# Norwegian

/ˌnɔɹˈwidʒən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/norwegian
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a person

noun · CEFR A1

a person who comes from Norway.

For teachers: a person of Norwegian descent or a citizen of Norway.

- My new neighbour is a Norwegian who moved here to study engineering.
- The delegation consisted of three Norwegians and two Swedes, all of whom were experts in polar ecology.

### 2. the language

noun · CEFR A1

the language spoken in Norway.

For teachers: the North Germanic language of Norway, existing in two official written forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk.

- She is learning Norwegian because she wants to work in Oslo next year.
- Although he was fluent in German, he found the grammar of Norwegian surprisingly accessible during his first semester of study.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the language.

### 3. relating to Norway

adjective · CEFR A1

related to the country of Norway, its people, or its language.

For teachers: of or pertaining to Norway, its inhabitants, or their culture and language.

- We enjoyed some delicious Norwegian salmon at the seafood restaurant.
- The Norwegian government has invested heavily in renewable energy projects across the North Sea.

Usage: Always capitalised.

## Examples

- She is a Norwegian who lives in Oslo.
- The museum guide spoke perfect English, but she switched to Norwegian to help the local tourists.
- While many Scandinavians can understand one another, a native Norwegian often finds it easier to comprehend written Danish and spoken Swedish than vice versa.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.