The Languages of Norway Explained

From Bokmål and Nynorsk to Sami and English, Norway is home to more languages than you might expect. Here’s what you need to know before you visit or move.

Norway may be a small country by population, but its linguistic landscape is surprisingly diverse. While most people associate the country with the Norwegian language, the reality is more layered than that.

There are two official written forms of Norwegian, each with its own history and regional use. Add to that a wide range of spoken dialects, some of which are so distinct they can be hard for Norwegians from other regions to follow.

Then there are the Indigenous Sami languages, the heritage language of Kven, and a growing number of people who speak immigrant languages at home. And, of course, there’s English, which plays a significant role in education, business, and daily life.

Understanding this mix of languages helps explain how communication works in modern Norway, both formally, in schools and government, and informally, on the street or in the workplace.

If you plan to live, work, or even just travel here, getting to grips with how language functions in Norway can make a big difference to your experience.

In this guide, we’ll explore the origins and development of Norwegian, take a look at how the two written forms differ, and introduce the other languages you may hear in different parts of the country.

Whether you’re planning to learn the Norwegian language or just want to understand what’s going on around you, this is a good place to start.

What Languages Do Norwegians Speak?

The short answer is Norwegian, but even that needs some explanation. Norwegian is the official language of Norway, and it exists in two written forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Both are used in schools, public administration, and media.

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

Most Norwegians write in Bokmål, while Nynorsk is more common in certain parts of western and central Norway. All schoolchildren learn to read and understand both, regardless of which form is used in their region.

When it comes to spoken language, things become even more varied. Norway has no single standard spoken Norwegian. Instead, regional dialects dominate everyday conversation, and they can differ significantly from one part of the country to another.

This variety is something Norwegians are proud of, and people tend to continue speaking their local dialect throughout life, regardless of where they move or work.

In addition to Norwegian, English is widely spoken across Norway. Children start learning it from around the age of eight, though exposure through media often begins much earlier.

By their teenage years, most Norwegians are fluent English speakers. English is not only used socially but also increasingly in the workplace, particularly in science, technology, and international business settings.

Many Norwegians also speak a third language, often learned at school. German and Spanish are the most popular options, although French is also offered in some schools. In general, Norwegians are strong language learners and tend to have a positive attitude toward multilingualism.

Finally, minority languages such as Sami and Kven are spoken in certain regions, particularly in the north. These languages have official recognition and are an important part of Norway’s cultural landscape, though they are used by a relatively small portion of the population.

So while “Norwegian” might be the expected answer, the real picture is far more diverse, and much more interesting.

Historical Development of Norwegian

To understand the modern Norwegian language, it helps to look back at how it evolved. Like many languages, Norwegian is the product of centuries of political shifts, cultural exchanges, and gradual changes in grammar and pronunciation. It all begins with the language of the Vikings.

Old Norse: Norway's Linguistic Ancestor

The earliest form of the language spoken in what is now Norway was Old Norse. This was the common tongue of the Viking Age, used throughout Scandinavia and in Viking settlements across the North Atlantic and British Isles.

Old Norse formed the basis for all the modern North Germanic languages, including Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Icelandic, and Faroese. While the language is no longer spoken, its influence is still felt in Norwegian vocabulary, grammar, and even place names.

Old Norwegian and the Impact of the Black Death

Over time, Old Norse developed into Old Norwegian, a localised variant used throughout the country during the Middle Ages. It was very similar to Old Icelandic but had its own regional traits.

Like many languages of the period, Old Norwegian was never standardised and included a wide range of local dialects.

In the 14th century, the Black Death swept through Norway, killing much of the population and triggering profound social and cultural upheaval. As the population shrank and communities became more isolated, the language changed too.

Grammar was simplified, vocabulary was lost or reshaped, and the overall structure of the language began to shift. This transitional period is known as Middle Norwegian.

The Danish Influence

From the late 1300s until 1814, Norway was ruled from Copenhagen, and Danish became the dominant written language in administration, literature, and education.

While people in Norway continued speaking Norwegian dialects in daily life, the written language became increasingly Danish. This had a lasting influence on the development of modern Norwegian, particularly on the form we now know as Bokmål.

Norwegian Bokmål

When people refer to the Norwegian language today, they are usually talking about Bokmål, which translates to “book language.” It is the most commonly used written form of Norwegian and is understood by virtually everyone in the country.

Bokmål has its roots in written Danish, which was used in Norway during centuries of political union with Denmark. After Norway gained independence in the early 19th century, Danish remained the dominant written language for some time.

Gradually, reforms were introduced to bring the language closer to Norwegian speech. These changes resulted in what we now know as Bokmål.

Today, around 80 to 90 percent of Norwegians use Bokmål as their primary written language. It is the default language in most schools, newspapers, businesses, and most public offices.

If you are learning Norwegian as a second language, Bokmål is the version you are most likely to encounter in textbooks, courses, and apps.

Bokmål continues to evolve, and not everyone agrees on the best spelling and grammar. Some people still prefer a slightly more conservative version known as Riksmål, which more closely resembles older Danish-influenced Norwegian.

Norwegian Nynorsk

The other written standard for the language is known as Nynorsk, or ‘new Norwegian'. Its history is complex, but despite the name it is meant to better reflect the Old/Middle Norwegian language used before the union with Denmark.

Although used as the primary language is many municipalities and schools, these are largely rural and so only around 12-15% of the population use Nynorsk as their primary form.

However, Nynorsk is a mandatory subject for schoolchildren in Norway, so the understanding of the alternative spellings is high.

Nynorsk is also regularly seen on the website of the state broadcaster, NRK, whose journalists are free to use either form.

Dialects of Spoken Norwegian

While Bokmål and Nynorsk are official written forms of Norwegian, there is no single standard for how the language is spoken. Instead, Norway is home to a wide variety of regional dialects, and these play a central role in everyday communication.

Unlike many countries where people tend to adopt a standardised national accent, Norwegians typically speak their local dialect throughout their lives.

Dialects vary in pronunciation, vocabulary, and even grammar, and the differences between them can be significant. Even to the point where two Norwegians may struggle to understand each other at first.

Because of this diversity, spoken Norwegian often sounds quite different from what learners see in textbooks. Most Norwegian language courses for foreigners focus on the Oslo dialect, also known as Eastern Norwegian.

It is commonly heard in the media and in larger cities, which has given it the reputation of being an unofficial standard.

A more recent feature of the linguistic landscape is kebabnorsk, a slang-heavy urban dialect that blends Norwegian with elements of Arabic, Turkish, Urdu, and other immigrant languages.

It originated in multicultural neighbourhoods in Oslo and reflects the city’s increasingly diverse population. While it’s not formal or widely understood outside the capital, it’s an interesting example of how language continues to evolve in modern Norway.

Sami

The Sami language – or more accurately group of languages – is spoken natively by less than 50,000 in Norway. It has official minority language status.

Since the Sami Act and the creation of the Sami Parliament in 1989, the language has seen a renewed focus with governmental support and grants available to writers and other creatives actively using the language. Whether this results in increased native use remains to be seen.

One of the issues is that there are ten variants of Sami, some of which are notably different. All of them have one thing in common though. They are wildly different from Norwegian!

Sami has its roots in the Uralic language family (of which Hungarian and Finnish are the best known) so they are impossible for native Scandinavian language speakers to understand.

I don't know how close Sami is to Finnish, so if there are any Finnish readers out there, please drop me a note and let me know!

Kven

But wait, we're not finished yet! The Kven language is spoken by the Kven people, a minority group in northern Norway with strong Finnish heritage.

The language is said to be spoken by as few as 10,000 people, the majority of which are of retired age, so there is a big risk of it dying out in the coming years.

The language is essentially a strong dialect of Finnish. Two notable features are the high number of Norwegian loan words and the use of Finnish words that are no longer used in Finland.

This reminds me of some Norwegian Americans that use phrasing and terms that are no longer used in modern Norway.

The English Language in Norway

It would be wrong of me to publish an article about what languages are spoken in Norway without mentioning the obvious elephant in the room: English!

English is taught from the third year of school, which is basically from the age of 8 onwards although some ‘fun' games involving counting, colours and so on could've started a year or two earlier.

Nevertheless, it's common for kids to already have a decent grasp on the language by the age of 8 because of YouTube, Netflix and the like!

By the time they reach the teenage years, the vast majority of Norwegians are fluent in English, and that ability sustains itself throughout adult life with the exposure to English language culture on TV, film and online.

English is also increasingly becoming the business language of Norway. Of course this isn't true for all sectors, but in science and engineering, many offices operate on an English-first policy.

What Languages of Norway Should You Learn?

If you’re planning to move to Norway, learning the language is one of the most important steps you can take. It’s essential for everyday life, building relationships, and accessing work and education.

For anyone hoping to stay long term, it’s also a requirement. Most applicants for permanent residency or citizenship must pass official Norwegian language exams, especially to prove spoken communication skills.

Learn Norwegian Now: Norwegian Class 101 / The Mystery of Nils

But what kind of Norwegian should you learn? For the vast majority of learners, Bokmål is the best starting point.

It’s used by most of the population, and nearly all Norwegian language courses and learning resources are based on Bokmål. If you're studying Norwegian from abroad or planning to live in Oslo or other larger cities, Bokmål will serve you well.

If you’re moving to western Norway, especially to smaller towns or rural areas, you may encounter Nynorsk as the main written form. In these regions, schoolbooks, signage, and local government documents may be written in Nynorsk.

While this might seem intimidating, all Norwegians are taught to understand both forms in school, and most are used to switching between them.

If you're interested in mastering both forms, a good approach is to start with Bokmål and then learn to read and write Nynorsk once you’re comfortable with the basics. Understanding both will give you a deeper appreciation of the language and culture. After all, it’s something Norwegians themselves are expected to do.

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