Norsk språk

I see many learners looking for Duolingo alternatives and realized I haven’t shared any new resources in a bit! So here are my personal favorite Norwegian learning resources that are completely free!

NTNU’s NoW (Norwegian on the Web) — Online independent learning course developed by a Norwegian university that progresses from beginner to intermediate level. Includes reading, audio, practice exercises, and grammar! [A1-B1 level]

Norskappen (App store link) — Fantastic vocab practice with real human spoken audio! There is also preposition practice, article gender practice, and verb practice. The app’s creator actively listens to and incorporates user feedback (link to Reddit post by creator asking for feedback). [A1-B1 level]

Norsklærer Karense on Youtube — Grammar and vocabulary videos produced by a Norwegian language teacher. Lots of in-depth explanations of grammar with examples, differences between similar words, and advice and information about taking the Norskprøven (Norway’s official language test). [A1-B2+ level]

If you are aiming to take the Norskprøven at B2 level, your best resources are often going to be the ones not designated as a “course” — reading articles on NRK or Store norske leksikon, watching Norwegian news/debate shows and podcasts (since B2 level involves being able to reason and defend an opinion) like Debatten or Dagsnytt 18, and lastly, producing your own language in written or spoken format. For that last one it helps to find a tutor who can practice with you and correct your writing, but besides that you can really come a long way for free!

øyne i nakken - eyes in the neck

eyes in the back of your head

This is an expression to indicate that someone is very alert and attentive, they know everything that happens, even when it seems impossible. The only way they could have known is if they had eyes in their neck. 

armer og bein - arms and legs

Det ble bare armer og bein. It’s just arms and legs.

Det ble mye armer og bein. It’s a lot of arms and legs.

øyne på stilk - eyes on a stalk

As a metaphor having eyes on a stalk is a sign of extreme curiosity, usually with a touch of astonishment. One is staring intensely at something, more than would be expected.

Ein bekanntestes Beispiel davon ist øl (Bier) ≠ Öl (olje)

Ich habe hier 15 interessante Wörter bzw. Wortpaare gesammelt, die auf den ersten Blick lumske likheter (”heimtückische Ähnlichkeiten”) aufweisen, in ihren jeweiligen Bedeutungen aber (manchmal mehr, manchmal weniger) fern voneinander liegen. 

no Wort (Bedeutung dt) ≠ dt falscher Freund (Bedeutung no)

Hier haben wir es mit dem Gesicht zu tun…

ansikt (Gesicht) ≠ Ansicht (meining, oppfatning) 

bakke (Hügel, Boden) ≠ Bakke (kinn)

kinn (Backe) ≠ Kinn (hake) 

…und hier mit dem Familienstand:

gift (verheiratet) ≠ Gift (gift) 

ledig (frei, unbesetzt) ≠ ledig (ugift) 

Diese norwegische Verben bringen mich manchmal durcheinander. Ja okay, das Letzte nicht wirklich 😅

å beklage (bedauern) ≠ beklagen (å klage)

å besnakke (überreden) ≠ besprechen (å drøfte)

å leie (mieten) ≠ leihen (å låne)

å springe (laufen, rennen) ≠ springen (å hoppe)

fikk (bekam) ≠ ficken (å knulle) Det fikk meg til å gråte (es brachte mich zum Weinen) hört sich für mich einfach so heftig an!

Und hier noch weitere Beispiele:

enkel (einfach) ≠ Enkel (barnebarn) 

fløte (Sahne) ≠ Flöte (fløyte)

rente (Zins) ≠ Rente (pensjon)

stund (Weile) ≠ Stunde (time)

ordfører (Bürgermeister) ≠ Wortführer, Sprecher (talsmann) 

svært

meget

kjempe-

mye

skikkelig

enormt

ekstremt

masse

virkelig

Yoooo Norwegian Christmas music just feels so right so here are my favourite Christmas songs in Norwegian

Alt jeg ønsker meg - Marcus og Martinus

Under treet - Morgan Sulele

Da vet du at det er jul - Ylvis

Jul i svingen - Ingebjørg Bratland

Når vi er sammen - Olaf’s Frozen Adventure

Hey ho - Freddy Kalas

O helga natt - Sissel Kyrkjebø

norsk (bokmål) | español | english

~*~

hode (n) | cabeza (f) | head

ansikt (n) | cara (f) | face

hår (n) | pelo (m) | hair

panne (m/f) | frente (f) | forehead

øye (n) | ojo (m) | eye

øyenbryn (n) | ceja (f) | eyebrow

øyenvippe (m) | pestaña (f) | eyelash

øyelokk (n) | párpado (m) | eyelid

nese (m/f) | nariz (f) | nose

nesebor (n) | fosa nasal (f) | nostril

munn (m) | boca (f) | mouth

leppe (m/f) | labio (m) | lip

tunge (m/f) | lengua (f) | tongue

tann (m) | diente (m) | tooth

øre (n) | oreja (f) | ear

kinn (n) | mejilla (f) | cheek

hake (m/f) | barbilla (f) | chin

nakke (m) | cuello (m) | neck

hals (m) | garganta (f) | throat

kjeve (m) | mandíbula (f) | jaw

bart (m) | bigote (m) | moustache

skjegg (n) | barba (f) | beard

~*~

stund, m. f.

n. while; moment

declension

“For en stund siden.” “A while ago.”

“I en liten stund trodde jeg at du elsket meg.” “For a little while I believed that you loved me.”

“I stunder som dette nyter jeg livet.” “In moments like these I enjoy life.”

Norwegian

here is the text for you to translate:

remember, the rules are:

Try to translate the passage as best as you can without help.

For any words you don’t know, learn the definition and part of speech.

Use the words in a sentence, if you can, for practice.

Have fun !!

*Wortspiel: skinner (å skinne) = (sie) funkeln/glänzen o. (es) funkelt/glänzt; skinner (ei skinne) = Schienen

**Ich glaube, dass eigentlich das Geräusch beschrieben wird, das eine Dampflok macht, aber da fällt mir kein gutes Wort auf Deutsch ein. Wörtlich: Bin ein Zug, der töff macht.

Gloser (inkl. ord som jeg forstå men ikke kunne ha brukt aktivt)

å hive (hivde/heiv/hev, hivd) - schmeißen, werfen

støvete - verstaub, staubig

et støv - Staub

et garn - Garn

et nøste - Knäuel

en strikkepinne - Stricknadel

en/ei maske - Masche

å krype (krøyp/krøp, krøpet) - kriechen

å klirre (klirret/klirra) - klirren

et skudd - Schuss

å skylle (skyllet el. skylte, skylt) - spülen

en spring - Wasserrohr mit Wasserhahn

på kryss og tvers - kreuz und quer

en/ei skinne - Schiene

en øyekrok, i øyekroken - Augenwinkel, im Augenwinkel

et glimt - Blitz, kurzer Blick

å gre (gredde, gredd) - kämmen

en nakke - Nacken

en klut - Lappen

en vaskeklut - Waschlappen

Norwegian

here is the text for you to translate:

remember, the rules are:

Try to translate the passage as best as you can without help.

For any words you don’t know, learn the definition and part of speech.

Use the words in a sentence, if you can, for practice.

Have fun !!

Ik ga naar mijn kamer. Hiver me op het bed. De lucht is warm en støvete. Strekker me naar/achter een gele garnnøste en twee strikkepinner die op het dekbed liggen. Ik begin het masker op te doen. Het gekende garnet sakte krype tussen mijn vingers. De pinnen klirrer. Beneden hoor ik dat papa de tv heeft opgezet. Dat een vrouw schreeuwt, så een pistoolschot, mysterieuze muziek. Ik gooi strikketøyet van me weg op de vloer, stap in het bad. Skyller mijn gezicht onder de douchekop, pusser tennene. Ik kijk in de veggen naast de spiegel. Zwart marmer met witte stier. På kryss en tvers. Skinner. Volg een van hen met mijn blik, het is een trein die tøffer, sporer niet af/weg van. In mijn ooghoek kan ik een glimp van mijn paarse pyjama in de spiegel zien, mezelf. Mijn gezicht. Ik ben vier, misschien vijf jaar. Papa staat achter me, kamt mijn haar met de borstel, wast mijn nakken met een klut. En de trein rijdt, toet, toet, helemaal tot op het dak, helemaal tot skinnene stoppen en alles wit is.

Hive – gooien, smijten Støvete – stoffig Strekke – uitrekken Garnnøste – bol wol Strikkepinne – breinaald Maske – steek Garn – garen Sakte – langzaamaan Krype – kruipen Klirre – tingelen, rinkelen Så – dan Strikketøy – breiwerk Skylle – spoelen Pusse – poetsen Tenne – tand Vegge – muur Sti – pad, weg Kryss – kruis Tvers – doorheen, dwars door Skinne – rail Tøffe – roken Spore – spoor Nakke – nek Klut – washandje

Police officer Salmander (“Salamander without the a”, Zahid Ali) from Oslo and his police horse Gunnar. After the dead of his horse Gunnar, Salmander is banished to the Northern Norvegian village of Hellfjord.

In beautiful but mysterious Hellfjord he is welcomed by the vulgar and eccentric sheriff Kobba, and meets the dim-witted journalist Johanne who suspects that something lies beneath the surface in the village. There are murders and suspects - it’s a very specific kind of humor and I don’t know much people who like Hellfjorden - but I thinks this series is really underrated - the Norvegians have a lot of humor. But they are so few!

So having to clear up that whole thing, I made a list of some of my favourite Norwegian words and expressions based on fruits and vegetables that might not translate well in English!

Du er litt potet, du - You’re a bit of a potato: Compliment, meaning you can do a bit of everything. Like the potato, you’re versatile.

Din løk - You onion: Insult, meaning someone is a bit dim. Like the onion, if you peel it all away there’ll be nothing there.

Det er bare blåbær - It’s just blueberries: Expression, meaning something is simple, or something is only a minor issue.

Bite i det sure eplet - Take a bite of the sour apple: Expression, meaning having to do or accept something you don’t want to or like.

Borte som ei sviske - Gone like a prune: Expression, meaning something has completely disappeared.

Dra dit pepper’n gror - Go where the pepper grows. Insult, meaning ‘go to hell’.

Fotsopp - Mushroom foot: Medical condition, meaning athlete’s foot.

Eplekjekk - Apple handsome: Expression, meaning someone who is being cocky.

Ferskenhud - Peach skin: Compliment, meaning soft, nice skin.

Få mye pepper - Get a lot of pepper: Expression, meaning getting a lot of criticism/being reprimanded.

Høy på pæra - High on pears: Expression, meaning someone who is arrogant (head gets so big it looks like a pear)

Som plommen i egget - Like the yolk in the egg. Expression, meaning someone is perfectly relaxed and comfortable.

Nappe seg i løken - Yank the onion: Expression, meaning a man who masturbates.

Smårips - Little redcurrant: Expression, meaning young girls. Often in connection with an older person taking a romantic/sexual interest in someone significantly younger and/or underage.

Sur som en sitron - Sour like a lemon: Expression, meaning someone is angry.

Tråkke i salaten - Step in the salad: Expression, meaning having done something inappropriate or something foolish.

Tyttebærpoliti - The lingonberry police: Expression with a negative connotation, meaning a security guard. Originated with the private security firm Securitas because of the logo.

Være på bærtur - To be picking berries: Expression, meaning someone is completely lost/wrong.

Slippe en bønne - Release a bean: Expression, meaning someone farted.

Det er sikkert og visst (That’s for sure and certain/You can say that again!)

A joke to illustrate

Mannen til fabrikkarbeideren: - Har det å jobbe på sjokoladefabrikken påvirket deg på noen måte?

- Japp, Japp, det skal være Snickers og Twist! (Jepp, jepp, det skal være sikkert og visst!)

English translation:

The man to the factory worker: - Has working in the chocolate factory affected you in any way?