Language Cheat Sheet: Norwegian

Posted by Lisa Sabol-Sikorski Dec 3, 2006

While most Norwegians in urban and tourist areas speak English, it is always helpful and courteous to be able to speak a few words in Norwegian. At a minimum, I always try to learn how to say hello and thank you wherever I go, no matter how difficult or obscure the language might be. Print this cheat sheet and put it in your travel bag on your next trip to Norway. It is less bulky than your guidebook and you never know when it might come in handy.

Norwegian belongs to the North (Scandinavian) group of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family. It is closely related to Swedish and Danish. In Norway, there are two official languages: Bokmål and Nynorsk. This cheat sheet is for Bokmål, since this is the Norwegian which most travelers will encounter.

GREETINGS and CONVERSATION

English - Norwegian (pronunciation)

• Hello - Goddog
• Goodbye - Ha det
• Yes - Ja (yah)
• No - Nei
• Please -Vær så snill (Vahr saw snill)
• That’s fine/You’re welcome - Ingen årsak
• Excuse me/Sorry - Unnskyld
• Do you speak English? - Snakker du engelsk?
• What’s your name? - Hva heter du?
• My name is…- Jeg heter…

SHOPPING and SERVICES

English - Norwegian

• bank - banken
• chemist/pharmacy - apotek
• newsagent - kiosk
• market - torget

TRANSPORTATION

English - Norwegian

• boat - båten
• ferry terminal - ferjeleiet
• city bus - bussen
• intercity bus - linjebussen
• bus stop - bussholdenplass
• train - toget
• train station - jernbanestasjon
• tram - trikken
• tram stop - trikkholdenplass
• one way ticket - enkeltbillett
• return ticket - tur-retur
• timetable - ruteplan

EMERGENCIES

English - Norwegian

• Help! - Hjelp!
• Call a doctor! - Ring en lege!
• Call the police! - Ring politiet!
• Go away! - Forsvinn!
• I’m lost. - Jeg jar gått meg vill.

SIGNS

English - Norwegian

• Entrance - Inngang
• Exit - Utgang
• Open - Opiö
• Closed - Stengt
• Prohibited - Forbudt
• Information - Opplysninger
• Police Station - Politistasjon
• Toilets -Toaletter
• Men - Herrer
• Women - Damer

For seafood menu translations, visit the Nordic Fish Guide. For basic phrases in other Nordic languages, visit the Danish or Finnish language cheat sheets.

English to Norwegian translations taken from Lonely Planet Scandinavia, 7th Edition.