Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE

How to speak about the heat in Norway like a local

As summer tightens its hold on Norway, the sunny weather is becoming an increasingly popular subject of discussion. If you're wondering how to talk about rising temperatures like a true local, we've got you covered.

Published: 13 June 2023 13:36 CEST
Drøbak 1
With sunny days becoming the norm rather than the exception nationwide, conversations among people in Norway are increasingly dominated by summer-related topics. Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

In Norway, June and July are often considered the only true summer (Norwegian: sommer) months – at least when it comes to what one usually expects from the summer in terms of temperature and overall nice weather.

As sunny days become more of a norm that exception across the country, conversation among people tends to revolve increasingly around summer-related topics.

Should you wear sunscreen on summer days in Norway? Are you travelling south to enjoy the summer in a warmer, Mediterranean country? When did you get a sunburn?

All these questions – and many more – are part of small talk among both friends and acquaintances in Norway from June to September.

So, if you want to make a good impression and show off your polished Norwegian language skills, this short vocab guide is a great place to start.

Long summer days and rising temperatures

In June and July, you’re likely to get a lot of sunny days (Norwegian: solskinnsdager) throughout Norway. Note that temperatures don’t get too high on average; you can expect them to stay at around 22 C.

If you’re feeling like the heat is getting overwhelming, and you decided to leave your cell phone at home in order to enjoy a nice walk in the park (Norwegian: tur i parken) with a friend, you can always ask them to check the temperature for you.

You can do it like this: Hvor mange grader er det? (English: What’s the temperature?)

On the other hand, if you feel the weather is just right and you’re enjoying a nice summer day, you might want to say something along the lines of:

Sola skinner og det er pent. (English: The sun is shining, and it’s nice).

Været i dag er virkelig fint. (English: The weather today is really lovely).

Sommeren er endelig her! (English: Summer is finally here!)

Sunscreen

The sun’s UV rays are stronger during the summer, which increases the risk of sunburn and skin damage. Photo by BATCH by Wisconsin Hemp Scientific on Unsplash

Staying safe in the sun

While most people in Norway feel the natural urge to head outdoors as soon as the sun (Norwegian: sol) appears, it’s important to stay mindful of the risks associated with staying in the sun for too long – especially if there’s a weather warning (Norwegian: værvarsel) in place.

First of all, though some people may giggle at the idea, it’s important to use sunscreen (Norwegian: solkrem) both in summer and spring months – the UV levels (Norwegian: UV-nivåer) are no joke, and no one enjoys getting a sunburn (Norwegian: solbrenthet).

Furthermore, it’s also smart to have your sunglasses (Norwegian: solbriller) and hat ready to pick up before you walk out so that you don’t decide to leave them at home because you can’t find them while you’re walking out the door.

Summer holidays

The June-August period is usually the peak tourist season domestically, but it’s also the time of year when most Norwegians travel abroad for vacation (Norwegian: ferie).

Some of the most frequent questions you’ll get both privately and at work are likely to be a variation of the following:

Hvor skal du i sommerferien? (English: Where are you going for the summer holidays?)
Noen planer for sommeren? (English: Any plans for the summer?)
Skal du reise til utlandet i sommer? (English: Are you travelling abroad this summer?)

Suppose you just returned from a trip abroad and are meeting up with some friends to tell them all about it. Expect questions about your impressions of the destination, trip highlights, and recommendations.

Så, likte du Spania / Italia / Kroatia? (English: So, did you enjoy Spain / Italy / Croatia?)
Hva likte du best der? (English: What did you enjoy most there?)
Er det noe du ikke likte der? (English: Is there anything you didn’t like there?)
Var det for varmt? (English: Was it too hot?)

Key summer vocab

Været i dag er nydelig! (English: The weather today is beautiful!)
Det er sol ute – vil du gå en tur med meg? (English: It’s sunny outside – do you want to go for a walk?)
Vil du ta en svømmetur i fjorden med meg? (English: Do you want to go for a swim in the fjord with me?)
La oss gå og hente is (English: Let’s go and get ice cream)
Det er en vakker sommerdag. Vil du gå og ta en kopp kaffe sammen? (English: It’s a beautiful summer day. Do you want to go and get a cup of coffee outside with me?)

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

FAMILY

‘Don’t let anything put you off’: How foreigners in Norway raise bilingual kids

Foreigners living and raising children in Norway, might want them to become native speakers of at least two languages. We asked our readers to share their tips and experiences.

Published: 9 April 2024 17:13 CEST
Updated: 27 April 2024 15:01 CEST
'Don't let anything put you off': How foreigners in Norway raise bilingual kids

Foreign residents in Norway with children spend a lot of time thinking about how to best make their offspring bilingual.

We recently put out a survey asking parents in Norway about their experiences with raising bilingual children, and many parents believed that raising their children to be bilingual or multilingual would help them succeed in life.

“I would like my son to become fluent in Norwegian from a young age so he can learn and flourish here,” Martin, who lives in Vestland, said.

While he is English, his wife is Lithuanian, meaning Martin and his wife hope for their one-year-old child to eventually be able to speak English, Lithuanian, and Norwegian.

He believed that his child would easily learn English and Norwegian and that he would attend a Norwegian language preschool once he was old enough.

However, he admitted that it would be harder for his son to pick up Lithuanian, as it isn’t taught in schools, and he would only have his mother to learn from.

Respondents also encouraged other parents to try their best to raise their children to be bilingual, especially as younger children can be adept at picking up languages.

“A child’s elastic brain can absorb languages, so it is always worth raising them bilingually or multilingually,” Russell, who lives in Oslo, said.

“Speak to your child in your native language, don’t let anyone or anything put you off,” he added when asked for advice.

READ ALSO: How to raise bilingual children: 7 language tips and tricks

Roxanne, who lives in Bergen, recommended prioritising the parents’ mother tongue, as children would absorb Norwegian just by living in the country.

Her daughter, who was 20 months old when they first moved to Bergen several years ago, is now fluent in English and Norwegian after first practising with a bilingual nanny and then attending a Norwegian preschool.

However, Roxanne and her husband also practised German, French, Spanish, and Farsi with their child, with English being the primary language at home.

Roxanne was one of several parents who said that one parent spoke to their child in one language while the other spoke in a different language. She said she was determined to raise a multilingual child to ensure that her daughter would always feel “seen and understood” by her family.

Daren lives in Bærum and moved to Norway with his three children when they were aged 8, 6 and 4. Now his kids are 21, 19 and 17 and fluent in Norwegian and English. He said that it took his children most of their childhood to master the language after moving.

He also said that going to a local school and his children making friends with Norwegian children and using the language conversationally boosted their skills.

“Try to integrate into the local community, sports teams, friendships, etc. Send your kids to local schools and avoid the international schools until VGS (high school),” Daren said.

He added that things are easier if the parents learn Norwegian, but in some cases, this is easier said than done, and he and his wife have yet to master the language.

Stef, who lives in Haugesund, warned that parents learning Norwegian alongside their kids may struggle to keep up with their children.

“Learn Norwegian as fast as you can because children will learn faster,” Stef said.

International schools are a popular option for many families who aren’t sure they will settle down in Norway, or only plan to live in the country temporarily, or who move with older children.

While many parents advised sending their children to a Norwegian school, some also pointed out kids could pick up the local language while attending an international school.

Ulrike, who lives in Oslo, said it was important that clubs and activities are in the local language.

“If they go to an international school, make sure they have extracurricular activities in Norwegian,” she said.

Her child attends the German School of Oslo, where German and Norwegian are spoken languages.

Gail, who lives in Australia but has taught at Oslo International School, recommended using a tutor and finding ways to make the Norwegian language fun.

“Use a tutor and ask the school your child attends what they suggest for integration and learning. Sports activities and social occasions help. Singing songs in Norwegian is a fun way to learn,” she said.

Paige, who lives in Sandefjord, suggested Norwegian television and language cafes to boost children’s Norwegian skills.

“If they go to an international school and they or you want them to develop their Norwegian language skills, find some programs on (Norway’s public broadcaster) NRK and watch them together, go to language cafes, go to local events, and take it one step at a time,” she said.

SHOW COMMENTS