Learning the most common Norwegian words is the fastest way to start understanding and speaking Norwegian. These 50 common Norwegian words appear constantly in everyday conversation – master them and you’ll understand a huge portion of what you read and hear!
Why Learn Common Norwegian Words First?
Research shows that the 100 most common Norwegian words make up about 50% of all written text. By learning these 50 essential words, you’re building a foundation that will help you:
- Understand basic sentences
- Start forming your own sentences
- Recognize patterns in Norwegian grammar
- Build confidence quickly
The 50 Most Common Norwegian Words
Pronouns & Basic Common Norwegian Words (1-15)
| Norwegian | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| jeg | I | Jeg er her (I am here) |
| du | you | Hva heter du? (What’s your name?) |
| han | he | Han er norsk (He is Norwegian) |
| vi | we | Vi snakker norsk (We speak Norwegian) |
| de | they | De kommer i dag (They’re coming today) |
| den | it | Den er stor (It is big) |
| dette | this | Dette er bra (This is good) |
| hans | his | Hans bil (His car) |
| deres | their | Deres hus (Their house) |
| hva | what | Hva er det? (What is that?) |
| hvem | who | Hvem er du? (Who are you?) |
| hvordan | how | Hvordan går det? (How are you?) |
| noen | some | Noen mennesker (Some people) |
| hver | each | Hver dag (Each day) |
| andre | other | Andre steder (Other places) |
Common Norwegian Words: Verbs (16-30)
| Norwegian | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| er | is/am/are | Jeg er glad (I am happy) |
| var | was | Det var bra (It was good) |
| har | have/has | Jeg har tid (I have time) |
| hadde | had | Vi hadde det bra (We had a good time) |
| være | be | Å være eller ikke være (To be or not to be) |
| kan | can | Jeg kan norsk (I can speak Norwegian) |
| skal | shall/will | Vi skal reise (We will travel) |
| vil | will/want | Jeg vil lære (I want to learn) |
| blir | become | Det blir bra (It will be good) |
| gjøre | do | Hva skal vi gjøre? (What shall we do?) |
| får | get/receive | Jeg får hjelp (I get help) |
| sa | said | Han sa ja (He said yes) |
| sier | say | Hva sier du? (What do you say?) |
| fortelle | tell | Kan du fortelle meg? (Can you tell me?) |
| sett | set/seen | Har du sett? (Have you seen?) |
Common Norwegian Words: Connectors (31-45)
| Norwegian | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| og | and | Kaffe og te (Coffee and tea) |
| men | but | Liten men sterk (Small but strong) |
| eller | or | Ja eller nei (Yes or no) |
| som | as/that/which | Stor som et hus (Big as a house) |
| at | that | Jeg tror at… (I think that…) |
| hvis | if | Hvis du vil (If you want) |
| for | for | For deg (For you) |
| fra | from | Fra Norge (From Norway) |
| til | to | Til Oslo (To Oslo) |
| på | on | På bordet (On the table) |
| med | with | Med meg (With me) |
| av | of | En kopp av kaffe (A cup of coffee) |
| ut | out | Gå ut (Go out) |
| etter | after/by | Etter middag (After dinner) |
| en/ett | a/one | En bok, ett eple (A book, an apple) |
Essential Common Norwegian Words (46-50)
| Norwegian | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| tid | time | Jeg har ikke tid (I don’t have time) |
| tre | three | Tre personer (Three people) |
| luft | air | Frisk luft (Fresh air) |
| ja | yes | Ja, takk! (Yes, please!) |
| nei | no | Nei, takk (No, thank you) |
Tips for Learning Common Norwegian Words
- Learn in context – Don’t just memorize these common Norwegian words, see how they’re used in sentences
- Practice daily – Even 10 minutes a day builds strong memory
- Use flashcards – Spaced repetition helps long-term retention
- Play word games – Crosswords and puzzles make learning common Norwegian words fun
Practice These Common Norwegian Words Now!
Ready to test your knowledge of these common Norwegian words? Play NorskKryss – a free Norwegian crossword game that helps you practice vocabulary in a fun, interactive way. Start with beginner puzzles using these common Norwegian words!
Download the NorskKryss App to track your progress and practice offline.
Lykke til med norsken! (Good luck with Norwegian!)