Norwegian phrases and idioms for your stay in Norway. | For first contacts in Norway with Norwegians. Easy and free to use. ✓
The following phrases can be found in most Norwegian courses, whether online or in class. Use this clear collection for your next trip to Norway.
The most common Norwegian phrases and idioms
How do I greet someone in Norwegian?
Greet a Norwegian man or woman in Norwegian? It’s quite simple:
Hello – Hei / Hallo
Welcome – Velkommen
Good morning – God morgen
Good day – God dag
Good evening – God kveld / God aften
Nice to see you! – Hyggelig å se deg!
Nice to meet you! – Hyggelig å hilse på deg! / Hyggelig å møte deg.
… you answer:
Thank you, likewise. – Takk, i like måte.
In Norway, people are not as formal Normally, people say “Du” to each other and address their interlocutors by their first names. You (De) is only used when talking to the king or queen. Nevertheless, Norwegians are very polite. For example, one thanks for the last meeting:
Takk for sist! – Thanks for the other day!
or if the reunion is the next day
Takk for i går! – Thanks for yesterday!
Wie geht es meinen Gesprächspartner?
How are you? – Hvordan har du det? / Hvordan går det? / Hvordan står det til?
… you answer:
– Thank you, good. – Takk, bare bra. / Jeg har det bra.
– Thank you, it’s going well. – Takk, det går bra.
– Thanks, not bad. – Takk, ikke så verst.
– Thanks, not so good. – Takk, ikke så bra.
And you? – Og med deg?
How do I say goodbye to someone in Norwegian?
Say goodbye to a Norwegian man or woman in Norwegian? That’s not so difficult:
Bye – Ha det
Make it good! – Ha det bra! / Ha det godt!
Goodbye – På gjensyn / Farvel
Till tomorrow – Vi ses i morgen
See you soon – Vi ses
See you later – Vi ses senere
Good night – God natt
We talk. – Vi snakkes.
Great to have met you! – Hyggelig å bli kjent med deg.
… you answer:
Thank you, likewise. – Takk, i like måte.
Norwegians are also very polite when saying goodbye. Since Norwegians say thank you a lot and often, you should master the following phrases:
Takk for i dag! – Thanks for today!
Takk for besøket! – Thanks for the visit!
Takk for maten! – Thanks for the food!
How do I introduce myself in Norwegian?
When on vacation in Norway, sooner or later you come into contact with Norwegians. Of course, you want to introduce yourself in Norwegian and know who you are talking to.
My name is Tommy. – Jeg heter Tommy.
What is your name? – Hva heter du?
And this is Frode. – Og dette er Frode.
What is your last name? – Hva heter du til etternavn?
What is your first name? – Hva heter du til fornavn?
If you want to tell where you come from, then the following phrases are good to use:
Where are you from? – Hvor kommer du fra?
I come from Oslo. – Jeg kommer fra Oslo.
Are you from Kristiansand? – Er du fra Kristiansand?
No, I come from Bergen. – Nei, jeg kommer fra Bergen.
Great, I also come from Bergen. – Flott, jeg kommer også fra Bergen.
Where do you live? – Hvor bor du?
I live in Larvik. – Jeg bor i Larvik.
Do you live together? – Bor dere sammen?
No, we don’t live together. – Nei, vi bor ikke sammen.
Of course, you can also tell in one sentence what your name is and where you come from.
I come from Kiel, but now I live in Tromsø. – Jeg kommer fra Kiel, men nå bor jeg i Tromsø.
My name is Pia and I am from Oslo. – Jeg heter Pia og kommer fra Oslo.
Are you Danish? – Er du dansk?
No, I am Swedish. – Nei, jeg er svensk.
And you? Are you German? – Og du? Er du tysk?
Yes, I am German. – Ja, jeg er tysk.
When you get stuck with Norwegian, it’s good to know what other languages someone speaks:
Do you speak Norwegian? – Snakker du norsk?
Yes, I speak Norwegian. – Ja, jeg snakker norsk.
Yes, I speak a little Norwegian. – Ja, jeg snakker litt norsk.
No, I don’t speak German. – Nei, jeg snaker ikke tysk.
I speak only English. – Jeg snakker bare engelsk.
I understand a little Norwegian. – Jeg forstår litt norsk.
And while you’re at it, you might as well ask your counterpart about family relationships:
Are you married? – Er dere gift?
Yes, we are married. – Ja, vi er gift.
Do you have children? – Har du barn?
Yes, I have two children. – Ja, jeg har to barn.