Norwegian
Southwest Norway and Northern Norway,
Norway
Word USED Frequently BY dialect speakers
Slippery ice on the ground that's hidden under a thin layer of loose snow so you can't see it.
"Vær forsiktig når du går, det er blindhålke"
"Be careful when you walk, there is blindhålke"
Submitted October 2024 by anonymous
Word USED On Rare Occasion BY Older people, adults
(noun) • A child who is the youngest of their siblings and born many years later. There might be an 8 year gap between the "attpåklatt" and their siblings
"Søstera mi er ni år yngre enn meg" "Så hun er en attpåklatt da"
"My sister is nine years younger than me" "So, she's an attpåklatt then"
Submitted January 2021 by anonymous
Slang USED On Occasion BY Some People, adults
A word used to refer to when Norwegians travel to Sweden, mainly to buy cheaper food and alcohol.
"Skal vi dra på harrytur?" "Ja, vi kan dra til helga."
"Could we to on a harrytur?" "Yes, we can go this weekend."
Word USED Frequently BY Everyone
(adjective) • A word used in Rogaland meaning something 'fun' or 'funny'.
"Me hadde det ganske løye i går."
"We had quite a lot of fun yesterday."
Submitted November 2020 by stinekristin
Word USED On Rare Occasion BY Older Generations
(noun) • An old fashioned, archaic word meaning 'money'. Used by older people or by younger people ironically.
"Et øyeblikk, så skal jeg se om jeg har noen grunker til deg."
"One moment, let me see if I got some money for you."
Submitted November 2020 by stinekristin
Name USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
The national personification of Norwegians, used the refer to Norwegians collectively or as a whole. Often meaning the average Norwegian, or Norwegians in general.
"Ola Nordmann elsker fjell og fjord."
"Ola Nordmann loves the mountains and the fjords."
Submitted November 2020 by stinekristin
Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(talking about the sun) • Used when what or whom one is talking about suddenly and unexpectedly appears while one is talking about it or them. The Norwegian equivalent of 'speak of the devil'. One can say either 'snakker om sola (speak of the sun)' or the full 'snakker om sola, så skinner den (speak of the sun and it'll shine)', although the latter is more rare.
"Snakker om sola, der er den jo!"
"Speak of the sun, there it is!"
Submitted November 2020 by stinekristin
Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People
(Just blueberries) • Something that is easy to do or nothing to worry about.
"Det er bare blåbær."
"It’s just blueberries."
Submitted November 2020 by anonymous
Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People
(n.) • (kind-ism / nice-ism) • Excessive, misplaced understanding, consideration or indulgence (especially practiced by authorities towards social clients). A misunderstood kindness that involves being overly understanding and accommodating, often for fear of making unpopular decisions or offending someone.
"Partilederen mener snillismen hos de andre partiene er skyld i tilstanden."
"The leader of the party believes that the nice-ism of the other parties are to blame for the situation."
Expression USED Very frequently BY Everyone
Unpaid, voluntary, community work, often of a practical nature where several people (neighbours, friends, members of an association or union) go together to work. Examples can be spring cleaning in the neighbourhood, construction of a local playground, selling waffles at a sporting event, or helping friends to paint walls in their new apartment. Dugnads are important to Norwegian culture and not participating is heavily frowned upon.
"Blir du med på dugnaden i morgen?"
"Are you coming to the dugnad tomorrow?"
Word USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(noun) • Time period of 24 hours, or one whole day and one whole night.
"Katten min har ikke vært hjemme på snart fire døgn."
"My cat hasn't been home in almost four days."
Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People
(you great alpaca) • Used jokingly to express either surprise, shock, horror, or fright.
"Du store alpakka! Har lyset gått?"
"You great alpaca! Did the lights go out?"
hæla i taket og tenna i tapeten
Expression USED On Occasion BY Older Generations
(heels on the ceiling and teeth in the wallpaper) • Expressing that something takes place in a lively mood, a great atmosphere, or at full speed; for instance a lively party that can seem a bit wild.
"Kom og bli med på festen! Her er det hæla i taket og tenna i tapeten!"
"Come join the party! It's wild!"
Submitted August 2020 by stinekristin
Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone
((completely) Texas) • A wild, chaotic place, event, or situation.
"Var du på sluttsalget i går?" "Ja og der skal jeg si deg det var helt texas!"
"Were you at the final sale yesterday?" "Yes, and let me tell you it was completely Texas down there!"
Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People
(n.) • (lucky pig) • A very lucky person.
"Fikk du ny PC til bursdagen din? Heldiggris!"
"Did you get a new computer for your birthday? You lucky pig !"
Expression USED On Occasion BY Older Generations
(n.) • (pig's luck) • Having great luck or being unrealistically lucky.
"Jammen bra du ikke skadet deg mer. Snakk om griseflaks!"
"A good thing you didn't hurt yourself more. Talk about pig's luck!"
Name USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(n.) • Someone who has bad taste, is uneducated, provincial, unsophisticated, but also unpretentious and down to earth. Caravan holidays, tracksuits, and cross-border shopping are typical characteristics. The term “Harry-handel” means shopping across the border in Sweden, usually for cheap alcohol, tobacco, sweets, and meat.
"Det er Harry å røyke."
"Smoking is Harry."
Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People
(tiger city) • A nickname for the city of Oslo. In his poem 'Sidste sang' (Last Song), poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson wrote about a fight between a horse and a tiger, where the horse represented the countryside, and the tiger represented Oslo. It was meant as a condescending metaphor for the city being dangerous, depleting, and hostile place, but today the name is often used positively.
"Ser ut som om det blir fint vær i Tigerstaden i dag."
"Looks like the weather will be nice in the capital today."
Interjection USED Very frequently BY Everyone
'Oi' or 'åj' is exclamation expressing surprise both negative and positive. Can be used as an equivalent to 'oops' or 'wow'.
"Oi, så fint det var her!" "Oi, jeg har mistet mobilen!"
"Wow, this is place is nice!" "Oops, I lost my phone!"