Learning Norwegian

NO LANGUAGE BARRIERS: Talented people from all over the world gather in Trondheim. Happy faces at the Zedge company.
NO LANGUAGE BARRIERS: Talented people from all over the world gather in Trondheim. Happy faces at the Zedge company.

How important is it to learn norwegian? And what is the easiest way to incorporate those pesky Æ-, Ø-, and Å's into your daily vocabulary?



First things first: Do you have to learn Norwegian to work or study in the country? The short answer is «no, but…»

Most Norwegians speak English quite fluently. So off work you'll have few issues being part of the society without knowing Norwegian. If you work for an international company, or attend an international study programme, it is possible to surf through your entire Norwegian adventure – not learning a single word.

If you, however, work for a company where the working language is Norwegian, attend university courses held in Norwegian, or simply just wish to get a little bit more out of your stay – learning Norwegian will be a worthwhile investment.

And in that case you are in for some good news: It is not that difficult. Some people even claim it is one of the easiest languages to learn for an English speaker, thanks to the similarities in grammar, syntax and words.

There is of course a lot of help in apps like Duolingo, which you can start using before you move – and can teach you some words and expressions as a foundation to later build upon.

Here are some options: