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NORWEGIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Norwegian word of the day: Brillefin

Did you just have a great day at work and order your favourite take-out for dinner? Brillefin!

Norwegian word of the day: Brillefin
If its all going your way, you can add this phrase to your vocabulary. Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know this? 

It’s always a plus to learn as many positive adjectives as you can when learning a new language. After all, who doesn’t love having a larger vocabulary when they rave about something wonderful? 

What does it mean?

Directly translated to English, brillefin means “wonderful” or “amazing”. There is no official explanation as to how this slang word developed. It first started showing up in Norwegian literature and started being spoken in the 1930’s. 

How do I use it?

Brillefin is often used in the middle of a sentence. It’s an expression that can be used in both casual and formal conversation. 

Brillefin isn’t an adjective that only describes tangible objects. Brillefint can also be used to describe an amazing or beautiful idea. 

Norwegian synonyms

svært fin – super nice

glimrende – brilliant

ypperlig – excellent

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For members

NORWEGIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Norwegian word of the day: Påske 

Today's Norwegian word of the day is one you have probably heard a lot in recent weeks, but you probably don't recognise it from English. 

Norwegian word of the day: Påske 

What is påske?

Påske is the Norwegian word for Easter. The word may be more recognisable if you speak another European language. 

Unlike in English, but like other Norwegian words for festivals, months, and weekdays, it isn’t capitalised. 

It’s a relative of French Pâques, Italian Pasqua, Spanish Pascua, Romanian Paşti and Dutch Pasen, to name a few.

These words all date back to the Greek word Πάσχα (Pascha), which is linked to the Hebrew word Pesach, meaning “to pass over”. The word pascha was adopted by Latin as the name of the Christian holiday, which became páskar in Old Norse. 

Why do I need to know påske?

Although the English name Easter has a different origin (from Ēostre, the name of a goddess linked with springtime), you will still find relatives of påsk in English dialects, including Pace in Scotland and northeastern England and Pask in Cornish.

So now that you know where the word comes from, how to use it? 

Happy Easter is god påske, and you will also find it in lots of festive compound words: påskeferien (the Easter holiday), påskeværet (the Easter weather), påskeåpne (open over Easter), påskeegg (Easter egg), påskepynt (Easter decorations). 

Example

Påskeharen har lagt et påskeegg

The Easter Bunny has left an egg. 

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