Norwegian, a North Germanic language, is spoken primarily in Norway where it has two official written forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk. It is known for its variety of dialects, which can vary significantly across regions. Learning Norwegian opens up the rich cultural and natural beauty of Norway. This lesson covers essential conversational phrases and questions in Norwegian (primarily in Bokmål, which is more widely used) to help navigate various social interactions.

Greetings

• Hello/Hi – “Hei” / “Hallo”
• Good morning – “God morgen”
• Good afternoon – “God ettermiddag”
• Good evening – “God kveld”
• Goodbye – “Ha det” (informal) / “Farvel” (formal)

Introducing Yourself or Others

• My name is [name]. – “Jeg heter [name].”
• This is [name]. – “Dette er [name].”
• I am from [country]. – “Jeg kommer fra [country].”
• I live in [city/place]. – “Jeg bor i [city/place].”

Asking for Directions or People

• Where is the [place]? – “Hvor er [place]?”
• How do I get to [place]? – “Hvordan kommer jeg meg til [place]?”
• Is this the way to [place]? – “Er dette veien til [place]?”
• Can you show me on the map? – “Kan du vise meg på kartet?”

Solving a Misunderstanding

• Sorry, I don’t understand. – “Beklager, jeg forstår ikke.”
• Can you please repeat that? – “Kan du vennligst gjenta det?”
• I mean… – “Jeg mener…”
• What does [word] mean? – “Hva betyr [word]?”

Farewell Expressions

• See you later – “Vi sees senere”
• Take care – “Ta vare på deg selv”
• Have a good day – “Ha en god dag”

Travel and Dining

• I would like to book a room. – “Jeg vil gjerne bestille et rom.”
• Can I see the menu, please? – “Kan jeg se menyen, vær så snill?”
• I am vegetarian. – “Jeg er vegetarianer.”
• The bill, please. – “Regningen, takk.”

Shopping

• How much does this cost? – “Hvor mye koster dette?”
• Do you have this in another size? – “Har du denne i en annen størrelse?”
• I’m just looking, thanks. – “Jeg bare ser, takk.”
• Can I pay by card? – “Kan jeg betale med kort?”

Dating and Love

• You look beautiful. (to a woman) / You look handsome. (to a man) – “Du ser vakker ut.” / “Du ser kjekk ut.”
• I miss you. – “Jeg savner deg.”
• I love you. – “Jeg elsker deg.”
• Would you like to go out with me? – “Vil du gå ut med meg?”

Emergencies

• Help! – “Hjelp!”
• Call the police! – “Ring politiet!”
• I need a doctor. – “Jeg trenger en lege.”
• Where is the nearest hospital? – “Hvor er nærmeste sykehus?”

These phrases offer a solid foundation for basic communication in Norwegian. Practice speaking and listening regularly, engage with Norwegian media, and don’t hesitate to converse with native speakers. Remember, language learning is a journey—embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and continue to explore the rich linguistic and cultural nuances of Norwegian.