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NORWEGIAN WORD OF THE DAY

Norwegian word of the day: Nettopp

Whether something has just happened or you want to confirm something, this word has a number of uses.

The Norwegian word of the day, nettopp, displayed on a chalkboard with a Norwegian flag in the background.
Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash and Nicolas Raymond/FlickR

What does it mean? 

Nettopp can be roughly translated into “just” or “exactly”. However, it has several uses where the context of what it means can change. 

For example, it can refer to time. It can mean that you have just done something. You may have only just sat down after a long day. Or you may have just put in an offer for your dream home as it refers to something that has already happened but recently. It is similar to the English expression “just a moment ago”. 

An example would be jeg var nettopp der ( I was just there). 

It can also be used as a confirmation. If somebody asks you a question, you can use nettopp to reply. This would be the same as using words like “precisely” or “exactly” in English. 

In many cases, it can be used interchangeably with akkurat. However, there are some instances where one may be more precise than the other to use. 

When referring to something happening right now, it is typically more suitable to use akkurat; for example, akkurat nå regner det (right now it is raining). 

While you can use nettop as a confirmation similar to saying “exactly” in English, if you wish to be more precise, you will need to use akkurat. As an example, bussen går akkurat klokka tolv (the bus leaves at exactly 12). 

Use it like this 

Jeg har nettopp lagt inn et bud på et hus!

I have just put in an offer on an house!

Jeg har nettopp hentet inn ved til peisen. 

I have just gotten wood for the fireplace. 

Så jeg trenger bare å ta med meg en sovepose? 

Lasse: Nettopp! 

Jens: So I just need to bring a sleeping bag? 

Lasse: Exactly!

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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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