Start with the Norwegian basics
Begin with sounds, common phrases, and word order. Norwegian pronunciation is friendly once you learn a few patterns: the alphabet is familiar, stress usually falls on the first syllable, and vowels are key to meaning. Spend a few minutes listening and repeating daily.
Master mini-conversations right away. Learn greetings, how to introduce yourself, and how to ask simple questions. With these essentials, a beginner can handle everyday small talk and feel comfortable progressing online.
- Hei = Hi
- Jeg heter ... = My name is ...
- Hvordan går det? = How are you?
- Jeg forstår ikke = I do not understand
- Kan du gjenta? = Can you repeat?
A 10-day plan you can follow in minutes
Repeat tough material on Days 5 and 9. Save all notes as a single PDF so your progress is portable. After Day 10, cycle the plan with new topics, still in short daily minutes.
- Day 1: Alphabet, basic sounds, and five greetings.
- Day 2: Introductions, pronouns, and the verb to be (å være).
- Day 3: Numbers 1–20 and simple prices; practice in short dialogues.
- Day 4: Food words and ordering; learn jeg vil ha (I would like).
- Day 5: Present tense basics; build 10 sentences you can say.
- Day 6: Days, months, time; schedule a pretend meeting.
- Day 7: Family and common adjectives; practice noun-adjective order.
- Day 8: Listening day; slow podcast episode plus shadowing.
- Day 9: Review and create a one-page PDF cheat sheet of your notes.
- Day 10: Real-life task online: write a 6–8 sentence intro about you.
Must-have free online resources
Tip: if a resource feels too hard, slow it down or switch to a simpler option. The goal at beginner level is steady progress, not perfection, and all of these free tools can be combined as you like.
- Duolingo or Memrise: beginner-friendly drills for vocabulary basics.
- NTNU or UiO pronunciation PDFs: quick charts to fix tricky sounds.
- Open grammar PDFs: search for Norwegian A1 grammar pdf overview.
- NRK and slow podcasts: short, clear news and beginner audio.
- YouTube channels for Norwegian: dialogues, subtitles, and mini lessons.
Vocabulary and grammar basics to lock in
Focus on high-frequency words and patterns you will use every day. Norwegian word order is generally Subject–Verb–Object, and present tense is simple. Learn the two noun genders in Bokmål and how adjectives agree. Practice building short, clear sentences.
- Pronouns: jeg, du, han, hun, vi, dere, de.
- Present tense: stem plus -r (jeg snakker, du bor).
- Negation with ikke: Jeg snakker ikke engelsk.
- Yes-no questions: Verb first (Snakker du norsk?).
- Genders: en and et; memorize nouns with their article.
Pronunciation and listening in minutes
Daily micro-listening sessions train your ear fast. Choose a 60–120 second clip with transcripts or subtitles, loop it, and shadow the speaker. Aim for rhythm and melody more than perfect individual sounds, and your Norwegian will sound natural sooner.
- Play the same clip 3 times: listen, read, then shadow.
- Record yourself for 20 seconds and compare.
- Target one sound per day, like y or u.
- Finish by saying one real sentence you will use today.
FAQ
- Should I learn Bokmål or Nynorsk as a beginner?
- Start with Bokmål. It is used by the majority of Norwegian speakers, most beginner courses, and almost all free online resources. You can explore Nynorsk later.
- How many minutes per day do I need?
- Fifteen to twenty-five minutes daily is enough for steady progress. Consistency beats long, rare sessions, especially for beginners focusing on basics.
- Can I learn Norwegian online for free?
- Yes. Combine a free app, a grammar PDF, and short native audio or video. This mix covers vocabulary, structure, and listening without paid tools.
- Are PDFs enough to reach A1–A2?
- PDFs help you understand rules, but you also need listening and speaking. Pair PDFs with daily audio practice and quick speaking drills for best results.
- How long to reach A2 as a beginner?
- With 20 minutes a day, many learners reach A2 in 3–5 months. Your timeline depends on consistency, using all four skills, and reviewing frequently.