How to Talk About Food in Norwegian (Part 2)

Introduction

When learning a new language, familiarizing oneself with commonly used words and phrases related to everyday activities, such as eating, is vital. This article will guide you through the basics of talking about food in Norwegian, from ordering in a restaurant to shopping in a grocery store and discussing your favorite dishes. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to chat about mat (food) in Norwegian comfortably.

Basic Food-Related Vocabulary

First, let’s start with some fundamental words and phrases that will help you in various food-related situations:

1. en mat – a food
2. ei drikke – a drink
3. en frokost – a breakfast
4. en lunsj – a lunch
5. en middag – a dinner
6. en dessert – a dessert
7. et brød – a bread
8. ei melk – a milk
9. en kaffe – a coffee
10. en te – a tea
11. et kjøtt – a meat
12. en fisk – a fish
13. en grønnsak – a vegetable
14. en frukt – a fruit
15. et sukker – a sugar
16. et salt – a salt
17. en pepper – a pepper
18. godt – delicious
19. sulten – hungry
20. tørst – thirsty

Ordering in a Restaurant

Understanding how to order food at a restaurant is an essential skill when traveling or living in Norway. Here are some phrases you might need:

• Jeg vil gjerne ha… – I would like…
• Kan jeg få… – Can I get…
• Jeg er allergisk mot… – I am allergic to…
• Kan jeg få regningen, takk? – Can I get the bill, please?
• Dette smaker godt – This tastes good

For instance, if you want to order fish, you can say “Jeg vil gjerne ha fisk”. If you’re allergic to nuts, inform the staff by saying “Jeg er allergisk mot nøtter”.

Grocery Shopping

When shopping in a grocery store in Norway, these phrases might come in handy:

• Hvor er…? – Where is…?
• Hvor mye koster det? – How much does it cost?
• Har dere…? – Do you have…?

For example, to find out where the bread is, ask “Hvor er brød?”.

Discussing Food Preferences

Sharing food experiences and preferences can be a great conversation starter. Here’s how to express your likes and dislikes:

• Jeg liker… – I like…
• Jeg liker ikke… – I do not like…
• Min favorittmat er… – My favorite food is…
• Jeg foretrekker… – I prefer…
• Jeg spiser ikke… – I do not eat…

You can say “Jeg liker kaffe” if you’re a coffee lover or “Jeg spiser ikke kjøtt” if you’re a vegetarian.

Conclusion

Talking about food is not just about ordering in a restaurant or shopping in a supermarket; it’s about sharing experiences, traditions, and preferences. Learning to talk about food in Norwegian opens up a new dimension of your language learning experience, making it more enjoyable and practical.

If you want to learn Norwegian, you can register for classes here. If you want to check you Norwegian level for free, you can do that here. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you become fluent in Norwegian!