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NORWEGIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Norwegian expression of the day: Ut på tur aldri sur

This one can be used to remind yourself to make the most of the outdoors, even if the Norwegian weather isn't playing ball.

Norwegian expression of the day: Ut på tur aldri sur
This one is perfect for when you get caught in the rain while out and about. Photo by Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know this expression?

Ut på tur aldri sur is an expression that anyone and everyone can and will say. Your teacher, your co-worker, and maybe even your child you just picked up from preschool. Yes, ut på tur aldri sur is a popular Norwegian expression. But it’s also used to describe a state of mind.

What does it mean?

Directly translated, ut på tur aldri sur means, “out on a trip, never sour”. It’s often used to get into the right mood and mindset if you’re about to head out for a long trip to the great outdoors, and the conditions aren’t ideal. For example, if you’re packing up to go for a long hike and see grey clouds on the horizon, you would look at your hiking partner and say, “ut på tur aldri sur”. Or when you’re on a long cross country ski trip and need to be reminded of your beautiful surroundings instead of the pain in your legs, you would tell yourself, “ut på tur aldri sur“.

From a young age, children in Norway are taught ut på tur aldri sur when they are outside doing activities and reminded that they shouldn’t complain over small discomforts. It’s pretty much an expression used by Norwegians to remind each other that they can thrive under any weather condition, so that one can always be in a good mood if they are out in nature.

Use it like this

Ut på tur aldri sur can also be used sarcastically. For example, if you are outside walking and get caught in a massive rainstorm. The situation you got caught in is clearly not fun. You can then look at your fellow rain-drenched friend and sarcastically toss out the ut på tur aldri sur expression.

You can also use it in a sing-songy way. Ut på tur aldri sur rhymes in Norwegian. And you’ll often hear someone from an older generation sing the expression at the start of an outdoor hike. It’s almost like a gentle reminder that they will make the best of the situation, no matter what happens.

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NORWEGIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Norwegian word of the day: Hetebølge

Today's word hasn't always been associated with Norway, but instances have become increasingly common in recent years.

Norwegian word of the day: Hetebølge

What does it mean?

Hetebølge is the Norwegian word for a heatwave, and is a simple compound of the word for heat (hete) and the word for wave (bølge).

This word isn’t the most common for heat. Instead, the word varme is used when referring to heat. You would use varme in other compounds, such as a heat pump (varmepumpe).

Heatwaves, for obvious reasons, haven’t always been associated with Norway. Still, the country can see prolonged periods of 25c or 30c plus days.

In the summer, the warmest part of Norway is usually a village called Nesbyn, which holds the national heat record (varmerekord) as a temperature of 35.6c was recorded in 1970. The area’s unique microclimate means that it has also gotten as cold as -38c in the past.

Heatwaves will, unfortunately, become more common in Norway due to global warming. Even if Norway doesn’t experience super common heatwaves, plenty of Norwegians will feel the heat on the continent as they typically travel to the Mediterranean, or Syden, as Norwegians call it, every summer.

Use it like this

Jeg lurer på om det blir hetebølge i Norge i sommer.

I wonder if there will be a heatwave in Norway this summer.

Det var hetebølge i Hellas i juni med nesten 40 varmegrader.

There was a heatwave in Greece in June, and it was almost 40 degrees.

Det er meldt hetebølge neste uke.

The forecast is predicting a heatwave next week.

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