated, is usually not what is thought of when using the word – but there may be exceptions.

Sitteunderlag

Sitteunderlag is a very Norwegian word referring to a very Norwegian item fulfilling a very Norwegian need. It translates literally as “sitting underlayer”, and refers to a little mat you carry around with you to sit on.

If you wonder why such a thing is necessary, you probably have not been to Norway. Norwegians love the outdoors, and enjoy them even when the temperature is, well, cold.

A sitteunderlag keeps your butt warm and dry – as such it serves the same function as the thin insulating airmat some campers use under their sleeping bags when camping in colder areas.

Agurknytt

How about some cucumber news? Agurknytt means just that.

The word is used derisively to refer to news items that have clearly been written as filler because it’s summer, Christmas or some other slow-news period – referred to by the closely related word agurktid.

Agurknytt may include news about unusually large vegetables, Norwegian tourists stranded at a foreign airport and “receiving no information”, things that look like other things (a carrot that looks like a rabbit), Norwegians misbehaving abroad, and any news piece about the weather.

Helt Texas

How can Texas be an untranslatable Norwegian word, you ask? Well, in Norwegian, if you say that the situation is helt Texas, you mean that it’s gone completely out of control.

How out of control it really is, is open to interpretation. It can be said about a children’s birthday party for example.

Since Norwegian society expects you to follow rules and not stand out too much, any instance of slight chaos (like the queuing system being overwhelmed at a concert venue because more people show up than expected) can be considered helt Texas.

Video footage of Americans trampling each other to get good deals on Black Friday are also helt Texas.

Gruglede

This one is a very useful little word that translates literally as “happy dread”. Å gruglede seg means to look forward to an event with a mix of dread and excited anticipation.

It is often used for such events as the first day of school, or the first day at a new job, or for any other big, positive change that requires a (stressful) period of adaptation.

Holke

This one translates as “ice”. But it’s a very specific kind of ice. If you tell a Norwegian that your driveway is covered in holke, they will know immediately that you mean it’s covered by a thick layer of ice.

Specifically, it’s the kind of ice that appears when snow gets compacted, either through being trampled or driven on, or through partial melting and refreezing.

Essentially, it’s a layer of ice that’s difficult to get rid of. It’s too thick to be efficiently melted by salt. The only solution is to cover it in sand or gravel, or hack at it with some kind of metal tool.

Russ

You would be forgiven to think that this one has something to do with Russia. It does not. The russ are the Norwegian high school seniors, in the period from sometime in April to the 17^th of May when they celebrate the end of their years of schooling.

They wear colourful pants (often red, but the colour depends on the specialisation they chose in their last few years of high school) and often exhibit rowdy behaviour.

This word is untranslatable because it refers not just to high school “seniors”, but to the specific activity in which they engage during the few weeks when they celebrate. If you join the celebration for Norway’s national holiday (17^th of May), you are guaranteed to see russ out and about.

Janteloven

More than a word, janteloven is a cultural phenomenon.  The “law of Jante” refers to this very Scandinavian, traditional way of being: putting society ahead of the individual, not boasting about individual accomplishments, and not being jealous of others.

It is not exclusively a bad thing, but can sometimes feel a bit oppressive. Because it is quite different from the individualism that is often valued in the Western corporate world, it is sometimes seen as a drawback.

Takk for sist

Takk for sist is a polite expression that is definitely untranslatable. It is so untranslatable that we need a few paragraphs to explain it.

Literally it means “thanks for last time”. In fact, before I understood Norwegian, someone said to me “thanks for last time” in English – which understandably baffled me, leaving me wondering what I could possibly have done last time to deserve such understated gratitude.

It is easier to explain when it is used than what it means. When you meet someone for the first time, you introduce yourself. When you meet someone you have met before, you say takk for sist.

That is not to say that you should say takk for sist to everyone you know, all the time. Typically, it is reserved for people you don’t know very well – maybe you met them a few months back on a social occasion – to let them know that you do, indeed, remember them.

So what it means is (and this is really me freestyling it here): I remember meeting you on a previous occasion, and as such introductions are not necessary. Consider yourself greeted.

Neglecting to say takk for sist is not really a social faux pas, but saying it is a nice thing to do. If someone says it to you, you should answer likewise, takk for sist, provided of course that you do remember meeting them previously – unless you want to lie about that, in which case we won’t judge.

Harry

Harry, like the name but pronounced in a Norwegian way, is a derogatory term to refer to vulgar/tasteless/common people. In that sense it can be classified as an elitist term.

That being said, some people took ownership of the term and happily refer to themselves as harry. A harrytur is a trip of cross-border shopping to take advantage of – invariably lower – prices in another country (usually Sweden).

Since taste and fashion are subjective and fluid, the definition of what makes you look harry changes over time.

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This one is technically quite easy to translate but we included it because it’s funny. It translates literally as “sausage weave”.

If a politician gives a speech and a bystander comments to you for noe pølsevev, what they are saying is “what bullsh*t”. It falls in a less vulgar range, though, so more appropriate translations might be drivel, nonsense, hogwash, rubbish, baloney or poppycock.

So next time a Norwegian weaves some sausage in your presence, you’ll be able to call them out on it!

Koselig

What better way to end our list than with the word that is the Scandinavian antidote to everything: koselig. It refers to a mood more than to a specific thing.

Koselig can describe a glass of wine by the fireplace, reading a book by candlelight, listening to the wind at a cabin in the woods during a snowstorm, a picnic in the park, a walk in a cobblestone street or an afternoon spent gossipping over coffee with a friend.

Wonder why Scandinavian countries so often top the rankings for “happy” countries? A big part of the answer is this concept of koselig.

Being an adjective, koselig has a noun, kos, that roughly refers to enjoying the moment, and, more broadly, taking the necessary steps to enjoy the moment.

Are you aware of any untranslatable words that we left out from our list? Which ones of our list do you think we should adopt in English? Let us know in the comments!

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The B1/B2 level Norwegian exam requires high level skills, so even though it can feel daunting, preparation is necessary for success.

As an additional language instructor, I have taught how to write good texts, as well as read and reviewed a steady stream of classroom mock exam texts. Here are my tips on how to prepare for the B1/B2 Norwegian exam, and do well on test day.

Plan for time to prepare

If at all possible, plan time to prepare well. The test evaluates language skills and not factual knowledge – but show me the person who can write well, in a foreign language, about an unfamiliar topic!

Read more: How to Learn Norwegian

Spending some time reading up on factual information and paying attention to Norwegian news/media and public debate before the test is time well spent.

You can read up on factual information on , free and available online in several languages you may read more efficiently than Norwegian.

Dagsrevyen, Debatt, Politisk kvarter and newspapers are great places to stay on top of Norwegian public debates in Norwegian.

Revise all grammar

Verb conjugation, noun-adjective agreement, the V2 rule, pronouns, punctuation, prepositions, compound words, subordinate clause syntax… Now is a good time to repeat what you learned as a beginner, as well as what you’ve covered more recently, as an intermediate Norwegian learner.

If you are not enrolled in classes and don’t have textbooks available, there are resources available online and textbooks at local libraries.

Remember, a good command of grammar means you’re able to produce more complex, varied, and fluent language.

Vocabulary and idiomatic expressions

A varied vocabulary is essential for fluency, and if you’re ready for the B1/B2 test, your vocabulary is probably great already. Knowledge of idiomatic language is important for fluency.

I’m not asking you to type ‘funny Norwegian idioms’ into Google. That’s not super interesting for you, and probably won’t help you write a great text anyway. By idiomatic expressions, I mean the way fluent speakers express themselves.

For example – på stående fot kommer jeg ikke på noen eksempler (Top of my head, I can’t think of any examples). The language school Lingu has a great covering this topic – listen to it!

You can also try to make note of—perhaps even make an actual list of—how Norwegians express themselves by reading and listening to varied material.

Just one last thing; if you’re not sure you understand the meaning of an expression, don’t use it. Nobody expects your text to be absolutely perfect, but errors should not lead to misunderstandings.

Before you start writing….

…make sure you understand the question! If you are not sure what the question means, you can’t answer it. If in doubt, ask. That’s okay. Once you’ve understood the question, make sure you answer it in your text.

Understand the structure

Understanding how to structure your text is key. Linguistic fluency is mastering grammar and vocabulary, but it’s also mastering communicative convention.

You’re evaluated on how easy your text is to follow and how clear it is – to write a clear text, you need to understand the structural principles it builds on.

The B1/B2 exam has two questions for you to produce written replies to. The first question is asking you to express your opinion, often in email format. It is often formulated as a complaint related to a practical issue.

The second question is a more academic, argumentative text. Here, you’ll likely be asked to ‘diskutere/drøfte’—discuss—a topic.

Expressing your opinion – keep it short!

Here is an example from (my translation) of what question number one might look like:

1. The bus company responsible for bus routes in your residential area has suggested reducing the number of daily buses. This will cause problems for you and your neighbors. Write an email to the bus company and explain why it is important that the bus routes remain unchanged.

The word count is a minimum of 80 words; this is not a lot. I have seen several examples of long and wordy ‘emails’ to solve a simple problem, from students thinking that a long text gives them a chance to show their language skills.

Remember – more is not necessarily better! Norwegian communication norms are relatively concise and being able to ‘get to the point’ quickly in formal emails is considered a good thing. Some instructors advise 80-100 words, others up to 150; let’s just say not too long.

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

• You want to address your recipient; dear bus company or dear Kolombus (the bus company in Stavanger) could work here. You could also say ‘to’ instead of ‘dear’. There is no standard Norwegian equivalent to ‘I hope/trust this (e-mail) finds you well’. If this was a real life email your subject line should also clearly and concisely indicate the email topic.
• Introduction: Tell them who you are, and what the problem is. You can lean on the assignment text.
• Main part: Elaborate on why this is a problem. Here is a good place to use a couple of sentence starters, for example for det første, for det andre, dessuten, i tillegg (firstly, secondly, furthermore, additionally). You could also use upgraders to say that this makes everyday logistics svært utfordrende (very challenging), for example. Stick to the case at hand, don’t ramble. No need to use emojis, and if you use exclamation marks, one is plenty – some might even say one is one too many.
• What would you like them to do? Can you suggest a solution? Perhaps wrap up with a short call to action?
• Sign off: For example Med hilsen / Med vennlig hilsen (with regards / with kind regards) + your name. Signatures are often shortened to mvh, which I think you should avoid in your exam text.

The argumentative text

Your second assignment is an argumentative text. Let’s repeat: this should be well structured, easy to read/follow and with good flow (did anyone hear the hint to use connecting words?) When your reader is finished, they should not ask themselves ‘what did the candidate actually argue?’

You’ll be given two questions. Choose one. Your word count is ‘approximately 250-350 words’. You’ll likely be asked to present the case, and argue your, or a, position.

You are not evaluated on your opinions or factual knowledge, but on your linguistic abilities; but I repeat my opening statement – arguing something you know nothing about is challenging. Read up in preparation.

On a general note, this is a formal text and your language should reflect that. Rather than ‘I feel that….’ you might say ‘many share the opinion that…’, ‘a commonly shared view is that….’ or ‘recent research indicates that…’.

You are arguing a case. Rhetorically, that means you can lean on experts, research, facts/statistics or parallel examples if you think it is appropriate.

Underlying structural framework

There are two ideas you might want to familiarize yourself with to understand how an argumentative text is structured: the five-point essay, and Hegel’s dialectic model.

Both share a structural introduction, main body of pro and con arguments, and closure.

Introduction

The introduction should be a general informative paragraph about the topic at hand. Perhaps it has been widely discussed in the media over the last few months, or hotly debated in parenting communities? Maybe it is especially relevant given the upcoming elections?

Either way – contextualize your topic, and state the position you will argue. This does not have to be your personal opinion.

The five-point essay

The five-point essay’s main body will have three paragraphs; argument 1 (supporting your position), argument 2 (on the other hand), and argument 3 (back to supporting your position). You could add subheadings to each argument for clarity, and argument 1 should be your strongest argument.

You’ll need to ‘bulk out’ your arguments with a supporting paragraph. There is nothing to stop you from adding more arguments making 5 points or 7, except time and your word count.

I’d say it’s better to write an excellent text with three arguments than a half-done 7-argument text with too many grammar mistakes but that’s just me.

Hegel’s model

is ‘a dialectic method of historical and philosophical progress that postulates (1) a beginning proposition called a thesis, (2) a negation of that thesis called the antithesis, and (3) a synthesis whereby the two conflicting ideas are reconciled to form a new proposition.‘

We still have an introduction and the main body of pro and con arguments, but there is the addition of a ‘compromising’ argument, the synthesis. Writing a text using this structure often means you argue the synthesis.

Here is a copy of Can you make out a structural framework to answer the following questions?

2A: Should children’s use of social media be restricted? (my translation): several social media apps have age limits in place, but not all. Online bullying is an issue in today’s society, but at the same time, some fear that children who are not on social media will be excluded from social interaction.

2B: Should schools remove homework? (my translation): Many people argue that homework does nothing but contribute to increased differences between weak and strong students. Some say that covering the curriculum may pose a challenge if homework is removed from schools, while others suggest we keep the homework but task schools with offering homework help for the weakest student.

Practice. Team up. Review.

Acing the B2 written exam is challenging, as is preparing for it. Schedule your time and make sure you are able to review your knowledge and practice your writing skills.

If at all possible, team up with a peer and/or an instructor for feedback and editing suggestions. Test day should not be the first B2 level text you write!

On exam day, bring a watch and keep track of time. You’ll want to leave enough time to read through your own text, making sure it is well structured, easy to follow and free from mistakes that could be avoided.

You know: punctuation, capital letters, compound words written as one rather than two words, verb forms, definite and indefinite noun forms and so on.

You spent all that time revising, don’t mess up the small stuff. And again: make sure you’ve answered the question.

Best of luck, you’ve got this!

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

Here are a few links to help you on your way:

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