Start in minutes: the norwegian basics
Begin with sounds and letters. Norwegian uses the Latin alphabet plus æ, ø, å. Bokmål is the best path for a beginner; it’s used in most cities, media, and courses. Keep your focus on clear pronunciation and a small core of everyday words. Don’t worry about every rule — you just need enough to say who you are, where you’re from, and what you need.
Key sound tips: most vowels are pure and short/long changes meaning; r can be trilled or tapped; stress is usually on the first syllable; and many Eastern dialects merge combinations like “rt” into a retroflex sound. Practice a tiny set of words daily so your ear adapts.
- Learn letters: a–z + æ, ø, å (try a one‑page PDF chart).
- Start phrases: Hei, Takk, Unnskyld, Ha det.
- Memorize 20 basics: jeg, du, er, har, ikke, ja, nei, hvor, hva, når, hvem.
Build your first phrases
At beginner level, chunks are your shortcut. Learn whole lines you can swap and reuse. Norwegian word order is friendly for simple sentences: Subject–Verb–Object. Focus on introducing yourself, asking simple questions, and handling shopping or directions.
Templates help you speak in real life. Keep a tiny notebook or a one‑page PDF with your go‑to lines. Repeat them out loud until they feel automatic — a few minutes a day is enough.
- Jeg heter … / Jeg er … (My name is … / I am …)
- Jeg kommer fra … / Jeg bor i …
- Kan jeg få …? / Jeg vil ha …
- Hvor mye koster det? / Hvor er …?
- Hva betyr …? / Kan du si det en gang til?
A 15-minute daily plan (free & online)
Consistency beats intensity. Use this 15‑minute routine to learn Norwegian daily without burnout. Everything is free and online, with optional PDFs to print. If you have more time, double a block, but keep the order: words, ears, mouth.
Don’t chase all resources at once. Pick one deck, one audio source, one phrase list, and stick with them for two weeks. Track progress on a simple PDF checklist so you can see wins.
- Minutes 0–5: Vocabulary SRS. Review 10–15 cards (food, numbers, family).
- Minutes 5–10: Listening. Short clips at slow speed; write 3 words you hear.
- Minutes 10–15: Speaking. Shadow a dialogue; record yourself and compare.
- Weekly: Print a one‑page basics PDF (alphabet, numbers, days) and pin it up.
- Monthly: A mini test (introduce yourself in 6 lines, no notes).
Pronunciation and listening that stick
Good pronunciation starts with careful listening. Shadowing (speaking along with audio) trains rhythm and pitch. Aim for short, repeated bursts rather than long, tiring sessions. When in doubt, slow the audio, copy the melody, then raise the speed.
Target troublemakers early: vowel pairs (u/ø, y/i), the r sound, and retroflexes (rt, rn, rs). Use online clips of news intros or children’s shows; they’re clear and short.
- Shadow 30–60 seconds of audio, 3 times.
- Mouth shaping: exaggerate vowels to hear contrasts.
- Minimal pairs: ly/li, ful/føl — write them in a tiny PDF and drill.
- Record yourself; compare waveform timing to the original.
Grammar basics you really need
Keep grammar light and useful. Present tense adds -r to most verbs: jeg bor, jeg snakker, jeg liker. Negation is ikke after the verb: Jeg er ikke norsk. Word order is S–V–O in statements, and in questions often Verb–Subject: Snakker du engelsk?
Nouns have genders (en, ei, et), and the definite form is a suffix: en stol → stolen, et hus → huset. Plurals often add -er in Bokmål: en bil → biler. Learn these patterns by example, not by memorizing all rules at once.
- Present: jeg bor/i, du snakker, vi liker kaffe.
- Negation: Jeg har ikke tid. Det er ikke dyrt.
- Questions: Hvor bor du? Har du tid?
- Prepositions: i Oslo (in), på skolen (at school), til Norge (to Norway).
FAQ
- How long does A1 take if I study a few minutes daily?
- With 15 focused minutes a day, many beginners reach A1 in 6–8 weeks. Double that time to approach A2. The key is daily review, short listening, and speaking out loud.
- Should I learn Bokmål or Nynorsk first?
- Start with Bokmål. It’s used in most writing, courses, and media. You can understand Nynorsk later; your core basics transfer well across both standards.
- Are there truly free resources to learn norwegian online?
- Yes. You can find free online flashcards, graded audio, and open course PDFs. Combine an SRS deck, short news clips, and a printable basics PDF for a complete plan.
- Is Norwegian hard for English speakers?
- It’s one of the easier languages for English speakers. Similar vocabulary, simple tenses, and consistent word order help beginners progress fast with the right routines.
- How can I track all my progress as a beginner?
- Use a single‑page checklist PDF. Log daily minutes, new words, and one sentence you can say. Review weekly and add one new topic (food, directions, time, family).