Norwegians talk about the weather more than the British. It’s not just small talk – it’s a survival skill. Whether you’re dodging Bergen’s rain or basking in Oslo’s fleeting summer, knowing how to discuss the weather is key to sounding local. Here’s how to do it properly.
Basic weather phrases every beginner needs
- Det regner. – It’s raining. (Use this 200 days a year in Bergen.)
- Det snør! – It’s snowing! (Said with either joy or dread, depending on the month.)
- Hva er temperaturen? – What’s the temperature?
- Det er kaldt i dag. – It’s cold today. (A safe bet from October to April.)
Norwegian weather idioms that don’t translate literally
Det er ikke bare bare
/dɛ ɛɾ ɪkːə bɑːɾə bɑːɾə/“It’s not so simple”
Ut på tur, aldri sur
/ʉːt poː tʉːɾ, ɑldɪ sʉːɾ/“Out on a trip, never grumpy”
For more on quirky Norwegian phrases, see our guide on Norwegian compound words.
How to complain about the weather (politely)
Norwegians rarely complain outright. Instead, they use observational humour:
- "Typisk norsk sommer" – Typical Norwegian summer (said during a July hailstorm)
- "Det kunne vært verre" – It could be worse (while standing in horizontal rain)
Regional weather personalities
| Region | Weather stereotype | Phrase to know |
|---|---|---|
| Bergen | Rain capital | "Det holder aldri opp å regne" (It never stops raining) |
| Tromsø | Polar night winters | "Når kommer sola tilbake?" (When is the sun coming back?) |
| Oslo | Mild(ish) but unpredictable | "I dag var det faktisk fint vær" (Today was actually nice weather) |
For more on regional differences, check out Why Learning Norwegian Feels Like Exploring Fjords.
Advanced move: The art of 'koselig' weather
Koselig
/ˈkʊ̂ːsəlɪ/“Cozy (but deeper)”
When the weather’s terrible (which is often), Norwegians don’t hide – they lean into it. Comment on the perfekt kosvær (perfect cozy weather) when it’s -10°C and snowing. It’s the ultimate cultural flex.
