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Family and Relatives
Learn the most important words for talking about family and relatives in Norwegian.
Family and Relatives
Family is very important in Norway. Here you will learn the most important words for talking about family and relatives.
Basic Family Words
| Norwegian | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| familie | /fa-MIL-je/ | Min familie bor i Norge. — My family lives in Norway. |
| mor/mamma | /moor/MAM-ma/ | Mamma min jobber på sykehuset. — My mum works at the hospital. |
| far/papa | /faar/PAH-pa/ | Far min liker å fiske. — My dad likes to fish. |
| søster | /SØS-ter/ | Søsteren min er lærer. — My sister is a teacher. |
| bror | /bruur/ | Broren min studerer i Oslo. — My brother studies in Oslo. |
| besteforeldre | /BES-te-for-eld-re/ | Jeg besøker besteforeldrene mine hver søndag. — I visit my grandparents every Sunday. |
| bestemor | /BES-te-moor/ | Bestemor bor på aldershjem. — Grandma lives in a care home. |
| bestefar | /BES-te-faar/ | Bestefar forteller alltid gode historier. — Grandad always tells good stories. |
Spouse and Children
| Norwegian | Pronunciation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mann/ektemann | /mann/EK-te-mahn/ | Mannen min er snill. — My husband is kind. |
| kone/hustru | /KOO-ne/HUS-tru/ | Kona mi er snill. — My wife is kind. |
| barn | /bahrn/ | Vi har tre barn. — We have three children. |
| sønn | /søn/ | Sønnen min går på skolen. — My son goes to school. |
| datter | /DAT-ter/ | Datteren min spiller fotball. — My daughter plays football. |
Useful Phrases
- Hvor stor er familien din? — How big is your family?
- Jeg har en stor/liten familie — I have a big/small family
- Jeg er gift/ugift — I am married/unmarried
- Jeg har ikke barn — I do not have children
Cultural Tip
In Norway it is common to use first names with parents-in-law after a while. Many Norwegian families gather for a family dinner on Sundays. It is also common for grandparents to have close contact with their grandchildren.