Short and long vowels: Norwegian words with I SLIKE – SLIKKE

Today we will look at the vowel “I” in the Norwegian alphabet. In Norwegian, you must be able to distinguish between short and long vowels because long and short vowels make up words with different meanings. 

While there are some exceptions, the vowel I is usually pronounced long if there is one consonant after it and short if there are two consonants after I.

 

For example:

 

1 fine (nice, good looking) – finne (find)

De husene er fine.

Those houses are good-looking.

 

Jeg finner ikke mobiltelefonen.

I cannot find the mobile phone.

 

 

2 mine (mine) – minne (memory)

Jeg har ikke gjort leksene mine.

I have not done my homework.

 

Det er viktig å ta vare på gode minner.

It is important to keep good memories.

 

 

3 vin (wine) – vinn (win)

Hun liker å drikke hvitvin.

She likes to drink white wine.

 

Dette er en vinn-vinn-situasjon.

This is a win-win situation.

 

 

4 slike (such) – slikke (lick)

Jeg liker slike filmer.

I like such movies.

 

Katten slikker seg.

The cat is licking itself.

 

 

5 piler (arrows) – piller (pills)

Dette er solide og sterke piler.

These are solid and strong arrows.

 

Mange som dør av overdose har tatt piller.

Many who die from an overdose have taken pills.