Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
68Kviews
40 Brilliantly Literal Norwegian Words That Say Exactly What They Mean Illustrated By Me
I love languages and I really love funny words and phrases.
But as a Norwegian, I sometimes catch myself saying these weird things when I speak English because my brain directly translates the words. This causes some English-speaking people to scratch their heads—“What on earth is an Ice Bear? Or an Ink Squirt? And why would I eat a Lard Ring?”
So I made this Instagram account where I translate words from Norwegian to English in a bad way. I also add a drawing so people can understand what it is.
I hope people will like it, and maybe have a little laugh, also I hope that you guys can come up with words from your own language that would seem weird to non-speakers.
Hope you will enjoy these silly word translations!
More info: Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#5
Final score:
82points
Pogy Nevis 3 years ago
No idea why they named them this i only know that they are definitely right.
#6
Final score:
80points
Average Grizzlies Fan 3 years ago
I can imagine like a marine/action movie. "GET IN THE BLUBBER CHOPPER!!!!!"
#7
Final score:
79points
#9
Final score:
71points
#10
Final score:
70points
Pogy Nevis 3 years ago
Gold in a bag, how fitting, it only sucks that there's usually barely any gold...
#11
Final score:
68points
Pogy Nevis 3 years ago
Well, my little brother did once get scared of a hose and came home and said he saw a snake. We were all surprised well, i think you know what happened next...
#12
Final score:
61points
Cupcake168 3 years ago
I think it’s burned wine, not burning. as well as Nurse may be not sick sister but sister for the sick (in German the same, not "kranke Schwester" but "Kranken Schwester".
#17
Final score:
52points
#18
Final score:
49points
#19
Final score:
48points
Mary Rose Kent 3 years ago
Do Norwegian skunks have pink noses? North American skunks have black noses.
#20
Final score:
47points
#22
Final score:
45points
#26
Final score:
39points
Simping for the wrong kind 3 years ago
This is what I am going to call every janitor, "Good evening GUARD MASTER!!!"
#28
Final score:
38points
#29
Final score:
37points
#36
Final score:
31points
Jacob Eirikson 3 years ago
I actually thought instead of saying plumber it was just going to say Mario
#37
Final score:
31points
RoseTheMad 3 years ago
"Skill Skating" in Finnish. Makes sense. a lot of it. I can barely skate normally lmao.
#39
Final score:
30points
Mats Iversen (Submission author) 3 years ago
Upon till recently they were called the same, but the name has been changed to a more gender neutral “Helsesykepleier” which would translate to “health nurse”
Load More Replies... Batman is coming 3 years ago
I'd rather get treated at the school with the health sister then the sick sister at the hospital.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Woets 3 years ago
It is fun to read how much our languages are alike (Dutch), many words translate the same. Small world. Thank you for sharing
Blinding_Darkness 3 years ago
I know one in German! 'Glove' in German is 'Handschuhe', like 'Hand shoe'. A glove is a shoe for the hand. Sorry if the spellings wrong lol.
cassiushumanmother 3 years ago
this post is really interresting to show how we name things, in Nordic countries it's really practicall, like schornsteinfeger in german 'the one who cleans chimney" from "to sweep+chimney". In France we are more artistic like "barbe à papa", "daddys beard" for "candy floss".
Load More Replies...
Elisabet Larsen 3 years ago (edited)
The translation of the toaster isnt right. If it was bread shaker it would be breadryster not bread rister. I know that google translate says it is the same. But it is not. Riste trandlates into toast og roast. Im not from norway. Im from Denmark but our language is very similar.
Jonette H 3 years ago
Actually, to "riste" means to shake :) Most norwegians don't use the word "ryste". But in the brødristers case, I suppose "riste" points to the toasting and not the shaking :)
Load More Replies...
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
Interesting that "dandelion" is "lion's teeth" in both Germanic and Latin language groups. The differences between the two are usually where Brits and Americans argue about English. Brits use "biscuit" from the French, while Americans use "cookie" from the Dutch.
cassiushumanmother 3 years ago
Yes, but i will be glad to know what "koekje" exactly means in dutch. In french "biscuit" means "cooked two times" because the primary ones were just a type of bread dough cooked 2 to 4 times to get a "biscuit".
Load More Replies...
Fixin'Ta 3 years ago
I had fun quizzing my Norwegian hubby about these. He thought a couple were a little off, but otherwise agreed with the meanings (the literal Norwegian to English). He says Scandinavian and other Germanic languages are very descriptive. (I feel badly that I didn't really learn Norwegian as well as I would have liked after we got married, didn't really keep up what I did learn. It's a wonderful language.)
Astrid Nineor 3 years ago
Also, the reason why you might need a sick car / sister / house is that somebody offered you to sit down; Slå deg ned; Hit / strike / punch yourself down
John Blakey 3 years ago
To be fair, Hippopotamus also means River Horse ( or horse of the river), but in ancient Greek.
conejocongato 3 years ago
same here, bro! with 7 languages in my head i am prone to produce similar errors..
Woets 3 years ago
It is fun to read how much our languages are alike (Dutch), many words translate the same. Small world. Thank you for sharing
Blinding_Darkness 3 years ago
I know one in German! 'Glove' in German is 'Handschuhe', like 'Hand shoe'. A glove is a shoe for the hand. Sorry if the spellings wrong lol.
cassiushumanmother 3 years ago
this post is really interresting to show how we name things, in Nordic countries it's really practicall, like schornsteinfeger in german 'the one who cleans chimney" from "to sweep+chimney". In France we are more artistic like "barbe à papa", "daddys beard" for "candy floss".
Load More Replies... Elisabet Larsen 3 years ago (edited)
The translation of the toaster isnt right. If it was bread shaker it would be breadryster not bread rister. I know that google translate says it is the same. But it is not. Riste trandlates into toast og roast. Im not from norway. Im from Denmark but our language is very similar.
Jonette H 3 years ago
Actually, to "riste" means to shake :) Most norwegians don't use the word "ryste". But in the brødristers case, I suppose "riste" points to the toasting and not the shaking :)
Load More Replies... Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
Interesting that "dandelion" is "lion's teeth" in both Germanic and Latin language groups. The differences between the two are usually where Brits and Americans argue about English. Brits use "biscuit" from the French, while Americans use "cookie" from the Dutch.
cassiushumanmother 3 years ago
Yes, but i will be glad to know what "koekje" exactly means in dutch. In french "biscuit" means "cooked two times" because the primary ones were just a type of bread dough cooked 2 to 4 times to get a "biscuit".
Load More Replies... Fixin'Ta 3 years ago
I had fun quizzing my Norwegian hubby about these. He thought a couple were a little off, but otherwise agreed with the meanings (the literal Norwegian to English). He says Scandinavian and other Germanic languages are very descriptive. (I feel badly that I didn't really learn Norwegian as well as I would have liked after we got married, didn't really keep up what I did learn. It's a wonderful language.)
Astrid Nineor 3 years ago
Also, the reason why you might need a sick car / sister / house is that somebody offered you to sit down; Slå deg ned; Hit / strike / punch yourself down
John Blakey 3 years ago
To be fair, Hippopotamus also means River Horse ( or horse of the river), but in ancient Greek.
conejocongato 3 years ago
same here, bro! with 7 languages in my head i am prone to produce similar errors..
Related on Bored Panda
