Norwegian Slang, Insults, and Swears

When learning a new language, it is helpful to learn some of the slang. This will help improve your listening skills, whether you’re having a conversation with a Norwegian or just watching TV or a film in Norwegian, etc. It will also help you sound a bit more natural when you speak the language.

This lesson will cover slang words, insults, and swear words (I know they can overlap).

Salutations

Heisann.
Hallo.
Halla.
Halloen.

Hi.

Alt bra med deg?

Everything good with you?

Mårn.

Morning.

Hva skjer?
Skjer ’a?
Skjer?

What’s up? / What’s happening?

Hva har du drevet med?

What have you been up to?

Er du med?
Er du gira?

Are you up for it? / Are you in?

Ha det (bra).

Bye

Ha det moro!

Have fun! / Enjoy!

Jeg drar.

I’m off. (I’m leaving).

Hils

Regards (e.g. Give my regards to them).

“Er du med” and “Er du gira” are used when you want to ask someone if they want to hang out and / or go do something?

Ex: Jeg vil spille D&D. Er du med? (Er du gira?)

I want to play D&D. Are you up for it? / Are you in?

“Hils” is something you say to someone when you want them to say hi from you

Ex: Person 1: Jeg skal besøke Lucas.

Person 2: Okay, hils.

Person 1: I’m going to visit Lucas.

Person 2: Okay, give him my regards / say hi to him for me.

Expressing that something is great

Sometimes we want to express our appreciation or our enthusiasm for something (or someone) that we think is wonderful.

Slang Meaning Example English

1.

Fantastisk

Fantastic

Filmen var fantastisk!

The film was fantastic!

2.

Alle tiders

Best of times

Det var en alle tiders tur.

It was best trip of all times.

Han var en alle tiders skuespiller.

He was the best actor of all times.

3.

Lættis

Funny

Showet er så lættis

The show is so funny.

4.

Kult / Schpaa / Fett

Cool

Person 1: Jeg fikk det nye videospillet.

Person 2: Kult! / Schpaa! / Fett!

Person 1: I got the new video game!

Person 2: Cool!

5.

Dritkult

Really cool

Person 1: Jeg fikk autografen hans!

Person 2: Dritkult!

Person 1: I got his autograph!

Person 2: That’s really cool!

6.

Adda

So cool!

Person 1: Jeg har billetter til konserten!

Person 2: Adda!

Person 1: I have tickets to the concert!
Person 2: So cool!

7.

Schmø

Fine; nice

Det var schmø.

It was fine / nice.

8.

Sykt (bra)

Very good

Det trikset var helt sykt!

That trick was totally sick / awesome!

9.

Knallbra

Awesome

Festen var knallbra!

The party was awesome!

Expressing that something is bad

Of course, there are times when we really want to express our disappointment or disgust in something (or someone).

Slang Meaning Example English

1.

Klein

To be hungover or embarrassed; or to feel awkward during a conversation

Da han snakket med meg, var det kleint.

When he was talking with me, I was awkward.

Da jeg våknet, var jeg klein.

When I woke up, I was hungover.

2.

Døll

Dull, boring

Festen er så døll.

The party is so boring.

3.

Det var litt på kanten.

Something that crossed the line.

Hans vitsen var litt på kanten.

His joke crossed the line.

4.

God s

Short for “god stemning” (meaning having a good time) but used sarcastically (i.e. not having a good time).

Person 1: Har du det gøy på turen?

Person 2: Med søsknene mine som irriterer meg? Ja, god s.

Person 1: Are you having fun on the trip?

Person 2: With my siblings annoying me? Yeah, good times.

5.

Æsj!

Ew!

Æsj! Orm er ekkelt!

Ew! Worms are disgusting!

6.

Kjipt

Sucks; unfortunate

Person 1: Jeg mislyktes på eksamenen.

Person 2: Det er kjipt.

Person 1: I failed the exam.

Person 2: That sucks.

7.

Fysj

Used to express disgust; gross

Person 1: Han vasket ikke hendene sine etter at han hadde brukt toalettet.

Person 2: Fysj!

Person 1: He didn’t wash his hands after he used the toilet.

Person 2: Gross!

Intensifiers

Sometimes just using an adjective doesn’t fully describe how we feel about something, so Norwegians will use intensifiers to emphasize the adjectives.

Intensifier Example English

1.

Kjempe

Jeg var kjempeglad da jeg møtte Mads.

I was extremely happy when I met Mads.

2.

Veldig

Maten smaker veldig godt!

The food tastes really good!

3.

Super

Person 1: Jeg fikk jobben!
Person 2: Det er super knallbra!

Person 1: I got the job!

Person 2: That is super awesome!

4.

Mega

Han er megadeilig i den nye filmen!

He looks extremely hot in the new film!

5.

Ekstremt

Person 1: Han ble sparket fra jobben sin.
Person 2: Det var ekstremt kjipt.

Person 1: He was fired from his job.
Person 2: That extremely sucks.

6.

Utrolig

Der er utrolig mange kvinner her.

There are a ton of women here.

Note: “Super” can be used on its own to mean “great” or that something is “super” as in English.

Ex: Person 1: Sønnen min har vunnet konkurransen!

Person 2: Det er supert!

Person 1: My son has won the contest!

Person 2: That’s super!

Random Slang & Phrases

Most of the things in this table have a negative connotation while others are more neutral. There are also a few phrases / idioms that, while not technically slang, they are still odd (and make no sense when directly translated), so I thought I would include them. This is not an exhaustive list.

Slang Meaning Example English

1.

Serr

Short for “seriøst,” which means “seriously”

Person 1: Han var utro mot kjæresten sin.

Person 2: Serr?!

Person 1: He cheated on his partner.

Person 2: Seriously?!

2.

Kødder du?

Are you kidding?

Person 1: Vi fikk oss en katt til.

Person 2: Kødder du?

Person 1: We got another cat.

Person 2: Are you kidding me?

3.

Krangle

Arguing / Quarreling

Erik og Lukas krangler igjen.

Erik and Lukas are quarreling again.

4.

Å hooke

Hooking up (kissing; making out)

De hooka på festen i går.

They were making out at the party yesterday.

5.

Å shippe

To ship two people (i.e. you want them in a relationship)

Alle vet at jeg shipper Hannibal og Will.

Everyone knows I ship Hannibal and Will.

6.

Å tæsje / bøffe

To steal

Tæsja / Bøffa du det?

Did you steal it?

7.

Drøy(t)

Too much information; or have a tendency to engage in TMI or take things too far.

Du er drøy.

You are giving too much info.

Det var drøyt.

That was too much info.

8.

Brisen

Tipsy

Hun var brisen etter festen.

She was tipsy after the party.

9.

Null komma nix

Something that was done quickly; it was done in no time.

Jeg gikk banken og var ferdig på null komma nix.

I went to the bank and was done in no time.

10.

Hold kjeft!

Hold smella!

Shut up!

Hold kjeft! Jeg kan ikke høre filmen!

Shut up! I cannot hear the movie!

11.

Heldiggris (en)

Someone who is lucky

Person 1: Jeg vant noen kunstverk.

Person 2: Heldiggris!

Person 1: I won some artwork.
Person 2: You’re lucky!

12.

Slikk og ingenting

Nothing; very small amount

Eieren trodde den var verdiløs, så jeg fikk bilen for en slikk og ingenting.

The owner thought it was worthless so i got the car for (almost) nothing.

13.

Alkis (en)

Alcoholic

Broren din er en alkis.

Your brother is an alcoholic.

14.

Det går i ett kjør.

Everything happens really quickly, all at once, but kind of chaotic.

Vi var så opptatt på jobb i dag. Det gikk i ett kjør.

We were so busy at work today. It went by really fast.

15.

Å drite seg ut

To make a fool of oneself

Han dret seg ut da han var full.

He was making a fool of himself when he was drunk.

16.

Laken

1000 kroner note

Du skylder meg ti laken.

You owe me ten grand. (10000)

17.

Snut (en ) / Purk (en)

Police

Han ringte snuten / purken!

He called the police!

18.

Sigg (en)

Cigarette

Kan jeg få en sigg?

Can I get a cigarette?

19.

Hæ?

Huh? What?

Person 1: Hvor er biblioteket?
Person 2: Hæ?

Person 1: Where is the library?
Person 2: Huh?

20.

Drikkekamerat (en)

Drinking buddy

Tobias er drikkekameraten min.

Tobias is my drinking buddy.

21.

Døddrukken

Fall-over-drunk

Hun var døddrukken i går kveld.

She was fall-over-drunk last night.

22.

Ølbriller

Beer glasses / goggles

Du har ølbriller på. Han er egentlig ikke kjekk.

You have beer goggles on. He is not really handsome.

23.

Skækk

High / wasted (also: an answer for when someone asks about something obvious).

Er du skækk eller?

Are you high?

24.

Snik

To be a sneaky person

Sønnen hennes var en snik.

Her son was being a sneaky (person).

25.

Mac(c)ern

McDonald’s

Jeg har mat fra Maccern hvis du er sulten.

I have food from McDonald’s, if you’re hungry.

26.

Legg (en)

ID card

Jeg finner ikke leggen min!

I can’t find my ID Card!

27.

Flæ

Drunk

Har du vært på flæ?

Have you been drunk?

28.

DLEG

Short for “du lever én gang.” YOLO

Person 1: Skal du hoppe i strikk?!
Person 2: Jepp. DLEG.

Person 1: You’re going to bungee jump?!

Person 2: Yep. YOLO.

29.

Ins

Abbreviation (text) for “ikke noe spesielt.” (Nothing special).

Person 1: Hva skal du på bursdagen din?
Person 2: Ins.

Person 1: What are you doing on your birthday?
Person 2: Nothing special

30.

Gerro

Smoke

Jeg hater menn som gerro.

I hate men that smoke.

31.

Å chille

To relax

Jeg chiller denne helgen.

I’m relaxing this weekend.

32.

Sofagris (en)

Couch potato

Broren min er en sofagris.

My brother is a couch potato.

33.

Snørrbrems (en)

Mustache

Jeg liker snørrbremsen hans.

I like his mustache.

34.

Helt texas

Completely crazy (chaotic)

Jeg har vært på shopping til jul på 23. desember og det var helt texas i butikken.

I went shopping for Christmas on December 23rd and it was completely crazy in the store.

35.

Skjerp deg!

Straighten up!

Get yourself together.

(Barn oppfører seg dårlig)
Mor: Skjerp deg!

(Child behaves badly)
Mother: Straighten up!

(Venn gjør noe galt)
Du: Skjerp deg!

(Friend does something wrong)
You: Straighten up!

36.

Bombe

Surprise (used sarcastically)

Person 1: Han var full i går.
Person 2: Bombe.

Person 1: He was drunk yesterday.
Person 2: Surprise.

37.

Vors (et)

(pronounced fors)

Pre-party (get together before going out for drinks)

Vi møtes for et vors i huset hans.

We’re meeting for a pre-party at his house.

38.

Huttiheita

Middle of nowhere

Hun bor i huttiheita.

She lives in the middle of nowhere.

39.

Uff!

Ugh! (Expresses annoyance; frustration; exasperation)

Uff! Må jeg gjøre alt arbeidet?

Ugh! Must I do all the work?

40.

Kis (en) / Fyr (en)

Dude

Hva skjer, kis / fyr?

What’s up, dude?

41.

Pell deg vekk

Get lost / leave.

Pell deg vekk herfra, din gris!

Get away from here you pig!

Note: Some of these words are more common in different areas, for example, slang that is considered “kebab-norsk” tends to be more common in Oslo and the surrounding areas.

“Contractions”

In Norwegian, technically there are no actual contractions of words. However, in spoken Norwegian, it is quite common. These are just a few examples, and are not a written standard and are only used in spoken Norwegian.

Contraction

Word 1

Word 2

Meaning

Kan’ke

Kan

Ikke

Cannot

Må’kke

Must not

Ska’kke

Skal

Shall not

Vi’kke

Vil

Will not

E’kke

Er

Is not

Dra’kke

Drar

Not leaving

Gå’kke

Går

Not going

Va’kke

Var

Was not

Ha’kke

Har

Have not

Insults & Swears

It is important to note that, in Norwegian culture, swearing is pretty commonplace. In English, dropping an F-bomb would seem inappropriate in many settings (and many feel it should not be uttered by children), however in Norway, no such taboos really exist. It is common, for example, to hear children use swear words and not unheard of to see them in newspaper headings.

Insult / Swear Meaning Example English

1.

Dust (en)

Idiot; jerk (can also be used flirtatiously with a partner)

Han var en dust på festen.

He was a jerk at the party.

Kjæresten fniser: Du er en dust.

Girlfriend giggles: You’re an idiot.

2.

Boring or lame

Foreldrene mine er så lø.

My parents are so boring.

3.

Gjøk (en) / Fjott (en)

Idiot; someone stupid

Uff! Onkelen min er en gjøk / fjott.

Ugh! My uncle is an idiot!

4.

Dum

Stupid; dumb

Sjefen min er dum!

My boss is stupid!

5.

Sutrekopp

Whiner, crybaby

Presidenten er en sutrekopp

The president is a whiner.

6.

Teit [adj.] / Teiting (en) [n.]

Someone who is stupid or annoying

Lillebroren min er en teiting.

My little brother is annoying.

Ikke vær teit.

Don’t be stupid.

7.

Kronidiot (en)

Biggest idiot

Presidenten er en kronidiot!

The president is the biggest idiot!

8.

Slaur (en)

Lazy person (dialect, used more in western Norway)

Kollegaen min er en slaur.

My coworker is lazy.

9.

Mehe (et)

Someone who follows others; doesn’t think for themself.

Han gjør akkurat det han blir fortalt. For et mehe.

He just does whatever he is told. What a pushover / doormat.

10.

Feiging (en)

Coward

Ikke vær en feiging; se denne filmen med meg.

Don’t be a coward; watch this film with me.

11.

Urokråke (ei)

Troublemaker

Jeg liker urokråker.

I like troublemakers.

12.

Klossmajor (en)

Klutz; someone who is clumsy

Jeg er en sånn en klossmajor. Jeg snubler over alt.

I am such a klutz. I trip over everything.

13.

Vattnisse (en)

Scaredy cat; wimp

Broren min spiller ikke skrekkspill fordi han er en vattnisse.

My brother doesn’t play horror games because he is a wimp.

14.

Svin (et)

Pig

Presidenten er et svin!

The president is a pig!

15.

Bæsj

Poop

Det er bæsj.

It is poop.

16.

Helsike

Heck

Hva i helsike skjedde?

What the heck happened?

17.

Helvete

Hell

Hva i helvete skjedde?

What the hell happened?

Dra til helvete!

Go to hell!

18.

Herregud

Oh my God

Herregud! Hva gjorde du?

Oh my God! What did you do?

19.

Søren!
Dæven!
Dæsken!
Pokker!

Damn!

Søren! Jeg gledet meg til den filmen.

Damn! I was looking forward to the film.

20.

Rumpehull (et)

Butthole

Han kan være et rumpehull noen ganger.

He can be a butthole sometimes.

21.

Dritt / Skitt

Shit

Jeg er lei av dritten din!

I’m tired of your shit!

Vi hadde drittvær i går.

We had shit weather yesterday.

22.

Drittunge (en) / Snørrunge (en)

Brat

Uff! Søsknene dine er noen drittunger / snørrunger!

Ugh! Your siblings are such brats!

23.

Drittsekk (en)

Scumbag / shitbag

Politikeren er en drittsekk!

The politician is a scumbag!

24.

Dritthode (et)

Shithead

Eks-kjæresten min er et dritthode.

My ex-boyfriend is a shithead.

25.

Ræv (en) / Rass (en)

Ass

Kyss meg i ræva!

Kiss my ass!

26.

Rævhøl (et) / Rasshøl (et)

Asshole

Det fulle rævhullet startet kampen.

The drunk asshole started the fight.

27.

Jævel / Jævla

Fucker / Fucking

Det er jævlig dyrt!

It is fucking expensive!

Du er en jævla drittsekk.

You’re a fucking shitbag.

28.

Faen (ta deg)

(Pronounced fa-an)

Fuck

Det faen meg ikke sant!

That isn’t fucking true!

Fuck you

Jeg kan ikke tro at du løy! Faen ta deg!

I can’t believe you lied! Fuck you!

29.

Fy faen

For fuck’s sake

Fy faen! Nå starter ikke bilen!

For fuck’s sake! Now the car won’t start!

30.

Satan / Satans

Fuck (used as an exclamation or to emphasize)

Satan! Jeg har glemt bankkortet mitt!

Fuck! I forgot my debit card.

Uff! Satans drittunger!

Ugh! Fucking brats!

31.

Føkka

Fucked up

Person 1: Han ranet banken.

Person 2: Det er føkka.

Person 1: He robbed the bank.
Person 2: That’s fucked up.

32.

Forpulte

“Fucked out” from å pule = to fuck

Din forpulte drittsekk

You fucking piece of shit

In Norwegian, when calling someone a name, it is typical for it to be said with “din / ditt” instead of “du.”

Ex: Din idiot! Ditt svin!

You idiot! You pig!

**If the lesson was beneficial, please consider buying me a virtual coffee. Thanks.**

References:

Exercise: We will pair up; write a dialogue with your partner.