Just like in any other society, Norway has people falling in love! Let’s look at some useful phrases to find your special someone.
Terms of Endearment
Here are some useful words to know to properly address someone’s significant other.
First, we’ll learn the difference between these two words:
Kjær (adjective) |
Dear |
Kjære (used as noun) |
Dear, honey |
Adjective: Jeg har deg kjær: I hold you dear
Noun: Jeg holder deg, kjære: I hold you, dear
Now we’ll learn the different types of people we can be close to.
Mora mi |
My mother |
Faren min |
My father |
En venn |
A friend |
Bestevenn |
Best friend |
Min kjære |
My dear |
Kjæreste |
Girlfriend/Boyfriend |
Ei kone |
A wife |
En (ekte)mann |
A husband |
Dama |
The girlfriend (slang) |
Type |
Boyfriend (slang) |
Elskerinne |
Mistress (not BDSM) |
Elsker |
Cheating (male) lover / “Manstress” |
For past relationships, Norwegian uses ‘eks’ like shown below. Usually the word ‘eks’ is used instead of using the full title.
Ekskone |
Ex-wife |
Eksmann |
Ex-husband |
Eksdama |
Ex-girlfriend |
Ekskjæreste |
Ex-girlfriend/-boyfriend/-SO |
Here are some nicknames for your significant others:
Pus/Kosepus |
Little cat |
Nusset |
Little kiss |
Elskling |
Darling |
Elskede |
Beloved one |
Gullet mitt |
My gold |
Skatten min/Skatt |
My treasure |
Adjectives
When describing someone, we use adjectives to explain their characteristics.
Snill |
Kind |
Slem |
Mean |
Ung |
Young |
Gammel |
Old |
Rik |
Rich, wealthy |
Fattig |
Poor |
Smart |
Smart |
Dum |
Dumb/Stupid |
Vennlig |
Friendly |
Stoisk |
Stoic |
Glad |
Happy |
Trist/lei seg |
Sad |
Søt |
Cute |
Rar |
Weird |
Pen |
Pretty |
Ekkel |
Gross |
Vakker |
Beautiful |
Fryktelig |
Atrocious |
Kjekk |
Handsome |
Stygg |
Ugly |
Hot/heit |
Hot |
Frastøtende |
Repulsive |
Deilig |
Delicious/sexy |
Avskyelig |
Disgusting |
Perfekt |
Perfect |
Mangelfull |
Inadequate |
Humoristisk |
Humorous |
Streng |
Strict |
Berømt |
Famous |
Ukjent |
Unknown |
Trygg |
Safe |
Farlig |
Dangerous |
Attraktiv |
Attractive |
Intens |
Intense |
Morsom |
Funny |
Kjedelig |
Boring |
Spesiell |
Special |
Uvanlig |
Unusual, peculiar |
Singel |
Single |
Gift |
Married |
There are some sensitive adjectives for understanding and accepting people’s orientation. The terms ending in -fil are more common and emphasize the romantic (as opposed to sexual) nature of the attraction.
Homoseksuell / homofil |
Homosexual |
Heteroseksuell / heterofil |
Heterosexual |
Aseksuell |
Asexual |
Biseksuell / bifil |
Bisexual |
Nouns
These words ask for a type of affection, explain one’s relationship, and plan for the future.
En kjærlighet |
A love |
En kjærlighetssorg |
A heartbreak |
En forelskelse |
A crush |
Et frieri |
A proposal |
En klem |
A hug |
Et kyss |
A kiss |
En berøring |
A touch |
Et klyp |
A pinch |
Kiling |
Tickling |
En tiltrekning |
An attraction / pull |
En partner |
A partner |
Et forhold |
A relationship |
En samboer |
A cohabitant / live-in partner |
Et samboerskap |
A cohabitation |
En forlovelse |
An engagement |
En skilsmisse |
A divorce |
Et ekteskap |
A marriage |
Et jubileum |
An anniversary |
En graviditet |
A pregnancy |
En fødsel |
A birth |
Prevensjon |
Birth control |
Et kondom |
A condom |
Verbs
Here are some words to explain what you are doing with or to someone.
å møte noen |
To meet someone |
å håndhilse |
To shake hands |
å flørte |
To flirt |
å fornærme |
To insult |
å klemme |
To hug |
å omfavne |
To embrace |
å samtykke |
To consent |
å holde hender |
To hold hands |
å kose |
To cuddle / snuggle |
å kose seg |
To have a good time / make oneself comfy |
å kile |
To tickle |
å røre |
To touch |
å stryke |
To stroke |
å hviske |
To whisper |
å kysse |
To kiss |
å kline |
To make out |
å beføle |
To touch / feel up |
å massere |
To massage |
å ligge med |
To sleep with |
å ha sex / knulle / pule / ha seg |
To have sex |
å lengte etter |
To long for |
å savne noen |
To miss someone |
å overnatte |
To spend the night |
å date / være sammen med |
To date |
å like noen |
To like someone |
å mislike |
To dislike |
å forelske seg |
To fall in love |
å forakte |
To despise |
å elske noen |
To love someone |
å hate |
To hate |
å fri |
To propose |
å slå opp |
To break up |
å forlove seg |
To get engaged |
å avvise |
To reject |
å være samboere |
To cohabitate |
å bli separert / å separere seg |
To separate |
å gifte seg |
To get married |
å skille seg |
To divorce |
å bli gravid |
To get pregnant |
å spontanabortere |
To miscarry a child |
å få barn |
To have children |
å være ufruktbar |
To be infertile |
å føde |
To give birth |
å være steril |
To be sterile / clean |
Note:
å hooke |
To hook up |
In English, the word ‘to hook up’ can have ambiguous meaning, and this follows the same in Norwegian. This verb can mean to make-out, to have sex, or anything in between.
Norwegian affection
In Norway, words for affection are not thrown around casually. Some people may only say the following phrases once or twice in their lifetime.
Jeg liker deg |
I like you |
This is the burgeoning of affection towards someone.
Jeg er glad i deg / Glad i deg |
I love you / I care about you |
Literal translation: I am happy in you
This means more than simply liking someone as it tells you care about them on a deeper level.
This phrase is also used to tell family members you love them.
Jeg elsker deg |
I love you |
This is the ultimate phrase for love in Norwegian. It is something said when someone feels just about ready to marry an individual. Sometimes it is only said once and it’s expected to stand for a lifetime.
It can also be used to tell family members you love them. However, some people feel uncomfortable saying this and will prefer using ‘Jeg er glad i deg’ instead.
Common Phrases
These phrases will be more commonly used than expressing love, but still hold meaning of affection.
Jeg savner deg |
I miss you |
Jeg har savnet deg |
I have missed you |
Jeg lengter etter deg |
I long for you |
Du betyr så mye for meg |
You mean so much to me |
Pick-Up Lines
Here are some simple pick-up lines to help you ease into meeting someone.
Make sure you bring your library card before you check out people. ;)
Jeg er forelsket i deg. |
I’ve got a crush on you. |
Jeg har blitt forelsket i deg |
I have fallen in love with you |
Kan du fortelle meg mer om deg selv? |
Can you tell me more about yourself? |
Er du gift? |
Are you married? |
Kan jeg ringe deg? |
Can I call you? |
Kan jeg kysse deg? |
Can I kiss you? |
Vil du gå ut med meg? |
Do you want to go out with me? |
Kan jeg (få) by deg på en drink? |
Can I get you a drink? |
Er du ledig i morgen kveld? |
Are you free tomorrow evening? |
Vil du bli med meg ut og spise middag? |
Do you want to have dinner with me? |
Kan jeg få telefonnummeret ditt? |
Can I have your phone number? |
Kan jeg få e-postadressen din? |
Can I have your email? |
Vil du være min valentine? |
Will you be my Valentine? |
Jeg ser på deg som mer enn en venn. |
I think of you as more than a friend. |
Du er min sol, min kjærlighet. |
You are my sunshine, my love. |
Vi var ment å være sammen. |
We were meant to be together. |
Hundre hjerter ville være for få til å bære all min kjærlighet for deg. |
A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you. |
Ord kan ikke beskrive min kjærlighet til deg. |
Words can’t describe my love for you. |
A big, big thank you to Arthemax and Henbruas for helping this topic see the light of day. Hannibal Dan, Minmeng, and Myrkvi/Vegard also deserve a round of applause for their assistance.
Resources:
https://www.norwegianclass101.com/norwegian-vocabulary-lists/15-love-phrases-for-valentines-day/
Exercise: Please write a love letter using the vocabulary above. It should be at least five lines.