The easiest way to learn Norwegian is to read and listen to short, easy Norwegian about things you already like, checking the translation when you need it. Leave grammar tables and long word lists for later, because easy Norwegian keeps showing you the most common words and patterns. Below are the first steps in order, and some easy Norwegian to start with.
Is Norwegian Easy to Learn?
Norwegian is one of the easier languages for English speakers to learn, though its word melodies and its many dialects take time to get used to. The U.S. Foreign Service Institute puts Norwegian in its first group, the languages it calls close to English, with Danish and Swedish. Our guide to the fastest way shows how long it takes.
Three things make the start easier than it looks.
- An Alphabet You Already KnowNorwegian uses the letters of English plus three more, æ, ø and å, so you can read your first words right away.
- Words You Already KnowMany Norwegian words look like English ones, such as fisk (fish) and melk (milk).
- One Verb Form for EveryoneA verb stays the same for every person, as in jeg snakker (I speak) and de snakker (they speak).
What Is the Easiest Way to Start?
The easiest way to start is with greetings and other short Norwegian you enjoy, one small step at a time.
- Start With GreetingsBegin with lines you can use right away, like Hei (hi) and Tusen takk (thank you very much).
- Read About What You LoveRead short dialogues about food, music, or anything else you already enjoy.
- Listen While You ReadPlay the audio as you read, so each word's sound and spelling go together.
- Hide the TranslationKeep the English hidden, and check it only when a line stops you.
- Save a Few WordsSave only the few words you want to keep, and save each noun with its en, ei or et.
- Say a Line Out LoudRead a line aloud whenever it feels fun, like a greeting you want to use with Norwegian friends.
Bubblegum is a language app for reading and listening to Norwegian at your level, with lessons that Poppy, its AI tutor, writes about the things you like. Words you save come back inside new lessons through Regenerative Review™, so reviewing them means reading more Norwegian.
What Makes Norwegian Feel Hard, and How Can You Make It Easier?
Four parts of Norwegian feel hard at first, and each one gets easier when you meet it again and again in easy Norwegian.
| What feels hard | The easy fix |
|---|---|
| Words that change with their melody | Hender can mean hands or happens, depending on its melody. The sentence around it almost always shows which one is meant, and easy dialogues let you hear each melody many times. |
| En, ei or et before each noun | Easy Norwegian shows you the same nouns many times, like en kopp (a cup) and et glass (a glass), so each one starts to sound right with its word for "a". |
| The verb in second place | Short lines like I dag spiser jeg fisk (Today I'm eating fish) put the verb before jeg (I), and after many of them the order starts to feel normal. |
| Fast speech and many dialects | Listen to slow, clear audio made for learners first, then to speakers from different parts of Norway. Words you already know are much easier to catch in fast speech. |
What Is Easy Norwegian to Start With?
Easy Norwegian to start with is short and slow, and it is about something you enjoy. Norwegian you can mostly understand is called comprehensible input.
| What | Why it's easy | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Barnebøker for Norge | Short picture stories come at five levels, and you can listen while you read. | barneboker.no |
| Norsk for Beginners | Marius Stangeland's podcast for beginners uses clear, slow Norwegian. | laernorsknaa.com |
| Duostories | Short Bokmål stories about everyday moments come with audio and a few questions, once you know some words. | duostories.org |
| The Mystery of Nils | A beginner's textbook tells one story that starts simply and grows chapter by chapter, with free exercises on its site. | skapago.eu |
If a new word shows up in almost every line, switch to something easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Norwegian pronunciation hard?
Most of it comes quickly once you listen while you read. Norwegian has a few sounds English doesn't, like the y in by (city) and the kj in kjøre (drive). Some letters are silent too, such as the d in god (good) and the h in hva (what), and hearing each word before you say it helps with those.
Can I learn Norwegian just by watching Norwegian TV?
Not at the start, because most of an episode goes by too fast for a beginner to learn from. Shows help more once you can follow a simple conversation, especially with Norwegian subtitles on. NRK, Norway's public broadcaster, must subtitle every pre-recorded TV program, so you can turn on Norwegian subtitles for almost any show on NRK TV.
Which Norwegian app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning Norwegian, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. For courses, tutors and speaking practice, see our comparison of Norwegian apps.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Foreign Language Training (FSI language categories)
- Barnebøker for Norge, Bokmål stories at five levels
- Barnebøker for Norge, Om oss (read and listen at the same time)
- Lær norsk nå! and Norsk for Beginners, podcasts by Marius Stangeland
- Duostories, Norwegian (Bokmål) stories for English speakers
- NRK, Tilgjengelighet: Hva sier loven at NRK må tekste?
