Nynorsk basics: how to read it
Norwegian has two written forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk. You don't have to write Nynorsk, but you'll meet it on NRK, on signs and in letters from councils in western Norway – and with a few keys it's easy to read.
We teach Bokmål, the written standard most people in Norway use.
In short: Nynorsk is the other official written form. You need to read it, not necessarily write it – and you'll recognise most words once you swap a few letters.
Rules
- Norway has two equal written forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Nynorsk is used mostly in western Norway and in some mountain valleys in the east.
- NRK has to broadcast at least 25 percent in Nynorsk, and every pupil learns both forms at school. That's why you see it in the news, on signs and in official letters.
- Pronouns: eg (jeg – I), ho (hun – she), me or vi (vi – we), de (dere – you, plural), dei (de – they): Eg kjem frå Polen.
- Question words with kv-: kva (hva – what), kven (hvem – who), kvar (hvor – where), kvifor (hvorfor – why), korleis (hvordan – how).
- Small words: ikkje (ikke – not), noko (noe), mykje (mye – much), berre (bare – only), òg (også – also), no (nå – now), frå (fra), heim (hjem).
- Articles: ein bil, ei jente, eit hus.
- Plural: ein bil – bilar – bilane; ei jente – jenter – jentene; eit hus – hus – husa.
- Many verbs end in -ar in the present and -a in the past: å snakke – snakkar – snakka – har snakka. Eg snakkar norsk.
- Strong verbs often drop -er in the present: eg skriv (I write), ho kjem (she comes), han les (he reads).
- Everyday words: veke (uke – week), vere (være – be), seie (si – say), kyrkje (kirke – church), saman (sammen – together), viss (hvis – if).
- Reading tip: swap kv- for hv- and -ar for -er, and read it aloud. Suddenly it sounds almost like Bokmål.
Typical mistake: reading me as the English 'me'. In Nynorsk me means 'we': Me kjem i morgon = We're coming tomorrow.
Examples
- Eg heiter Kari og kjem frå Voss.My name is Kari and I'm from Voss.
- Kva tid går bussen til Førde?What time does the bus to Førde leave?
- Ho bur i Bergen, men jobbar på Stord.She lives in Bergen but works on Stord.
- Me har ikkje tid i dag, kanskje neste veke?We don't have time today – maybe next week?
- Korleis går det med deg etter operasjonen?How are you doing after the operation?
- Bilane står parkerte utanfor kyrkja.The cars are parked outside the church.
- Han skriv mykje nynorsk på jobben i kommunen.He writes a lot of Nynorsk at his job at the council.
- Viss det regnar, blir me heime.If it rains, we'll stay at home.