False Friends
Words that look similar in Norwegian and English but have different meanings
A warning!
Not every Norwegian word is a walk in the park for English speakers. To help you avoid common pitfalls, I’ve collected a list of the easiest words to get wrong if you go by spelling alone.
Common False Friends
| Norwegian | False Friend | Correct Translation |
|---|---|---|
| advokat | advocate | lawyer |
| akkurat | accurate | exactly |
| aktuell | actual | current, topical |
| altså | 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 |
This list shouldn't scare you off from learning Norwegian though. As with any language, challenges are part of the journey!
Vi snakkes!