Vehicles

1. bil

   Car

   Usage

   The general word. "Jeg kjører bil" — I'm driving. Most new cars sold in Norway are electric, and "ladestasjon" charging points are everywhere

2. buss

   City bus

   Usage

   The city bus. A stop is a "bussholdeplass". In Oslo you buy through the Ruter app — buying on board costs more

3. ekspressbuss

   Long-distance coach

   Usage

   The intercity coach. For the fjord towns the railway never reached, it is often the only land connection there is

4. tog

   Train

   Usage

   Trains in general; a platform is a "spor" or "plattform". The Bergensbanen from Oslo and the Flåmsbana branch are famous scenic lines

5. T-bane

   Metro / Underground

   Usage

   Oslo only, signed with a circled "T". Only the centre is underground — the outer lines run in daylight, and line 1 ends at Frognerseteren, a forest trailhead for skiing and hiking. Same form as in the Basic Nouns category

   Grammar Note

   Formally "Tunnelbanen", but everyone says T-bane

6. trikk

   Tram

   Usage

   Oslo and Trondheim have them, and Trondheim's Gråkallbanen is the northernmost tramway in the world. Tickets are shared with the metro and buses

   Grammar Note

   Thought to come from English "electric". The formal word is "sporvogn"

7. Flytoget

   Flytoget (airport express)

   Usage

   The dedicated 20-minute link between Oslo Airport and the central station. Fast but pricey — the ordinary Vy trains use the same tracks, cost less and take only a few minutes longer

8. Ruter

   Ruter (Oslo public transport)

   Usage

   The operator behind Oslo's metro, buses, trams and ferries — one ticket covers all of them, including the boats out to the islands. The app is called Ruter too

9. Vy

   Vy (Norwegian railways)

   Usage

   Runs the national long-distance trains and many coaches. It was renamed from NSB in 2019, so older signs still say NSB. The cheapest fares are the advance "minipris" tickets

10. taxi

    Taxi

    Usage

    The formal word is "drosje", which is what you see on signs and in regulations. Norwegian taxis are among the most expensive anywhere, so consider public transport for any distance

11. motorsykkel

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    Abbreviated "MC". A spring-to-autumn vehicle only. Mountain passes like Trollstigen are a riders' pilgrimage

12. moped

    Moped

    Usage

    Legal from 16 with a class AM licence, and how rural teenagers get around

13. sykkel

    Bicycle

    Usage

    Oslo has the "Oslo bysykkel" share scheme. The city is hilly, so electric "elsykkel" bikes are very common

14. elsparkesykkel

    E-scooter

    Usage

    App-rented and common in the cities. Oslo restricts night-time hire and sets a helmet rule and a minimum age; riding on pavements and dumping them anywhere is enforced against

15. fly

    Aeroplane

    Usage

    An airport is a "flyplass". The terrain makes roads so indirect that Norwegians fly domestically far more than most Europeans. Spelled like the verb "å fly", to fly

16. båt

    Boat

    Usage

    Boats generally; a large ship is a "skip". An indispensable word for fjord travel

17. ferje

    Ferry

    Usage

    The car ferries that cross the fjords are part of the road network — drive the west coast and you will board several. Payment is by number-plate recognition through an "AutoPASS ferjekort" and billed later. Also spelled "ferge"

18. hurtigbåt

    Express passenger boat

    Usage

    A passenger-only fast boat that takes no cars — the way to reach fjord towns and islands from Bergen. Do not confuse it with the "ferje" when buying a ticket

19. Hurtigruten

    Hurtigruten (coastal steamer)

    Usage

    The scheduled coastal service calling at 34 ports from Bergen up to Kirkenes, about six days one way. It began as a mail and freight run, still serves local communities, and has become a famous voyage in its own right. You can ride just one leg

20. ambulanse

    Ambulance

    Usage

    Norway splits its emergency numbers: 113 for medical, 112 for police, 110 for fire. On the coast and in the mountains the "luftambulanse" helicopter comes instead. Use it with "Ring ambulansen!" from the Health & Hospital category

21. leiebil

    Rental car

    Usage

    In winter the tyres must suit the road conditions, so winter tyres are the norm.Toll rings and tunnels charge automatically by number plate and the rental firm bills you later. Mountain roads close in winter, so check before setting off

22. lastebil

    Lorry / Truck

    Usage

    On the narrow fjord roads the rule is to wait in a "møteplass" passing bay and let the lorry through

23. bobil

    Motorhome

    Usage

    A towed caravan is a "campingvogn". Norway's right to roam covers tents but not sleeping in a vehicle, so use marked "bobilparkering" spots

24. snøscooter

    Snowmobile

    Usage

    The winter workhorse of the north and of Svalbard. On the mainland private recreational riding is tightly restricted for conservation reasons, so visitors ride with a tour

25. skiheis

    Ski lift

    Usage

    For the slopes at Trysil or Hemsedal. A lift pass is a "heiskort", and a cable car is a "gondolbane"

26. hundeslede

    Dog sled

    Usage

    A Tromsø and Finnmark winter activity — "jeg vil kjøre hundeslede" means I'd like to go dog sledding. The Finnmarksløpet is Europe's longest sled-dog race

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