20 Common Norwegian Antonym Pairs Explained with Examples

Learning antonyms is an essential part of expanding your vocabulary and improving your ability to express yourself in any language. In Norwegian, mastering common antonyms not only helps with comprehension but also adds variety to your speech, making it more dynamic and accurate. In this article, we’ll explore 20 pairs of Norwegian antonyms, explaining their meanings and providing examples to help you use them in everyday conversations.

1. Tidlig vs. Sent (Early vs. Late)

• Tidlig means early, often referring to time or punctuality.
• Sent means late, indicating something happening after the expected time.

Example:

• Jeg sto opp tidlig i dag. (I got up early today.)
• Vi kom hjem sent i går kveld. (We came home late last night.)

2. Tørr vs. Våt (Dry vs. Wet)

• Tørr describes something that is dry or lacking moisture.
• Våt means wet or soaked with water.

Example:

• Klærne mine er tørre nå. (My clothes are dry now.)
• Gulvet er vått etter regnet. (The floor is wet after the rain.)

3. Snill vs. Slem (Kind vs. Mean)

• Snill refers to someone who is kind or good-natured.
• Slem describes someone who is mean or malicious.

Example:

• Hun er alltid snill mot meg. (She is always kind to me.)
• Han var slem mot de andre barna. (He was mean to the other children.)

4. Lys vs. Mørk (Light vs. Dark)

• Lys means light, referring to brightness or light colors.
• Mørk means dark, referring to darkness or dark colors.

Example:

• Rommet er lyst om dagen. (The room is bright during the day.)
• Det er mørkt ute om natten. (It’s dark outside at night.)

5. Helt vs. Delvis (Complete vs. Partial)

• Helt means complete or full.
• Delvis means partial or incomplete.

Example:

• Jeg er helt enig med deg. (I completely agree with you.)
• Jeg er delvis ferdig med oppgaven. (I am partially finished with the task.)

6. Langsom vs. Rask (Slow vs. Fast)

• Langsom describes something moving slowly.
• Rask refers to something that is fast or quick.

Example:

• Denne bussen er veldig langsom. (This bus is very slow.)
• Hun løper veldig raskt. (She runs very fast.)

7. Hard vs. Myk (Hard vs. Soft)

• Hard means hard or solid.
• Myk refers to something soft or gentle.

Example:

• Steinen er veldig hard. (The stone is very hard.)
• Puten er myk og komfortabel. (The pillow is soft and comfortable.)

8. Ny vs. Brukt (New vs. Used)

• Ny means new, describing something recently made or unused.
• Brukt means used, describing something second-hand or previously owned.

Example:

• Jeg har kjøpt en ny sykkel. (I bought a new bike.)
• Denne boken er brukt, men i god stand. (This book is used, but in good condition.)

9. Tung vs. Lett (Heavy vs. Light)

• Tung refers to something heavy in weight.
• Lett means light, either in weight or difficulty.

Example:

• Kofferten er veldig tung. (The suitcase is very heavy.)
• Denne oppgaven er lett å fullføre. (This task is easy to complete.)

10. Søt vs. Sur (Sweet vs. Sour)

• Søt means sweet, either in taste or character.
• Sur can mean sour in taste or describe someone in a bad mood.

Example:

• Kaken smaker søtt. (The cake tastes sweet.)
• Appelsinen er litt sur. (The orange is a bit sour.)

11. Høyre vs. Venstre (Right vs. Left)

• Høyre refers to the right-hand side.
• Venstre means left-hand side.

Example:

• Sving til høyre ved lyskrysset. (Turn right at the traffic light.)
• Hun skriver med venstre hånd. (She writes with her left hand.)

12. Syk vs. Frisk (Sick vs. Healthy)

• Syk means sick or ill.
• Frisk means healthy or recovered.

Example:

• Jeg er syk i dag og må bli hjemme. (I’m sick today and have to stay home.)
• Hun er frisk nå etter influensaen. (She is healthy now after the flu.)

13. Sulten vs. Mett (Hungry vs. Full)

• Sulten means hungry, indicating a desire for food.
• Mett means full, having eaten enough.

Example:

• Jeg er sulten, la oss spise middag. (I’m hungry, let’s have dinner.)
• Etter middagen er jeg mett. (After dinner, I’m full.)

14. Ny vs. Gammel (New vs. Old)

• Ny means newly made or unused.
• Gammel means old or worn.

Example:

• Jeg kjøpte en ny jakke. (I bought a new jacket.)
• Denne boken er veldig gammel. (This book is very old.)

15. Åpen vs. Lukket (Open vs. Closed)

• Åpen means open, referring to something accessible or available.
• Lukket means closed, describing something shut or not accessible.

Example:

• Butikken er åpen på lørdager. (The store is open on Saturdays.)
• Døren er lukket. (The door is closed.)

16. God vs. Ond (Good vs. Evil)

• God means good or virtuous.
• Ond refers to something evil or malicious.

Example:

• Hun har et godt hjerte. (She has a good heart.)
• Den onde heksa kastet en forbannelse. (The evil witch cast a curse.)

17. Full vs. Tom (Full vs. Empty)

• Full means full or filled up.
• Tom means empty or lacking content.

Example:

• Koppen er full av kaffe. (The cup is full of coffee.)
• Flaska er tom. (The bottle is empty.)

18. Smart vs. Dum (Smart vs. Dumb)

• Smart means clever or intelligent.
• Dum means stupid or foolish.

Example:

• Han er veldig smart og løste problemet raskt. (He is very smart and solved the problem quickly.)
• Det var en dum feil. (That was a dumb mistake.)

19. Tøff vs. Lett (Difficult vs. Easy)

• Tøff means difficult or tough.
• Lett means easy or simple.

Example:

• Eksamen var veldig tøff. (The exam was very tough.)
• Dette er en lett oppgave. (This is an easy task.)

20. Farlig vs. Trygg (Dangerous vs. Safe)

• Farlig describes something dangerous or risky.
• Trygg means safe or secure.

Example:

• Det er farlig å kjøre i snøstorm. (It’s dangerous to drive in a snowstorm.)
• Hjemme føles det alltid trygt. (Home always feels safe.)

Conclusion

Learning these 20 pairs of Norwegian antonyms is a great way to expand your vocabulary and enhance your understanding of the language. Antonyms allow for more nuanced and dynamic communication, helping you express a wider range of ideas and emotions. Whether you’re describing objects, emotions, weather, or experiences, these antonyms will serve you well in everyday conversations.

To systematically improve your Norwegian skills, our group Norwegian classes provide comprehensive training that will help you confidently use the language in both casual and formal settings.

With continuous practice and real-life conversation opportunities, you’ll soon become proficient in using these antonyms and more, laying a strong foundation for your Norwegian learning journey. Join our group Norwegian classes today and explore the richness of the Norwegian language with us!