Norwegian Language Essentials Cheatsheet | Cheat Sheets Hero

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Foreign Languages / Norwegian

March 03, 2025 00:26

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norwegian

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Basic Grammar

Nouns (Substantiv)

Gender	Norwegian nouns have three genders: masculine (maskulin), feminine (feminin), and neuter (intetkjønn). In Bokmål, masculine and feminine genders are often merged into a common gender (felleskjønn).
Articles	Definite articles are suffixes attached to the noun (e.g., `huset` - the house). Indefinite articles precede the noun (e.g., `et hus` - a house).
Singular Definite	Masculine: `-en` (e.g., `bilen` - the car) Feminine: `-a` (e.g., `boka` - the book, Bokmål can use `-en`) Neuter: `-et` (e.g., `huset` - the house)
Singular Indefinite	Masculine: `en` (e.g., `en bil` - a car) Feminine: `ei/en` (e.g., `ei bok` - a book, `en bok` also correct in Bokmål) Neuter: `et` (e.g., `et hus` - a house)
Plural Definite	`-ene` (e.g., `bilene` - the cars, `bøkene` - the books, `husene` - the houses)
Plural Indefinite	Usually `-er` or `-r` (e.g., `biler` - cars, `bøker` - books, `hus` - houses)

Verbs (Verb)

Infinitive	Verbs in the infinitive form usually start with `å` (to) (e.g., `å snakke` - to speak).
Present Tense	Often formed by adding `-r` to the infinitive stem (e.g., `snakker` - speaks, is speaking).
Past Tense	Regular verbs often add `-et`, `-te`, `-de` to the stem (e.g., `snakket` - spoke).
Future Tense	`skal` + infinitive (e.g., `Jeg skal snakke` - I will speak).
Perfect Tense	`har` + past participle (e.g., `Jeg har snakket` - I have spoken).
Passive Voice	Often formed by adding `-s` (e.g., `snakkes` - is spoken).

Adjectives (Adjektiv)

Agreement	Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
Masculine/Feminine Singular	Basic form (e.g., `en stor bil` - a big car, `ei stor bok` - a big book).
Neuter Singular	Add `-t` (e.g., `et stort hus` - a big house).
Plural	Add `-e` (e.g., `store biler` - big cars).
Definite Form	Add `-e` (e.g., `den store bilen` - the big car).

Essential Phrases

Greetings and Introductions

Hello	`Hallo`
Good morning	`God morgen`
Good day/Good afternoon	`God dag`
Good evening	`God kveld`
Good night	`God natt`
Goodbye	`Ha det` (short), `Farvel` (formal)
My name is…	`Jeg heter...`
What is your name?	`Hva heter du?`

Basic Communication

Yes	`Ja`
No	`Nei`
Please	`Vær så snill`
Thank you	`Takk`
You’re welcome	`Værsågod`
Excuse me	`Unnskyld`
I don’t understand	`Jeg forstår ikke`
Do you speak English?	`Snakker du engelsk?`

Essential Questions

How are you?	`Hvordan har du det?`
I’m fine, thank you	`Jeg har det bra, takk`
Where is…?	`Hvor er...?`
How much does it cost?	`Hvor mye koster det?`
What time is it?	`Hvor mye er klokken?`
Can you help me?	`Kan du hjelpe meg?`

Vocabulary

Basic Words

Man	`Mann`
Woman	`Kvinne`
Child	`Barn`
House	`Hus`
Car	`Bil`
Food	`Mat`
Water	`Vann`
Day	`Dag`
Night	`Natt`

Common Verbs

To be	`Å være`
To have	`Å ha`
To do	`Å gjøre`
To say	`Å si`
To go	`Å gå`
To know	`Å vite` / `Å kjenne`
To think	`Å tenke`
To see	`Å se`
To come	`Å komme`

Numbers

One	`En/Ett`
Two	`To`
Three	`Tre`
Four	`Fire`
Five	`Fem`
Six	`Seks`
Seven	`Sju/Syv`
Eight	`Åtte`
Nine	`Ni`
Ten	`Ti`

Pronunciation Guide

Vowels

`a`	Similar to ‘a’ in ‘father’.
`e`	Similar to ‘e’ in ‘bed’.
`i`	Similar to ‘ee’ in ‘see’.
`o`	Similar to ‘o’ in ‘note’.
`u`	Similar to ‘oo’ in ‘moon’.
`y`	Similar to the French ‘u’ or German ‘ü’.
`æ`	Similar to ‘a’ in ‘cat’.
`ø`	Similar to the German ‘ö’.
`å`	Similar to ‘aw’ in ‘paw’.

Consonants

`kj` and `skj`	Pronounced like the ‘sh’ in ‘ship’.
`rs`	Often pronounced as a single sound, similar to a retroflex ‘s’.
`rd`, `rl`, `rn`, `rt`	Retroflex consonants, where the tongue curls back slightly.
`g`	Hard ‘g’ as in ‘go’ before `a`, `o`, `u`. Soft ‘g’ as in ‘yes’ before `i`, `y`, `ei`, `øy` and at the end of words.

Stress

Stress is usually on the first syllable of a word.