Translate English to Norwegian
Norwegian is spoken by about 5.4 million people in Norway. The country is known for its oil industry, seafood exports, fjord tourism, and consistently high quality of life rankings. Whether you are corresponding with a business partner in Oslo, reading a job listing from Stavanger, or preparing for a hiking trip along the western coast, paste your English text above.
Common English to Norwegian translations
| English | Norwegian | Pronunciation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hei | hay | ||
| Good morning | God morgen | goo MOR-en | ||
| Thank you | Takk | tahk | ||
| Please | Vær så snill | vehr saw snil | ||
| How much is this? | Hvor mye koster dette? | vor MOO-eh KOS-ter DEH-teh | ||
| Where is the bathroom? | Hvor er toalettet? | vor ehr too-ah-LET-eh | ||
| I do not understand | Jeg forstår ikke | yay for-STOR ik-keh | ||
| Can you help me? | Kan du hjelpe meg? | kan doo YEL-peh may | ||
| I would like coffee | Jeg vil gjerne ha en kaffe | yay vil YEHR-neh hah en KAH-feh | ||
| The bill, please | Regningen, takk | RAY-ning-en tahk | ||
| Nice to meet you | Hyggelig å møte deg | HOO-geh-lee aw MUH-teh day | ||
| Goodbye | Ha det | hah deh | ||
| I need a doctor | Jeg trenger en lege | yay TRENG-er en LEH-geh | ||
| Excuse me | Unnskyld | OON-shoold |
Tips for English to Norwegian translation
Norwegian has two official written forms: Bokmål (based on Danish literary tradition) and Nynorsk (based on rural Norwegian dialects). Bokmål is used by about 85% of the population and is the default output of most translators, including this one. If your recipient uses Nynorsk, some words and verb forms will need to be adjusted manually.
Norwegian word order follows the V2 rule: the conjugated verb must be the second element in a main clause. “Yesterday I went to the store” becomes I går gikk jeg til butikken (yesterday went I to the store). The subject-verb inversion after a fronted adverb is mandatory and one of the most common errors for English speakers writing Norwegian.
Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish form a dialect continuum. Written Norwegian Bokmål and written Danish are so similar that speakers of one can usually read the other with minimal difficulty. Swedish is slightly further apart but still largely intelligible in writing. This closeness means a Norwegian translation can serve as a reasonable starting point for Scandinavian communication.
The Norwegian letters æ, ø, and å are not optional decorations. They are distinct letters that come at the end of the alphabet, after Z. Være (to be), øl (beer), and år (year) each depend on these characters for correct spelling and pronunciation. Ensure your text preserves them when copying.
About the Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language descended from Old Norse, the language of the Vikings. It sits between Danish and Swedish in the Scandinavian language continuum and is mutually intelligible with both to a significant degree. Norway became independent from Sweden in 1905, and the language question (Bokmål vs. Nynorsk) has been a lively cultural debate ever since.
Norway has one of the highest GDP per capita figures in the world, driven by its petroleum sector, shipping industry, and seafood exports. Norwegian is the working language of major companies like Equinor, DNB, and Telenor. The country also has a strong literary tradition: three Norwegian authors have won the Nobel Prize in Literature (Bjornson, Hamsun, and most recently Jon Fosse in 2023).
Frequently asked questions
Yes. No registration, no fees, unlimited use.
The translator outputs Bokmål, used by about 85% of Norwegians. Nynorsk would need manual adjustment.
Yes. Click the speaker icon next to any phrase.
Very similar in writing. Spoken Norwegian and Swedish are largely mutually intelligible, though with noticeable differences in pronunciation and some vocabulary.
Good for everyday use. For contracts, official correspondence, or marketing, use a professional.
Three Norwegian vowels at the end of the alphabet. They represent distinct sounds and are required for correct spelling.
Visit our Norwegian to English page.
Yes. Nothing stored or shared.
It can process Nynorsk text but outputs Bokmål by default.
Over 60 pairs including Danish, Swedish, Finnish, German, and many more.
Need the reverse? Try Norwegian to English translation.
