False Friends
Not every Norwegian word is a walk in the park for English speakers. To help you avoid common pitfalls, Iâve collected a list of the easiest words to get wrong if you go by spelling alone.
A âFalse Friendâ is a word that looks completely the same or very similar in Norwegian and English but still have different meanings.
| Norwegian | False Friend | Correct Translation |
|---|---|---|
| advokat | advocate | lawyer |
| akkurat | accurate | exactly |
| aktuell | actual | current, topical |
| altsĂĽ | also | therefore |
| anger | anger | regret |
| annonse | announce | advertisement |
| art | art | species |
| bak | back | butt |
| bare | bare | only |
| barn | barn | child/children |
| be | be | to pray |
| billion | billion | trillion |
| blankett | blanket | form (to fill in) |
| blek | bleak | pale |
| bra | bra | good, well |
| dam | dam | puddle |
| dog | dog | still, but |
| dress | dress | suit |
| etikett | etiquette | label |
| eventuelt | eventual | possibly |
| fabrikk | fabric | factory |
| fang | fang | lap, catch |
| far | far | father |
| fart | fart | speed |
| fest | feast | party |
| genial | genial | genius |
| gift | gift | married / poison |
| gjespe | gasp | yawn |
| god | God | good |
| grine | grin | cry, sulk |
| gyldig | gilded | valid |
| haike | hike | hitchhike |
| handle | handle | to act, to shop |
| harm | harm | angry |
| hav | have | ocean |
| hell | hell | luck |
| høyskole | high school | college |
| kinn | kin | cheek |
| klosett | closet | lavatory |
| koke | cook | boil |
| kokk | bad word | cook |
| kondisjon | condition | cardio |
| konkurrent | concurrent | competitor |
| konsekvent | consequent | consistent(ly) |
| kraft | craft | force, power |
| kritikk | critique | criticism, critique |
| likør | liquor | liqueur |
| lykke | luck | happiness |
| lykkelig | lucky | happy / blissful |
| lystig | lusty | merry |
| mappe | map | folder |
| more | more | have fun |
| mosjon | motion | exercise |
| novelle | novel | short story |
| offer | offer | sacrifice, victim |
| overhode | overhead | (not) at all |
| oversikt | oversight | overview |
| overta | overtake | take over |
| pass | pass | passport |
| pensel | pencil | paintbrush |
| permisjon | permission | leave (from work/the army etc) |
| publikum | public | audience |
| pupp | puppy | breast |
| puppe | puppy | pupa, chrysalis |
| rare | rare | strange (plural) |
| reise | raise | travel/journey |
| rente | rent | interest (financial) |
| resept | receipt | prescription |
| roman | Roman | novel |
| sky | sky | cloud |
| slips | slip | tie |
| spare | spare | save (money) |
| stek | steak | fry |
| svamp | swamp | sponge |
| ta en tur | take a hike | take a trip |
| tell | tell | count |
| tolv | toll | twelve |
| trapp | trapp | staircase |
| truck | truck | forklift |
| vink | wink | wave |
Maybe you were aware of some of these unfortunate lookalikes already?
This list shouldnât scare you off from learning Norwegian though. As with any language, challenges are part of the journey!
Vi snakkes!
-Martin