Meeting people in Norwegian
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes. Play the ten Norwegian words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Norwegian phrases in this lesson
- Hvordan har du det?VOR-dan hahr doo deh
- How are you?
- Det går bradeh gohr BRAH
- I'm fine, thanks
- Og du?oh DOO
- And you?
- Hva heter du?vah HEH-ter doo
- What's your name?
- Jeg heter...yay HEH-ter
- My name is...
- Hvor kommer du fra?vor KOM-er doo frah
- Where are you from?
- Jeg kommer fra...yay KOM-er frah
- I'm from...
- Jeg liker detyay LEE-ker deh
- I like it
- Det er vakkertdeh air VAHK-ert
- It's beautiful
- Velkommenvel-KOM-en
- Welcome
The full, polite form of asking how someone is. Used when meeting someone you know or in slightly more formal social situations. Expect a brief honest answer, not just a reflex "fine."
The standard positive response. Literally "it goes well." Norwegians tend toward understatement, so this is a genuinely positive reply, not a lukewarm one.
Simple and natural. Always follow up after answering how you are. Reciprocity in small talk is appreciated even in a culture that values brevity.
For the fjords, the obvious comment.