vann
Water
Usage
The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "vannet"; the same word also means "lake"
mat
Food
Usage
The general word when you are looking for something to eat
Grammar Note
Masculine, definite "maten"; uncountable
penger
Money
Usage
Comes up when paying or changing currency
Grammar Note
Always plural; definite "pengene"
toalett
Toilet
Usage
The word alone is enough to ask for directions
Grammar Note
Neuter: definite "toalettet", plural "toaletter"
papirlommetørkle
Tissue
Usage
For asking at a shop or a diner
Grammar Note
Neuter compound of "papir" (paper), "lomme" (pocket) and "tørkle" (cloth)
medisin
Medicine
Usage
The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom
Grammar Note
Masculine, definite "medisinen"; a pharmacy is "et apotek"
bagasje
Luggage
Usage
For checking in, picking up, or storing bags
Grammar Note
Masculine and uncountable, definite "bagasjen"; a suitcase is "en koffert"
nøkkel
Key
Usage
For collecting or returning it at hotel reception
Grammar Note
Masculine: definite "nøkkelen", plural "nøkler"
billett
Ticket
Usage
The base word for transport and admission tickets
Grammar Note
Masculine: definite "billetten", plural "billetter"
pass
Passport
Usage
Comes up at every check-in and border control
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "passet"; identical in the plural
telefon
Phone
Usage
Refers to the device and to making a call
Grammar Note
Masculine, definite "telefonen"; a mobile is "en mobil"
lader
Charger
Usage
When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café
Grammar Note
Masculine, definite "laderen"; from "lade" (to charge)
stasjon
Station
Usage
The easiest landmark to name when asking directions
Grammar Note
Masculine, definite "stasjonen"; a railway station is "jernbanestasjon"
sykehus
Hospital
Usage
The first word you need if you fall ill
Grammar Note
Neuter compound of "syk" (ill) and "hus" (house); definite "sykehuset"
politi
Police
Usage
For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "politiet"; an individual officer is "en politibetjent"
butikk
Shop
Usage
The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things
Grammar Note
Masculine: definite "butikken", plural "butikker"
rom
Room
Usage
For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "rommet"; identical in the plural
vei
Road
Usage
Used when asking directions, often over a map
Grammar Note
Masculine, definite "veien"; a town street is "en gate"
familie
Family
Usage
Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with
Grammar Note
Masculine; definite "familien"
navn
Name
Usage
For confirming a booking or introducing yourself
Grammar Note
Neuter, definite "navnet"; surname "etternavn", first name "fornavn"
hode
Head
Usage
For pointing at where it hurts; a headache is "hodepine"
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, definite "hodet" (the d is silent)
øye
Eye
Usage
Point at your own eye when something is wrong with it
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, definite "øyet", plural "øyne"
tann
Tooth
Usage
For toothache; a dentist is a "tannlege"
Grammar Note
Historically feminine: "tanna" is valid, but "tannen" dominates in writing. Plural "tenner"
hals
Throat
Usage
For a sore throat; the back of the neck is a different word, "nakke"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "halsen"; a sore throat is "vondt i halsen"
mage
Stomach / belly
Usage
Point at your own belly when it hurts
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "magen"; a stomach ache is "vondt i magen"
rygg
Back
Usage
For back pain; the lower back is separately "korsrygg"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "ryggen"
korsrygg
Lower back
Usage
For lower-back pain; a sudden lumbago is called "hekseskudd"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "korsryggen"; Norwegian has no single word covering the Japanese "koshi", and "korsrygg" (lumbar region) is the closest
fot
Foot
Usage
The foot below the ankle; the leg as a whole is a different word, "bein" — point at the spot to disambiguate
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "foten", plural "føtter"
hånd
Hand
Usage
For an injured or painful hand; the arm is a different word, "arm"
Grammar Note
Historically feminine: "hånda" is valid, but "hånden" dominates in writing. Plural "hender"
brystkasse
Chest
Usage
For chest pain or tightness; chest pain is "brystsmerter"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun. Bare "bryst" can also mean a breast, so this card uses the ribcage word instead
hotell
Hotel
Usage
For naming your destination in a taxi or asking directions
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, definite "hotellet"; stress falls on the last syllable
flyplass
Airport
Usage
Point to this to say you are heading to the airport; Oslo's is "Gardermoen" (OSL)
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "flyplassen"; official signage often uses "lufthavn" instead
bussholdeplass
Bus stop
Usage
Point to this when asking where the bus stop is
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "bussholdeplassen"; often shortened to "holdeplass" in speech
T-bane
Metro / subway
Usage
The Oslo metro, signed with a blue "T"; a tram is a "trikk" and a suburban train is a "tog"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "T-banen"; short for "tunnelbane". Oslo is the only Norwegian city with a metro
ambassade
Embassy
Usage
Point to this when you need your own country's embassy, e.g. after losing a passport
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "ambassaden"; a consulate is a "konsulat"
minibank
ATM / cash machine
Usage
Point to this when asking where to withdraw cash; Norway is nearly cashless, so machines are sparse
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "minibanken"; "ATM" is understood, but signs read "Minibank"
vekslingskontor
Currency exchange office
Usage
Point to this when looking for a bureau de change; outside airports and big cities there are almost none
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, definite "vekslingskontoret"; the verb "to exchange money" is "å veksle"
myntvaskeri
Laundrette
Usage
Point to this when looking for a self-service laundry; they are rare in Norway, usually card-operated, and also signed "selvbetjent vaskeri"
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, definite "myntvaskeriet"; the name says "coin", though many places no longer take coins
brannbil
Fire engine
Usage
Point to this to say a fire engine is needed; the Norwegian fire service is called on 110
Grammar Note
A masculine noun: definite "brannbilen", plural "brannbiler", compounding "brann" (fire) and "bil" (car). The fire brigade is "brannvesenet"
konsulat
Consulate
Usage
Point to this when you need your country's mission outside the capital; the embassy is a different place, "ambassade"
Grammar Note
A neuter noun: definite "konsulatet", plural unchanged; a consulate-general is a "generalkonsulat". The same word also names the consulship of ancient Rome, but in modern use it means the consular office
More Norwegian phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
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- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
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- Directions
- Money & Exchange
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- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
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- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
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- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
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- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
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- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences