Basic Norwegian phrases for everyday life and travel

To introduce yourself, say Jeg heter plus your name (literally “I am called”), then add where you are from with Jeg kommer fra…. Norwegian has no separate “-ing” form, so “I’m learning Norwegian” is simply Jeg lærer norsk.

• Hei, jeg heter Emma.

  Hi, my name is Emma.

• Jeg kommer fra England / USA / Irland.

  I’m from England / the USA / Ireland.

• Jeg bor i Bergen.

  I live in Bergen.

• Jeg jobber som sykepleier.

  I work as a nurse.

• Jeg lærer norsk.

  I’m learning Norwegian.

• Hva heter du?

  What’s your name?

• Hvor kommer du fra?

  Where are you from?

• Hyggelig å treffe deg!

  Nice to meet you!

For your first hello and goodbye, see these Norwegian greetings.

“I don’t understand” is Jeg forstår ikke and “do you speak English?” is Snakker du engelsk?. Norwegian has no “do” for questions and negatives: you just put ikke (“not”) after the verb, or start the question with the verb.

• Jeg forstår ikke.

  I don’t understand.

  “ikke” sounds roughly like “icker”.

• Unnskyld, hva sa du?

  Sorry, what did you say?

• Kan du si det en gang til?

  Could you say that again?

• Kan du snakke litt saktere?

  Could you speak a bit more slowly?

• Snakker du engelsk?

  Do you speak English?

• Jeg snakker bare litt norsk.

  I only speak a little Norwegian.

• Hva betyr det?

  What does that mean?

• Hvordan sier man «fork» på norsk?

  How do you say “fork” in Norwegian?

The essentials are Hvor mye koster det? (“how much is it?”) and Kan jeg få…? (“can I have…?”). At the till you will almost always be asked whether you want a bag (pose) or a receipt (kvittering).

• Hvor mye koster det?

  How much is it?

• Kan jeg få denne?

  Can I have this one?

• Jeg vil gjerne ha to boller.

  I’d like two buns, please.

• Har dere melk uten laktose?

  Do you have lactose-free milk?

• Jeg bare ser meg rundt.

  I’m just looking.

• Kan jeg betale med kort?

  Can I pay by card?

• Vil du ha pose? – Nei takk.

  Would you like a bag? – No, thanks.

To follow prices, brush up on Norwegian numbers.

Order with Jeg tar… (“I’ll have…”) or Kan jeg få…?, and ask for the bill with Kan vi få regningen?. In many Norwegian cafés you order and pay at the counter, so don’t wait for table service.

• Et bord til to, takk.

  A table for two, please.

• Kan jeg få menyen?

  Could I have the menu?

• Jeg tar en kaffe og en vaffel.

  I’ll have a coffee and a waffle.

• Kan jeg få et glass vann?

  Could I have a glass of water?

• Jeg er allergisk mot nøtter.

  I’m allergic to nuts.

• Kan vi få regningen?

  Could we have the bill?

• Kan vi betale hver for oss?

  Can we pay separately?

• Skål!

  Cheers!

  When raising a glass.

Start with Unnskyld, hvor er…? (“excuse me, where is…?”). The answers you will hear most are til høyre (right), til venstre (left) and rett fram (straight on; also spelt rett frem).

• Unnskyld, hvor er toalettet?

  Excuse me, where is the toilet?

• Hvordan kommer jeg til sentrum?

  How do I get to the city centre?

• Er det langt herfra?

  Is it far from here?

• Hvilken buss går til flyplassen?

  Which bus goes to the airport?

• Hvor er nærmeste apotek?

  Where is the nearest chemist’s?

• Det er rett rundt hjørnet.

  It’s just round the corner.

Shout Hjelp! (“help!”) and call the right emergency number: Norway has three separate ones, not a single 999 or 911. If it is not life-threatening but you need a doctor out of hours, go to the legevakt (out-of-hours GP service).

• 110: fire (brann).
• 112: police (politi).
• 113: ambulance and medical emergencies (ambulanse).
• 116 117: legevakt, for urgent but non-critical health problems.

• Hjelp! Ring 113!

  Help! Call 113!

• Jeg trenger en lege.

  I need a doctor.

• Jeg har vondt i brystet.

  I have chest pain.

• Det har skjedd en ulykke.

  There has been an accident.

• Jeg har mistet passet mitt.

  I’ve lost my passport.

• Hvor er legevakten?

  Where is the legevakt?