Feelings

1. Jeg er glad

   I'm glad

   Usage

   The everyday way to express gladness. With the preposition "i" it becomes "jeg er glad i deg" — a warm "I love you" for family and friends, used far more widely than the romantic "jeg elsker deg"

2. Jeg er lykkelig

   I'm happy

   Usage

   Deeper and more lasting than "glad" — save it for the big things and use "glad" for everyday pleasure

3. Så gøy!

   How fun!

   Usage

   The standard reaction to news or an invitation — it covers both "that sounds fun" and "good for you", and works with anyone

4. Jeg gleder meg

   I'm looking forward to it

   Usage

   A characteristically Norwegian reflexive — literally "I gladden myself". Extremely common as a reply to any plan, with "til" marking what you await: "jeg gleder meg til i morgen"

5. Jeg er stolt

   I'm proud

   Usage

   "Jeg er stolt av deg" — I'm proud of you — takes the preposition "av". Norwegians are sparing about praising themselves, a legacy of the Janteloven mindset

6. For en lettelse

   What a relief

   Usage

   For the moment a worry resolves — your lost bag turns up, the test comes back clear

7. Jeg elsker deg

   I love you

   Usage

   Strong and romantic, not said lightly. For family and friends Norwegian uses "jeg er glad i deg" instead — the distinction matters

8. Jeg liker det

   I like it

   Usage

   Works for food, clothes, places, anything. The social-media "like" is the same verb

9. Jeg savner deg

   I miss you

   Usage

   For someone close. It works for places and things too: "jeg savner Norge" — I miss Norway

10. Jeg er lei meg

    I'm sad

    Usage

    Norwegian expresses sadness with this reflexive form, and "jeg er lei meg for det" doubles as an apology. Careful: "lei av" with the preposition means fed up with something, which is a different feeling entirely

11. Så synd

    What a shame

    Usage

    The response to a cancelled plan or bad news — sympathetic, and safe with anyone

12. Jeg er skuffet

    I'm disappointed

    Usage

    Strong enough for a complaint but quieter than anger — and in Norway that lands better than raising your voice

13. Jeg føler meg ensom

    I feel lonely

    Usage

    "Føle seg" is the reflexive "to feel". The northern polar night, "mørketid", is a common subject when this comes up

14. Jeg er sint

    I'm angry

    Usage

    Direct and strong. Do not carry it into Swedish, where "angry" is "arg". Norwegians avoid open displays of anger in public

15. Jeg er irritert

    I'm annoyed

    Usage

    Milder than "sint". Add "over" for the cause: "irritert over det"

16. Jeg er redd

    I'm scared

    Usage

    Name what frightens you with "for": "redd for hunder" — afraid of dogs. Also usable when you need help urgently

17. Jeg ble overrasket

    I was surprised

    Usage

    Works for good and bad surprises alike. "Så overraskende!" is the exclamation form

18. Jeg er bekymret

    I'm worried

    Usage

    Takes "for" for the object of the worry: "jeg er bekymret for bagasjen min" works at an airport

19. Jeg er stresset

    I'm stressed

    Usage

    Also the way to say you are in a hurry — a tight connection, for instance. Colloquially "stressa"

20. Jeg skammer meg

    I'm ashamed

    Usage

    Real shame at your own mistake — for mere embarrassment use "flau"

21. Jeg blir flau

    I get embarrassed

    Usage

    The blush when someone compliments you — much lighter than "skamme seg" and said with a smile

22. Jeg kjeder meg

    I'm bored

    Usage

    The reflexive verb "kjede seg". If a thing is boring, use "kjedelig": "filmen var kjedelig"

23. Jeg er trøtt

    I'm tired

    Usage

    Covers both tiredness and sleepiness. Note the spelling differs from Swedish "trött"

24. Jeg er søvnig

    I'm sleepy

    Usage

    Sleepiness specifically — handy when the midnight sun or the polar night has wrecked your body clock

25. Jeg har det bra

    I'm doing well

    Usage

    The standard answer to "hvordan har du det?". Its opposite, "jeg føler meg ikke bra" in the Health & Hospital category, is what you say at a clinic

26. Jeg er nervøs

    I'm nervous

    Usage

    Before an interview or a presentation — and saying it at the dentist or a clinic will get you a gentler pace

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