Norwegian Is Mutually Intelligible with Swedish and Danish
Norwegian belongs to the North Germanic language family along with Swedish and Danish, and speakers of the three languages can often understand a great deal of each other's speech despite using their own language. Short, easy-to-pronounce words like Hei (hello) and Takk (thank you) mean that learning just the basics can go a long way toward starting a conversation.
There Are Two Official Written Standards
Norwegian has two official written standards: BokmΓ₯l, the more widely used form nationwide, and Nynorsk, based on regional dialects. This page uses BokmΓ₯l, the form most common in everyday life. The pronunciation guides here are only approximations, so listening to native audio is the best way to pick up accurate intonation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use "Hei" or "God dag"?
Hei works comfortably in almost any situation at any time of day, while God dag is a slightly more formal option. In everyday conversation, Hei alone is usually enough.
Is Norwegian similar to other Scandinavian languages?
Yes β it is closely related to Swedish and Danish, and the three are largely mutually intelligible in writing and, to a good extent, in speech as well.