Archive for 'Conversation'
Norwegian Icebreakers Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Apr 29, 2018
Ever been to a social gathering where nobody said a word? 🙂 If you travel around Norway, you’ll certainly meet people who are less talkative than the stereotypical American, for example. (A Norwegian friend told me about countryside family dinners where noone spoke – they were busy eating!) Sometimes, breaking the ice may be just…
Slow Down and Repeat Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Mar 25, 2018
Jeg lærer norsk. Kan du snakke litt langsommere? (I’m learning Norwegian. Could you speak a little bit slower, please?) As a language learner, you’ve probably sometimes found yourself in situations of awkward communication. Maybe you’ve learnt a few setninger (phrases) by heart, and all of a sudden every Norwegian starts telling you their life story…
Talking about food Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jan 28, 2018
Mmm, kjempegodt! 🙂 People everywhere in the world like to eat mat (food) and talk about it, and Norwegians are no exception! Eating together with natives can be a great opportunity to hone your language skills, so let’s take a look at some useful things to say (when you’re not chewing…) Food ideologies Spiser du…
Asking about Origins Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Sep 24, 2017
Hvor kommer du/dere fra? (Where do you/you guys come from?) Some people don’t like this question, but as a tourist it’s hard to avoid the natives’ curiosity. 🙂 When asked in a friendly way, it can be a genuine icebreaker… Let’s look at origins. The easiest way to reply is, of course, by means of…
How to say what you need Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Jun 28, 2017
You’ve been travelling for a long time and all you need is a hot shower and a nice place to sleep. But – how to ask the natives? Sometimes, expressing what you need is … all you need. Jeg er sulten. (I’m hungry.) Er du sulten? (Are you hungry?) Vi er veldig sultne. (We’re very…
Talking about prices Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Apr 30, 2017
Er Norge dyrt? (Is Norway expensive?) Many people klager (complain) about prisene (the prices) in Norway. Nobody really complains about de høye lønningene (the high wages), though, so I guess there’s some kind of balance. 🙂 Still, if you come as a tourist, be prepared for surprises! Here are some expressions for talking about prices…
Worst Case Norwegian Posted by Bjørn A. Bojesen on Nov 30, 2016
Vanligvis er Norge et veldig trygt land. (Normally, Norway is a very safe country.) Here are a few expressions to use when everything goes wrong… – Hjelp, jeg har gått meg vill! (Help me, I’ve lost my way!) – Vet du hvordan jeg kommer meg tilbake til veien? (Do you know how I get back…