Norwegian, like any living language, has borrowed words from its neighbours and beyond. Some are so deeply embedded that Norwegians barely notice their foreign origins. Others still carry a whiff of exoticism. Here’s a tour of the most interesting loanwords in Norwegian, their origins, and how they’re used today.
French Influences: Elegance and Cuisine
French has lent Norwegian a fair share of words, particularly in cooking and high culture. Many arrived via Danish during the union period, but some came directly from France.
Restaurant
/rɛstʊˈrɑŋ/“Restaurant”
Ballet
/bɑˈleː/“Ballet”
Germanic Cousins: Danish and German
Due to historical ties, Norwegian has absorbed many words from Danish and German. Some feel archaic, while others are everyday vocabulary.
Kjæreste
/ˈçæːrəstə/“Sweetheart”
Fremdeles
/ˈfrɛmdələs/“Still”
English: The Modern Invader
English words flood Norwegian daily, especially in tech, business, and pop culture. Some are fully integrated, while others remain distinctly 'foreign'.
Blogg
/blɔɡ/“Blog”
Trend
/trɛnd/“Trend”
The Unexpected Borrowings
Some words come from less expected sources, like Finnish, Russian, or even Arabic.
Tundra
/ˈtʊndrɑ/“Tundra”
Kiosk
/ˈçʊsk/“Kiosk”
Borrowed, But Not Forgotten
Some words are so old that their foreign roots are nearly invisible. Others are recent enough that they still feel 'imported'. Either way, Norwegian’s flexibility in adopting foreign terms keeps the language dynamic.
Fjord
/fjuːr/“Fjord”
For more on how Norwegian builds its vocabulary, see our article on Norwegian compound words.
