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Norwegian Translations

Norwegian is a North Germanic language of the West Scandinavian branch, existing in two distinct and rival norms—Bokmål and Nynorsk. Today, all Norwegians learn to read and write New Norwegian, but only about 20 percent use it as their primary written language. It has been cultivated by many excellent authors and has a quality of poetic earthiness that appeals even to nonusers. Norwegian, as a North Germanic language, is related to English, but has a much smaller vocabulary. That being said, there are still many words and expressions you'll come across when learning Norwegian that are not directly translatable. In this article, we will explore the Norwegian language and translations, including some untranslatable Norwegian words, translation services, and frequently asked questions.

History

Norwegian belongs to the northern branch of Germanic language along with Swedish, Danish, Icelandic, and Faroese. From the 16th to the 19th century, Danish was the written language of Norway, and Norwegian writers wrote in Danish. In the 19th century, there was a movement to create a distinct Norwegian language, and linguist Ivar Aasen created a new written language based on rural dialects. Today, all Norwegians learn to read and write New Norwegian, but only about 20 percent use it as their primary written language. Its norm has changed considerably since Aasen’s time in the direction of spoken East Norwegian or written Dano-Norwegian. In its current form, Dano-Norwegian is the predominant language of Norway’s population of more than 4.6 million, except in western Norway and among the Sami minority in the north.

Untranslatable Norwegian Words

Norwegian is a language that is full of words that are hard to explain in English. Some Norwegian words are untranslatable – to English, that is. This list presents to you the best examples of such words that we could find. Here are some examples:

Koselig: This word is often translated as "cozy," but it has a deeper meaning in Norwegian. It's a feeling of warmth, comfort, and contentment that comes from being in a pleasant environment or spending time with loved ones.
Utepils: This word refers to the first beer of the year that you drink outside in the sun. It's a quintessential Norwegian experience that doesn't have a direct translation in English.
Pålegg: This word refers to the toppings you put on bread, such as cheese, ham, or jam. It's a word that is unique to Norwegian and doesn't have a direct equivalent in English.

Idiomatic USA has over 25 years of experience in providing translations from Norwegian to English, and English to Norwegian. Our Norwegian and English translators are all native speakers, and understand the complexities of the Norwegian language.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Norwegian a difficult language to learn?

Norwegian is considered to be one of the easier languages for English speakers to learn. It has a similar grammar structure to English and shares many cognates with English words.

What is the difference between Bokmål and Nynorsk?

Bokmål is the more widely used of the two written standards in Norway and is based on the language spoken in and around Oslo. Nynorsk is based on the language spoken in rural areas of western and central Norway.

Can untranslatable Norwegian words be translated?

While some Norwegian words may not have a direct equivalent in English, they can still be translated by choosing a different word that conveys a similar meaning.

What is a sworn translation?

A sworn translation is an official document translation service that is performed by a translator who has been authorized by a government agency to provide certified translations.