Word lists › Norwegian
The most common Norwegian words, in frequency order
This is a frequency-based Norwegian word list: words ranked by how often they actually occur in everyday text, with translations and pronunciation. Frequency-based learning means studying words in this order, so every hour goes to the words you will meet most. Learn the first 500 and you will recognise about 73% of the words in everyday Norwegian. That is Zipf's law, and it is why this list is in this order. The first 250 are below; Zipf teaches all 5,000.
73%of everyday Norwegian text is the first 500 words
Learn them in order with Zipf → Free for 10 days, then $4 / €4 a month.
The 250 most common Norwegian words
| # | Word | IPA | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | være | /²ʋæːrə/ | verb | to be |
| 2 | i | /iː/ | preposition | in, at |
| 3 | og | /ɔ/ | conjunction | and |
| 4 | det | /ˈdeː/ | pronoun | it |
| 5 | en | /eːn/ | article | a, an |
| 6 | å | /oː/ | particle | to (infinitive marker) |
| 7 | ha | /hɑː/ | verb | to have |
| 8 | på | /poː/ | preposition | on |
| 9 | som | /sɔm/ | conjunction | as |
| 10 | til | /tɪl/ | preposition | to |
| 11 | for | /ˈfɔrː/ | adverb | too |
| 12 | av | /ɑːʋ/ | preposition | of, by |
| 13 | jeg | /jæɪ̯/ | pronoun | I |
| 14 | ikke | /²ɪkːə/ | adverb | not |
| 15 | med | /meː/ | preposition | with |
| 16 | at | /at/ | conjunction | that |
| 17 | du | /dʉː/ | pronoun | you |
| 18 | de | /diː/ | pronoun | they |
| 19 | bli | /bliː/ | verb | to become |
| 20 | vi | /ʋiː/ | pronoun | we |
| 21 | noen | /²nuː.ɛn/ | pronoun | some, someone |
| 22 | om | /ɔm/ | preposition | about |
| 23 | den | /ˈdɛn/ | pronoun | that |
| 24 | kunne | verb | can, could | |
| 25 | så | /soː/ | adverb | so |
| 26 | fra | /fɾɑː/ | preposition | from |
| 27 | få | verb | to get, receive | |
| 28 | men | conjunction | but | |
| 29 | han | /han/ | pronoun | he |
| 30 | gjøre | /ˈjø̂ːɾə/ | verb | to do |
| 31 | skulle | verb | shall, should | |
| 32 | mye | /²myːə/ | adjective | much, a lot |
| 33 | seg | pronoun | oneself, himself, herself | |
| 34 | ville | verb | to want | |
| 35 | all | article | all | |
| 36 | god | /ɡuː/ | adjective | good |
| 37 | dette | pronoun | this | |
| 38 | se | /seː/ | verb | to see |
| 39 | annen | /ˈɑːˌɑn/ | adjective | other |
| 40 | ta | /tʰɑː/ | verb | to take |
| 41 | bare | adverb | only, just | |
| 42 | også | adverb | also, too | |
| 43 | komme | /²kɔmːə/ | verb | to come |
| 44 | ut | adverb | out | |
| 45 | nå | /noː/ | adverb | now |
| 46 | da | conjunction | when | |
| 47 | gå | /ɡoː/ | verb | to walk, go |
| 48 | hva | /ʋɑː/ | pronoun | what |
| 49 | måtte | verb | must, have to | |
| 50 | etter | preposition | after | |
| 51 | mange | /ˈmɑŋə/ | adjective | many |
| 52 | eller | conjunction | or | |
| 53 | si | /siː/ | verb | to say |
| 54 | når | /nɔɾ/ | conjunction | when |
| 55 | her | /hæːɾ/ | adverb | here |
| 56 | år | /oːɾ/ | noun · neuter | year |
| 57 | hel | adjective | whole, entire | |
| 58 | sin | pronoun | his, her, its, their | |
| 59 | min | /miːn/ | pronoun | my, mine |
| 60 | stor | /stuːɾ/ | adjective | big, large |
| 61 | man | /mɑnː/ | pronoun | one, you |
| 62 | opp | /ɔpː/ | adverb | up |
| 63 | over | /ˈoːʋəɾ/ | preposition | over, above |
| 64 | norsk | /nɔʂk/ | adjective | Norwegian |
| 65 | litt | adverb | a little | |
| 66 | hun | /hʉn/ | pronoun | she |
| 67 | dag | /dɑːɡ/ | noun · masculine | day |
| 68 | ved | /ʋeː/ | preposition | by, at, near |
| 69 | gi | /jiː/ | verb | to give |
| 70 | inn | /ɪn/ | adverb | in |
| 71 | denne | pronoun | this | |
| 72 | enn | /ɛnː/ | conjunction | than |
| 73 | din | /diːn/ | pronoun | your, yours |
| 74 | der | /dæːɾ/ | adverb | there |
| 75 | hvor | /ʋʊɾ/ | adverb | where |
| 76 | tro | [ˈtruː] | verb | to believe, think |
| 77 | bruke | verb | to use | |
| 78 | ny | adjective | new | |
| 79 | igjen | adverb | again | |
| 80 | mot | /muːt/ | preposition | against, towards |
| 81 | selv | /sɛl/ | pronoun | self |
| 82 | gang | noun · masculine | time, occasion | |
| 83 | tid | /tiːd/ | noun · masculine | time |
| 84 | to | /tuː/ | numeral | two |
| 85 | hvis | conjunction | if | |
| 86 | før | adverb | before | |
| 87 | legge | /ˈlêɡːe/ | verb | to lay, put |
| 88 | finne | noun · masculine | Finn | |
| 89 | vite | /²ʋiːtɛ/ | verb | to know |
| 90 | liten | /²liːtən/ | adjective | small, little |
| 91 | slik | /sliːk/ | adjective | such |
| 92 | vel | adverb | well, probably | |
| 93 | jo | adverb | yes (contradicting) | |
| 94 | folk | noun · neuter | people, folk | |
| 95 | uten | /ʉː.ten/ | preposition | without |
| 96 | hvordan | /ʋʊɾdɑn/ | adverb | how |
| 97 | ingen | pronoun | no one | |
| 98 | vår | /ʋoːɾ/ | pronoun | our, ours |
| 99 | dere | /ˈdeːrə/ | pronoun | you (plural) |
| 100 | burde | /²bʉɾdə/ | verb | should, ought to |
| 101 | siden | [ˈsiːd(ə)n] | adverb | ago |
| 102 | like | adverb | equally, just as | |
| 103 | nok | /nɔkː/ | adverb | enough, probably |
| 104 | mann | /mɑnː/ | noun · masculine | man, person |
| 105 | del | noun · masculine | part, share | |
| 106 | første | adjective | first | |
| 107 | kanskje | /²kɑn.ʃə/ | adverb | perhaps, maybe |
| 108 | bra | /brɑː/ | adjective | good, fine |
| 109 | stå | verb | to stand, be located | |
| 110 | rett | /ɾɛtː/ | noun · masculine | dish |
| 111 | under | /ˈʉ̂nːəɾ/ | preposition | under, during |
| 112 | samme | adjective | same | |
| 113 | sammen | adverb | together | |
| 114 | skje | /ʃeː/ | noun · masculine | spoon |
| 115 | holde | [ˈhɔ̂ldə] | verb | to hold, keep |
| 116 | tenke | verb | to think | |
| 117 | disse | pronoun | these, those | |
| 118 | prøve | noun · masculine | test | |
| 119 | aldri | /²ɑldrɪ/ | adverb | never |
| 120 | ja | /jɑː/ | interjection | yes |
| 121 | mene | verb | to mean, to think | |
| 122 | hver | /ʋæːr/ | article | each, every |
| 123 | vise | verb | to show | |
| 124 | mellom | /ˈmɛlːɔm/ | preposition | between, among |
| 125 | lang | adjective | long; tall | |
| 126 | veldig | /ˈvɛl.di/ | adverb | very |
| 127 | barn | /bɑːɳ/ | noun · neuter | child |
| 128 | trenge | verb | to need, require | |
| 129 | sist | adjective | last | |
| 130 | høy | adjective | high, tall; loud | |
| 131 | land | /lɑnː/ | noun · neuter | country, land |
| 132 | ting | noun · masculine | a thing | |
| 133 | lage | verb | to make | |
| 134 | ønske | noun · neuter | wish | |
| 135 | kjøpe | verb | to buy | |
| 136 | viktig | adjective | important | |
| 137 | egen | adjective | own | |
| 138 | hvorfor | adverb | why | |
| 139 | sted | /steːd/ | noun · neuter | a place |
| 140 | kjenne | /ˈçɛnːə/ | verb | to know |
| 141 | sitte | verb | to sit | |
| 142 | rundt | preposition | around, about | |
| 143 | skrive | verb | to write | |
| 144 | tre | /tɾeː/ | numeral | three |
| 145 | liv | /liːʋ/ | noun · neuter | life; waist |
| 146 | høre | verb | to hear | |
| 147 | lenge | adverb | long | |
| 148 | klar | adjective | clear, ready | |
| 149 | nei | /næɪ/ | interjection | no |
| 150 | fordi | /fɔɾˈdiː/ | conjunction | because |
| 151 | hans | /hɑns/ | pronoun | his |
| 152 | snakke | /snɑkːɛ/ | verb | to speak, to talk |
| 153 | tidlig | adjective | early | |
| 154 | begynne | verb | to begin, start | |
| 155 | kvinne | /²kʋɪnːə/ | noun · masculine | a woman |
| 156 | ned | adverb | down | |
| 157 | gammel | adjective | old | |
| 158 | finnes | verb | to exist, be found | |
| 159 | frem | adverb | forward | |
| 160 | verden | noun · masculine | world | |
| 161 | lese | verb | to read | |
| 162 | spille | /spil.le/ | verb | to play |
| 163 | gjennom | /ˈjɛnːɔm/ | preposition | through |
| 164 | vei | noun · masculine | road, way | |
| 165 | sak | noun · masculine | case | |
| 166 | følge | /ˈfølɡe/ | verb | to follow, accompany |
| 167 | alltid | adverb | always | |
| 168 | tilbake | adverb | back | |
| 169 | fin | adjective | fine, nice | |
| 170 | sette | /²ˈsɛtː.ə/ | verb | to put, place |
| 171 | jobbe | verb | to work | |
| 172 | jente | /²jɛntə/ | noun · masculine | girl |
| 173 | møte | noun · neuter | meeting | |
| 174 | blant | /blɑnt/ | preposition | among |
| 175 | både | conjunction | both | |
| 176 | synes | verb | to think, seem | |
| 177 | ligge | /²lɪɡːə/ | verb | to lie, be situated |
| 178 | person | /pær.suːn/ | noun · masculine | person |
| 179 | bilde | /ˈbɪldə/ | noun · neuter | picture, image |
| 180 | grunn | noun · masculine | reason, ground | |
| 181 | sikker | adjective | sure, certain | |
| 182 | sånn | adjective | such | |
| 183 | hos | /hʊsː/ | preposition | at, with |
| 184 | jobb | noun · masculine | job | |
| 185 | kjøre | verb | to drive | |
| 186 | mens | conjunction | while | |
| 187 | akkurat | [ˈɑkːʉɾɑːt] | adverb | exactly, right |
| 188 | sende | verb | to send | |
| 189 | by | /byː/ | verb | to offer |
| 190 | penger | /peŋːer/ | noun · masculine | money |
| 191 | mulig | adjective | possible | |
| 192 | skole | /skuːlə/ | noun · masculine | school |
| 193 | takk | /tak/ | interjection | thanks |
| 194 | deres | /ˈdeː.ɾəs/ | pronoun | their |
| 195 | måte | /ˈmôːte/ | noun · masculine | way, manner |
| 196 | menneske | /ˈmɛnː(ə)skə/ | noun · neuter | human being, person |
| 197 | velge | verb | to choose | |
| 198 | feil | /fæɪl/ | adjective | wrong |
| 199 | politi | noun · neuter | police | |
| 200 | hjelpe | verb | to help | |
| 201 | ofte | /ɔftə/ | adverb | often |
| 202 | problem | noun · neuter | problem | |
| 203 | virkelig | adjective | real, actual | |
| 204 | plass | noun · masculine | space, place | |
| 205 | uke | noun · masculine | week | |
| 206 | heller | adverb | rather | |
| 207 | hvem | /vɛm/ | pronoun | who |
| 208 | føle | verb | to feel | |
| 209 | navn | /naʋn/ | noun · neuter | name |
| 210 | faktisk | adjective | actual, real | |
| 211 | bil | /biːl/ | noun · masculine | car |
| 212 | vinne | verb | to win | |
| 213 | øke | verb | to increase | |
| 214 | fortsatt | /foʈːʂatː/ | adverb | still |
| 215 | først | /fœɾst/ | adverb | first |
| 216 | vanskelig | adjective | difficult | |
| 217 | kommune | noun · masculine | municipality | |
| 218 | slå | verb | to hit, strike | |
| 219 | egentlig | adjective | actual, real | |
| 220 | ute | adverb | outside | |
| 221 | kalle | verb | to call, name | |
| 222 | time | noun · masculine | hour, lesson | |
| 223 | venn | noun · masculine | friend | |
| 224 | dårlig | adjective | bad, poor | |
| 225 | dra | verb | to leave, go | |
| 226 | klare | verb | to manage, clarify | |
| 227 | lære | /læː.rɛ/ | noun · masculine | doctrine |
| 228 | grei | adjective | simple, clear | |
| 229 | slutt | /slʉtː/ | noun · masculine | end |
| 230 | kamp | noun · masculine | fight, match | |
| 231 | håpe | verb | to hope | |
| 232 | bety | verb | to mean | |
| 233 | derfor | /ˈdærfɔr/ | adverb | therefore |
| 234 | eneste | adjective | only | |
| 235 | side | noun · masculine | page, side | |
| 236 | bruk | noun · masculine | use | |
| 237 | sen | adjective | late | |
| 238 | hvilken | pronoun | which | |
| 239 | kveld | /kʋɛlː/ | noun · masculine | evening |
| 240 | huske | noun · masculine | swing | |
| 241 | ord | /uːɾ/ | noun · neuter | word |
| 242 | område | noun · neuter | area | |
| 243 | leve | verb | to live | |
| 244 | neste | adjective | next | |
| 245 | nesten | adverb | almost, nearly | |
| 246 | spørsmål | noun · neuter | question | |
| 247 | vid | adjective | wide, broad | |
| 248 | familie | noun · masculine | family | |
| 249 | lett | /lɛtː/ | adjective | easy, light |
| 250 | forstå | [fɔ̞ˈʂʈo̞ː] | verb | to understand |
Words 251–5,000, with inflection tables, practice and the AI tutor, are in the app. Open Zipf →