50 Survival Phrases for Your First Week in Norway
50 essential phrases organized by situation. Bookmark this page.
Tip: Norwegians appreciate any effort to speak Norwegian. Even saying "Takk" and "Hei" will get you smiles. Do not worry about perfect pronunciation — just try.
Greetings & Basics
Hei!
Hi!
/hay/
Any casual greetingGod morgen!
Good morning!
/goo MOR-en/
Before noonHa det!
Bye!
/ha deh/
Casual goodbyeTakk!
Thanks!
/takk/
Always — Norwegians say it constantlyTusen takk!
Thank you so much!
/TOO-sen takk/
When genuinely gratefulUnnskyld!
Excuse me! / Sorry!
/UN-shyl/
Getting attention or apologizingJa / Nei
Yes / No
/yah / nay/
Basic answers to any questionAt the Store
Har dere...?
Do you have...?
/har DEH-reh/
Asking if a store carries somethingHvor finner jeg...?
Where can I find...?
/voor FIN-ner yay/
Looking for a product in a storeHva koster det?
How much does it cost?
/vah KOS-ter deh/
Asking the price of an itemKan jeg betale med kort?
Can I pay by card?
/kan yay beh-TAH-leh meh koort/
Most places accept card but good to confirmJeg trenger en pose.
I need a bag.
/yay TRENG-er en POO-seh/
Bags cost extra in Norway — you must askKvittering, takk.
Receipt, please.
/kvit-TEH-ring, takk/
When you want proof of purchaseAt the Doctor
Jeg har vondt i...
I have pain in...
/yay har vont ee/
Describing where it hurts (add body part)Jeg trenger en resept.
I need a prescription.
/yay TRENG-er en reh-SEPT/
Requesting medication from the doctorJeg er allergisk mot...
I am allergic to...
/yay air al-ER-gisk moot/
Informing about allergiesKan jeg få en sykmelding?
Can I get a sick note?
/kan yay faw en SYYK-mel-ding/
When you need documentation for your employerJeg har time klokken...
I have an appointment at...
/yay har TEE-meh KLOK-ken/
Checking in at a clinicHvor er nærmeste apotek?
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
/voor air NAIR-mes-teh ah-po-TEHK/
Finding a pharmacy for medicationEmergency
Ring 113!
Call 113! (ambulance)
/ring ETT-EN-TREH/
Medical emergency — 113 is the ambulance numberRing 110!
Call 110! (fire)
/ring ETT-EN-NULL/
Fire emergencyRing 112!
Call 112! (police)
/ring ETT-EN-TOO/
Police emergencyJeg trenger hjelp!
I need help!
/yay TRENG-er yelp/
Any emergency or urgent situationDet brenner!
There's a fire!
/deh BREN-ner/
Alerting others about a fireRing en ambulanse!
Call an ambulance!
/ring en am-boo-LAN-seh/
When someone is seriously hurt or illAsking for Help
Snakker du engelsk?
Do you speak English?
/SNAK-ker doo ENG-elsk/
When you need to switch to EnglishKan du gjenta?
Can you repeat that?
/kan doo YEN-tah/
When you did not catch what was saidKan du snakke saktere?
Can you speak more slowly?
/kan doo SNAK-keh SAK-teh-reh/
When someone speaks too fastHva betyr det?
What does that mean?
/vah beh-TEER deh/
When you hear an unfamiliar wordHvor er...?
Where is...?
/voor air/
Asking for directions to a placeJeg forstår ikke.
I don't understand.
/yay for-STOR ik-keh/
When you are completely lost in conversationJeg lærer norsk.
I am learning Norwegian.
/yay LAIR-er norsk/
Explaining why your Norwegian is limited — gets smilesAt Work
God morgen, alle sammen!
Good morning, everyone!
/goo MOR-en, AH-leh SAM-men/
Greeting colleagues in the morningJeg er ny her.
I am new here.
/yay air nyy hair/
Introducing yourself at a new workplaceKan du vise meg?
Can you show me?
/kan doo VEE-seh may/
Asking a colleague to demonstrate somethingNår er lunsj?
When is lunch?
/nor air loonsh/
Finding out the lunch scheduleJeg har et spørsmål.
I have a question.
/yay har et SPURS-mawl/
Before asking your manager or colleague somethingGod helg!
Have a good weekend!
/goo helg/
Saying goodbye on Friday — very commonSocial & Neighbors
Takk for maten!
Thanks for the food!
/takk for MAH-ten/
ESSENTIAL after any dinner — always say this to the hostTakk for sist!
Thanks for last time!
/takk for sist/
Greeting someone you recently spent time withHyggelig å møte deg!
Nice to meet you!
/HYG-geh-lee aw MUH-teh day/
When introduced to someone newVil du ha en kopp kaffe?
Would you like a cup of coffee?
/vil doo ha en kop KAF-feh/
Offering coffee — the Norwegian way to socializeVelkommen!
Welcome!
/vel-KOM-men/
Welcoming someone to your homeSkål!
Cheers!
/skawl/
Toasting with drinks — maintain eye contactOn the Phone
Hallo?
Hello?
/hah-LOO/
Answering the phoneHvem ringer jeg til?
Who am I speaking to?
/vem RING-er yay til/
Confirming you reached the right person or officeKan du gjenta det?
Can you repeat that?
/kan doo YEN-tah deh/
When you did not hear clearly on the phoneJeg ringer tilbake.
I will call back.
/yay RING-er til-BAH-keh/
When you need to end the call and try again laterMitt navn er...
My name is...
/mit navn air/
Identifying yourself when calling an officeKan jeg legge igjen en beskjed?
Can I leave a message?
/kan yay LEG-geh ee-YEN en beh-SHEHD/
When the person you called is unavailableAbout pronunciation
The pronunciation guides use approximate English sounds. Norwegian has some sounds that do not exist in English, especially the "y" sound (like German u) and the rolling "r". Listen to native speakers whenever possible. The guides here will get you close enough to be understood.