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NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE

The key Norwegian vocab you need to understand rental ads

Renting a property in Norway can be a daunting process, especially if you're not familiar with Norwegian real estate terminology. To help you navigate the rental market effectively, we've compiled a list of essential vocabulary you'll encounter in rental ads.

Published: 31 October 2023 12:13 CET
Updated: 7 April 2024 06:33 CEST
Bergen street
Having a solid understanding of the fundamental Norwegian rental terminology can go a long way. Photo by Karen Cann on Unsplash

Understanding the key vocab related to renting and real estate in Norway will significantly enhance your ability to browse and negotiate rental agreements in the country.

Before signing any lease, make sure to carefully read and comprehend the terms and conditions of the rental agreement.

READ MORE: Five essential words you need when renting a home in Norway

If you find it too challenging due to the language barrier, consult a local friend or colleague so that you can navigate the rental process with confidence.

However, having a solid understanding of the basic vocabulary can go a long way, and you should be able to understand the key elements of a rental ad once you have your husleie or månedsleie (rent / monthly rent), depositum (security deposit), and fellesutgifter (shared expenses) sorted.

The key information on rental ads: Månedsleie, depositum, inkluderer…

If you’re starting your search on Finn.no, Norway’s largest online marketplace, your first step will be to locate the bolig til leie (rental properties) section.

After you’ve set up your filters to adequately reflect your budget and area of interest, the platform will display suitable rental ads.

The critical information in each rental ad will usually be the number followings månedsleie (monthly rent) and depositum (security deposit).

You’ll also want to look at what is included in the rent (inkluderer / inkludert) and what isn’t.

For example, TV and Internet, as well as some utilities, may be included in the rent.

Other important information: Primærrom, boligtype, soverom, etasje, leieperiode…

Moving on, you’ll likely encounter other, often equally important information.

The primærrom area will indicate how much actual living space you should expect in the rental property (without, for example, storage space). Under boligtype (property type), you’ll find the type of rental property, such as a rom i bofellesskap (a room in a shared flat).

If you’re wondering how many bedrooms the rental unit has, look at the soverom (bedroom) section, while information on the floor on which the unit is located can be found under etasje (floor).

Lastly, you should always check the rental period, found under leieperiode.

Going beyond the numbers

Once you’re finished going through the key numbers, always read the longer description (beskrivelse) that usually provides a more detailed overview of the rental unit, along with more information on the utilities and cost distribution, as well as public transport options.

Go through the facilities (fasiliteter), as this is where you’ll usually find information on whether the unit is furnished (møblert), whether it has a balcony (balkong/terrasse), whether it has a nice view (utsikt), parking (parkering), and much more.

By reviewing several rental ads, you can build confidence in understanding Norwegian rental terminology while effectively comparing the pros and cons of various listings. This will also help you identify pet-friendly options, assess inclusions in rent, and seize any special offers that may align with your preferences or budget. 

Other useful terms and phrases:

Bolig: Housing, used to describe any type of residential property.

Leilighet: An apartment.

Hybel: A smaller, often single-room apartment or studio. Suitable for students.

Hus: House, usually a larger standalone home suitable for families.

Bad: The bathroom.

Stue: The living room or lounge area in a property.

Kjøkken: The kitchen.

Utleier: The landlord or property owner.

Møbler: Furniture. If a property is møblert, it is furnished, meaning it comes with furniture.

Korttidsleie: Short-term rental.

Langtidsleie: Long-term rental.

Husdyr tillatt: Pets allowed. If you have pets, this is a crucial detail to look for in rental ads.

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For members

NORWEGIAN TRADITIONS

The things foreigners in Norway find confusing about May 17th 

Constitution Day, or May 17th, is a fantastic occasion in Norway. Foreigners living in the country also love getting in on the celebrations – but a few things about the day can be confusing. 

Published: 15 May 2024 16:06 CEST
The things foreigners in Norway find confusing about May 17th 

Often referred to as Norway’s national day, May 17th is much beloved in Norway. The parades and festivities are a must-see (and also pretty hard to miss) for anyone in Norway on the day. 

There are plenty of traditions that can seem strange from the outside looking in, including bunads, parades, singing the national anthem, and waving flags. Even after you’ve experienced them a few times, they can still feel puzzling. 

How to celebrate 

One aspect that can confuse foreigners, even those with a few May 17ths under the belt, is how exactly the date should be celebrated. 

While the parades are an obvious starting point, traditions can vary across families, cities and regions. 

Many will start May 17th with a combination of a typical Norwegian breakfast, with or without champagne, and then go to watch the parades. 

After that, things become more unclear. Some choose to celebrate the rest of the day with family, grilling or playing garden games. 

Others choose to party hard, whether at parties, bars, or special May 17th events. 

Meanwhile, some cities have large gatherings after the parades, torch processions, or fireworks in the evening. 

Our tip would be to choose what you like most about May 17th and go with the flow. 

Thankfully, as long as you don’t do something stupid like desecrate the Norwegian flag or spend the day antagonising people, there doesn’t appear to be a “right or wrong” way to celebrate the occasion. 

What to wear 

Outfit choice can be tricky on May 17th. People normally dress their best, be it in a traditional bunad, a suit, or other smart clothes. 

For foreigners, this can be tough. For starters, most probably do not feel Norwegian enough to wear a bunad but want to dress nicely for the occasion as a show of respect. 

Therefore, finding something that makes you feel comfortable, doesn’t feel underdressed, and is also appropriate for whatever the weather is can be a tricky balance. 

Some people wear folk costumes from where they are from, which for the most part goes down well as very few Norwegians hold an attitude of “this is our day and not yours”.

What other people are wearing

This is perhaps more the case for newcomers to Norway, but seeing a bunad for the first time can be strange. Seeing thousands of people decked out in “national costumes” (as they are sometimes referred to) can be overwhelming. 

Given that the costumes date back centuries, seeing the old mixed with the modern can also be surreal—for example, seeing someone in a bunad whizz by on an e-scooter. 

Even as you become more accustomed to seeing national costumes and learning more about them, you could confuse yourself trying to work out the origin of the bunad given the designs, colours and embroidery unique to different regions of Norway. 

The national pride

As the day marks the signing of the Norwegian constitution, it’s no surprise that its themes centre on national pride and identity and feature plenty of flag waving and singing of the national anthem. 

This can be puzzling for foreigners, as in some places, patriotism and national pride have been hijacked by populist and far-right movements and used as a tool to cause division.

Other foreigners may also be critical of the idea of a monarchy and how heavily they feature in the day’s proceedings. 

However, in Norway, no one really questions these things. This is just as well because, for the most part, May 17th demonstrates how you can celebrate a country’s essence without hijacking it for the wrong reasons. 

The locals in Norway generally choose to include those who also wish to celebrate May 17th rather than exclude them. 

It’s the fact that Norway is able to maintain a strong sense of national pride on May 17th while remaining inclusive that some may find confusing. 

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