adj
Common
Norwegian
naw-WEEJN
Norwegian (adj) means relating to Norway, its people, or its language. Example: “She picked up a few Norwegian phrases before the trip.”
adj
1
Relating to Norway, its people, or its language.
"She picked up a few Norwegian phrases before the trip."
"The Norwegian coastline is famous for its dramatic fjords."
noun
1
A person from Norway, or a member of the North Germanic ethnic group native to Scandinavia.
"Several Norwegians joined the expedition team."
2
The Norwegian language, which has two official written forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk.
"He studied Norwegian for two years before moving to Oslo."
How to use Norwegian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes anything from or belonging to Norway, or refers to a person or the language from there.
Memory tip
Capitalize it, like other nationality words — Norwegian, not norwegian.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
Norwegian citizen
speak Norwegian
Norwegian fjords
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Word forms
- Plural
- Norwegians
- Comparative
- more Norwegian
- Superlative
- most Norwegian
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She picked up a few _____ phrases before the trip.
Etymology
Formed from Norwegia plus -n, or from Old English Norweġ plus -ian.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for Norwegian
See all rhymes for Norwegian →Frequently asked questions
What does “Norwegian” mean?
The word “Norwegian” means relating to Norway, its people, or its language. In plain terms, describes anything from or belonging to Norway, or refers to a person or the language from there.
How do you pronounce “Norwegian”?
“Norwegian” is pronounced naw-WEEJN (/nɔɹˈwi.d͡ʒn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “Norwegian” in a sentence?
Here is “Norwegian” used in a sentence: “She picked up a few Norwegian phrases before the trip.”
What part of speech is “Norwegian”?
Depending on how it is used, “Norwegian” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “Norwegian” a common word?
“Norwegian” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Norwegian” have?
“Norwegian” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Norway, its people, or its language.
What is the difference between Norwegian and Norse?
"Norwegian" refers to modern Norway, its people, and its present-day language, while "Norse" usually refers to the medieval Scandinavians and their Old Norse language. A person living in Norway today is Norwegian, whereas ancient Viking-era culture and mythology are described as Norse.
What is the difference between Bokmål and Nynorsk in Norwegian?
Bokmål and Nynorsk are the two official written forms of the Norwegian language, and both are used for writing in Norway. Bokmål is the more widely used form, while Nynorsk draws more closely on rural dialects.
Is Norwegian close to Swedish and Danish?
Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish are all North Germanic languages native to Scandinavia and are closely related. Because of this shared family, speakers of the three languages can often understand one another to a considerable degree.
Should Norwegian always be capitalised?
Yes, Norwegian is always capitalised, whether it describes something relating to Norway ("Norwegian fjords"), names a person ("a Norwegian"), or refers to the language. Like other words formed from country names, it keeps its capital letter in every context.
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