![\"If](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/norwegian\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2014\/04\/firkloever.jpg\")
<\/a>If you find a firkl\u00f8ver<\/strong> in Scandinavia, you\u2019re bound to have lots of luck! (Thanks to Ole Husby at Flickr: https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/khianti\/7438725780\/in\/photolist-bByAEb-ckkp9f-ckkq1L-6PGSsG [Creative Commons Licence])<\/p><\/div>Sometimes we use spr\u00e5ket<\/b> (the language) as a trylleformel<\/b> (magical formula). N\u00e5r noen nyser<\/b> (when someone\u2019s sneezing), most Norwegians will automatically react by saying prosit! <\/b>[PROHsit]. In some strange way the little word changes the air, making the sneezer feel better. Below are a handful of other expressions used in order to wish somebody well:<\/p>\n \u2022 Lykke til!<\/b> (literally \u201dLuck to!\u201d) is the thing to say to your friend who\u2019s going to climb a mountain. You can also add jeg krysser fingrene<\/b> (I cross my fingers) \u2013 in that case, you should remember to actually put your middle finger across your index finger, on one or both hands. Maybe it really is lykkebringende<\/b> (\u201dluck-bringing\u201d).<\/p>\n \u2022 Sk\u00e5l! <\/b>[skawl] when you\u2019re drinking beer or whisky.<\/p>\n \u2022 Skitt fiske!<\/b> [SHIT FISKeh] literally means \u201dbad fishing luck\u201d, but when you say it to someone who\u2019s walking towards the fjord<\/b> with a fiskestang<\/b> (fishing rod), you actually mean the opposite! \ud83d\ude42 It is a bit like when you say \u201dbreak a leg\u201d in English \u2013 of couse you don\u2019t want anybody to actually break her leg! I suppose that people used to believe that fiskene kunne h\u00f8re deg<\/b> (the fishes could hear you). So, if you could fool them into believing that fiskeren hadde uflaks<\/b> (the fisher was having bad luck) rather than flaks<\/b> (good luck), then maybe they wouldn\u2019t mind swimming around close to overflaten<\/b> (the surface).<\/p>\n \u2022 If somebody\u2019s ill, a nice thing to say is god bedring!<\/b> [goh BEH-dring] (good improvement!). It is the equivalent of saying \u201dI hope you\u2019ll be better soon\u201d. Depending on the situation, you could perhaps add jeg h\u00e5per du blir frisk snart!<\/b> (I hope you get well soon!) or even opp med hum\u00f8ret! <\/b>(cheer up!, literally \u201dup with the mood!\u201d) or det g\u00e5r s\u00e5 bra, skal du se!<\/b> (it\u2019ll be all right, you\u2019ll see!).<\/p>\n \u2022 There are many ways you can cheer on someone, including kom igjen! <\/b>[come eeYEN] (come on!) and kjempebra!<\/b> [H-YEMpehbrah] (very good!). A heiagjeng<\/b> (heia<\/i> gang) is a group of people who heier p\u00e5<\/b> (cheer on) an athlete or a team, often using the exclamation heia <\/b>[HAI-yah]: Heia Kari! Heia Norge!<\/b> (Go Kari! Go Norway!)<\/p>\n \u2022 It is not compulsory to wish your guests a good meal in Norway (like you do when saying bon app\u00e9tit<\/i> in English). If you feel like it, though, you can always say h\u00e5per det smaker!<\/b> (hope it\u2019s tasty!). (If someone says something similar to you, remember to reply with a takk! <\/b>or even tusen takk!<\/b> [1000 thanks!].) BTW, when dinner is served, you shouldn\u2019t start eating before the host has said v\u00e6rs\u00e5god!<\/b> (please!, \u201dthe food is ready\u201d).<\/p>\n \u2022 When a friend leaves, you can wish her god tur!<\/b> (good trip!) if she\u2019s indeed going to travel a bit, or maybe simply ha det bra!<\/b> (have it good!). In colloquial Norwegian, ha det bra<\/b> is usually shortened to ha det!<\/b> (bye!, literally \u201dhave it!\u201d).<\/p>\n \u2022 When somebody wishes you<\/i> well, it\u2019s easy to return the favour: Takk, i like m\u00e5te!<\/b> (Thanks, the same to you!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sometimes we use spr\u00e5ket (the language) as a trylleformel (magical formula). N\u00e5r noen nyser (when someone\u2019s sneezing), most Norwegians will automatically react by saying prosit! [PROHsit]. In some strange way the little word changes the air, making the sneezer feel better. Below are a handful of other expressions used in order to wish somebody well…<\/p>\n