Electronics

1. mobiltelefon

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   In speech it is shortened to "mobil". The "telefon" in the Basic Nouns category is the general word covering landlines too

2. nettbrett

   Tablet

   Usage

   Norwegian coined its own word rather than borrowing "tablet" — literally a "net board", and it is what the shop signs say. Swedish built a different compound, "surfplatta"

3. bærbar PC

   Laptop

   Usage

   Literally "portable PC", though people also just say "laptop". Show it when you want to ask a café for a socket

4. lader

   Charger

   Usage

   "Jeg har glemt laderen min" — I forgot my charger. Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

5. ladekabel

   Charging cable

   Usage

   New devices are almost all USB-C now, so asking for a "USB-C-kabel" works in any shop

6. powerbank

   Power bank

   Usage

   Used as the English word. Essential outdoors in winter and while waiting for the northern lights, when the cold kills a phone battery fast

7. reiseadapter

   Travel adapter

   Usage

   Norway uses the round two-pin Type C / Type F socket, so a Japanese plug will not fit — bring one. The supply is 230 V, so some devices also need a converter

8. stikkontakt

   Power socket

   Usage

   "Hvor er det en stikkontakt?" — where is there a socket? Long-distance trains and most cafés have one at every seat

9. batteri

   Battery

   Usage

   Covers both loose cells and built-in batteries. "Batteriet er tomt" — the battery is dead. Used batteries go in the collection box at the shop

10. wifi

    Wi-Fi

    Usage

    Written in lower case in Norwegian. Free and near-universal — cafés, libraries, coaches, even ferries

11. wifi-passord

    Wi-Fi password

    Usage

    The same word as in "Hva er wifi-passordet?" in the Internet & WiFi category. It is often printed on your receipt

12. SIM-kort

    SIM card

    Usage

    Prepaid ones are called "kontantkort" and are sold at kiosks like Narvesen and in supermarkets. You will be asked for ID

13. eSIM

    Usage

    Activated by QR code with no physical card. "Har dere eSIM?" — do you offer eSIM?

14. minnekort

    Memory card

    Usage

    For buying an SD card for a camera. Saying "SD-kort" works too

15. hodetelefoner

    Headphones

    Usage

    Always plural. In-ear ones are sometimes called "øreplugger". Wireless is "trådløse hodetelefoner"

16. kamera

    Camera

    Usage

    "Kan du ta et bilde?" — could you take a picture? For the northern lights you will need a "stativ", a tripod

17. lommelykt

    Torch / Flashlight

    Usage

    Literally "pocket lamp", and a necessity in the north, where the sun does not rise at all in midwinter. Norwegians more often carry a "hodelykt", a head torch

18. klimaanlegg

    Air conditioning

    Usage

    Many Norwegian homes and hotels simply have none. What they do have is a "varmepumpe" heat pump for heating, which can also cool

19. fjernkontroll

    Remote control

    Usage

    For asking at a hotel when you cannot find the one for the TV or the heating

20. vifte

    Fan

    Usage

    What to ask for in a room with no AC: "Har dere en vifte?". It is also the word for a kitchen extractor fan

21. kjøleskap

    Fridge

    Usage

    Literally "cooling cupboard". Use it when checking whether your accommodation has one. A freezer is a "fryser"

    Grammar Note

    Swedish spells it "kylskåp" and Danish "køleskab" — do not mix them up

22. TV

    Usage

    Pronounced "tay-vay". Norway subtitles foreign programmes rather than dubbing them. The public broadcaster is NRK

23. mikrobølgeovn

    Microwave

    Usage

    Usually shortened to "mikro". "Kan du varme den?" — could you heat this up?

24. vannkoker

    Electric kettle

    Usage

    Literally "water boiler". Norwegian tap water is among the best anywhere and needs no boiling

25. vaskemaskin

    Washing machine

    Usage

    A launderette is a "myntvaskeri", as in the Basic Nouns category, but Norway has very few. Asking "kan jeg vaske klær her?" at your accommodation is usually more realistic

26. hårføner

    Hair dryer

    Usage

    "Har dere en hårføner?" — is there a hair dryer? Japanese models often will not take 230 V, so check before plugging in

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