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Norwegian Pronunciation Guide for English Speakers
Norwegian pronunciation can be tricky for English speakers. The
table below outlines common Norwegian sounds, with their
pronunciation symbols and examples.
| Norwegian Sound |
Pronunciation Symbol |
Example (Norwegian) |
Similar English Sound |
| kj-lyd |
ç |
kiste – [çi`stə] |
Like the "h" sound in "huge", but younger generations
increasingly use [ʃ] instead
|
| Stemt sj |
dʒ |
juice – [dʒu:s] |
As in "juice" |
| Stavelsesdannende l |
(ə)l |
aksel – [a`ks(ə)l] |
Similar to "l" in "bottle" (syllable-forming)
|
| Stavelsesdannende n |
(ə)n |
voksen – [vå`ks(ə)n] |
Similar to "n" in "button" (syllable-forming)
|
| Tykk l |
L |
pælme – [pæ`Lmə] |
A thicker "l" sound, common in Eastern Norwegian
|
| ng-lyd |
ŋ |
sang – [saŋ:] |
Like "ng" in "song" |
| sj-lyd |
ʃ |
sjakk – [ʃak:] |
Like "sh" in "shack" |
| th-lyd |
þ |
bluetooth – [blu:´tuþ] |
Like "th" in "thin" |
| ch-lyd |
x |
nachspiel – [na´xʃpil] |
Like "ch" in Scottish "loch"
|
| rd, rl, rn, rt (bound) |
- |
leopard – [leopa´r-d], barn – [ba:rn]
|
Split articulation of "r" sounds in some words
|
| Pregløs e-lignende vokal |
ə |
kube – [ku:`bə] |
Like the second vowel sound in "sofa"
|
| Diphthong æi |
æi |
stein – [stæin] |
Like "ai" in "aisle" |
| Diphthong æu |
æu |
sau – [sæu] |
Like "ow" in "cow" |
Tonem 1 and Tonem 2 in Norwegian
Norwegian has two tones, called Tonem 1 and
Tonem 2, which help distinguish between words that
are spelled the same but have different meanings. These tones are
most noticeable in Eastern Norwegian dialects like those spoken in
Oslo.
- Tonem 1: This is a flatter tone that starts low
and rises slightly. It's often used in monosyllabic words or words
with endings like -el and -en. For example, in Eastern Norwegian,
the word ånden (the spirit) uses Tonem 1.
- Tonem 2: This is a more dynamic tone, starting
high, dipping, and then rising again. It typically occurs in
polysyllabic words, like ånden (the breath). It can change
the meaning of a word entirely.
Think of Tonem 1 as a simple, steady tone, while Tonem 2 has more
pitch movement, making it sound more expressive.
Additional Pronunciation Symbols and Rules
- ´ represents stress with Tonem 1, as in betale –
[beta:´lə]
- ` represents stress with Tonem 2, as in tale –
[ta:`lə]
- Long vowels are marked with a colon after them, as in
bile – [bi:`lə]
- Long consonants are also marked with a colon after them, as in
bille – [bi`l:ə]
