Norwegian Genealogical Word List: Difference between revisions
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| This [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/RG/frameset_rg.asp?Dest=G1&Aid=&Gid=&Lid=&Sid=&Did=&Juris1=&Event=&Year=&Gloss=&Sub=&Tab=&Entry=&Guide=WLNorway.ASP Norwegian Word List] contains Norwegian words with their English translations. The words included here are those that you are likely to find in genealogical sources. If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a Norwegian-English dictionary. (See the "Additional Resources" section below.)  | |||
| Norwegian is a Germanic language like Swedish, Danish, and Icelandic. There are two official dialects in Norway. Prior to 1915 most Norwegian records are in a language closer to written Danish than to modern Norwegian. You may also want to refer to the [[Denmark Language and Languages|Danish Genealogical Word List]].   | |||
| Norwegian is a Germanic language like Swedish, Danish, and Icelandic. There are two official  | |||
| Records published after 1915, such as family and local histories, are in modern Norwegian. Most differences between modern and old Norwegian are simply a matter of spelling. Carefully study the section below on spelling. This will help you find the words in this list.   | Records published after 1915, such as family and local histories, are in modern Norwegian. Most differences between modern and old Norwegian are simply a matter of spelling. Carefully study the section below on spelling. This will help you find the words in this list.   | ||
| === LANGUAGE CHARACTERISTICS  === | |||
| Variant Forms of Words   | |||
| In Norwegian, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in a sentence. Who—whose—whom or marry—marries— married are examples of words in English with variant forms. The endings of a word in a document may differ from those in this list. For example:   | In Norwegian, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in a sentence. Who—whose—whom or marry—marries— married are examples of words in English with variant forms. The endings of a word in a document may differ from those in this list. For example:   | ||
| {|  | {| class="FCK__ShowTableBorders" | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| | Mann   | | Mann   | ||
| | man   | | man   | ||
| | Kone   | | Kone   | ||
| | wife | | wife | ||
| Line 36: | Line 20: | ||
| | Mannen   | | Mannen   | ||
| | the man   | | the man   | ||
| | Kona   | | Kona   | ||
| | the wife | | the wife | ||
| Line 42: | Line 25: | ||
| | Menn   | | Menn   | ||
| | men   | | men   | ||
| | Koner   | | Koner   | ||
| | wives | | wives | ||
| Line 48: | Line 30: | ||
| | Mennene   | | Mennene   | ||
| | the men   | | the men   | ||
| | Konene   | | Konene   | ||
| | the wives | | the wives | ||
| |} | |} | ||
| ===  | === <br>Alphabetical Order  === | ||
| Written Norwegian has three letters not found in the English alphabet: Æ (æ), Ø (ø), and Å (å). In most record sources prior to 1915, Å (å) is written as Aa (aa) and filed at the beginning of the alphabet. Modern Norwegian dictionaries, indexes, the Locality section of the Family History Library Catalog, and this word list use the following alphabetical order:  | |||
| a  b  c  d  e  f  g  h  i  j  k  l  m  n  o  p  q  r  s  t  u  v  w  x  y  z  æ  ø  å  | |||
| ==  | ==== <u>A through C</u> ==== | ||
| <u>'''A'''</u>  | |||
| '''absolvere                           to give absolution <br>adel                                   nobility <br>adelig                                noble <br>adelsmann                         nobleman <br>adoptert                             adopted <br>adresse                              address <br>aften                                  evening <br>alder                                  age <br>alderdomssvakhet             weakness of old age <br>aldri                                   never <br>alle                                    all <br>alltid                                  always <br>almisse                              charity <br>almisselem                        indigent, poor <br>altergang                           communion <br>amt                                    county <br>amtmann                           chief county administrator <br>andre                                 others, other, next <br>anetavle                             pedigree chart <br>anfall                                  seizure, attack <br>anførte                                entered, mentioned <br>ankomst                              arrival <br>anmerkning                        remark, notice, note <br>annen, annet                      second, another <br>annen gang                        second time <br>anno (Latin)                        year <br>annonsere                          publish, announce <br>antall                                  number, count <br>april                                   April <br>arbeider                             laborer <br>arkiv                                   archive <br>arv                                      inheritance <br>arvelodd                             share of inheritance <br>arving                                 heir <br>astma                                 asthma <br>at                                        that <br>atten                                   eighteen <br>attende                               eighteenth <br>attest                                   certificate <br>august                                 August <br>av                                        of, at, by, from <br>avdeling                              part, division <br>avdød                                  deceased <br>avgangen                            departed <br>avgift                                   duty (monetary), fee <br>avkom                                 offspring, issue <br>avtale                                  agreement <br>'''   | |||
| '''B'''  | |||
| '''bakbygning                        back building (additional residence behind the main building) <br>baker                                 baker <br>bakke                                 hill <br>bannlyse                            excommunicate <br>baptist                                Baptist <br>bar                                     carried <br>bar barnet                          held child (at baptism font) <br>bare                                   only <br>barn                                   child <br>barna                                 children <br>barndom                            childhood <br>barnebarn                          grandchild <br>barnedåp                           child baptism <br>barnefar                             child’s father <br>barnløs                               childless <br>barsel                                 birth <br>barselfeber                         childbed fever <br>barselseng                          birthing bed <br>be                                       pray, request <br>beboer                                occupant, resident <br>bededag                             prayer day <br>bedrive hor                         commit adultery <br>befolkning                           population, people <br>begge                                  both <br>begivenhet                          event, occurrence <br>begravelse                          funeral, burial <br>begravet                              buried <br>behandle                            handle, treat, manage <br>bemerkning                        remark <br>ben                                     leg, bone <br>benekte                              deny <br>benåde                               pardon <br>beruset                               drunk <br>besetning                           livestock, crew <br>beskrivelse                         description <br>beslektet                             related <br>bestefar                              grandfather <br>besteforeldre                      grandparents <br>bestemor                            grandmother <br>besvangre                          impregnate, get with child, make pregnant <br>betale                                 pay <br>betler                                  beggar <br>bevilge                               grant <br>bevis                                   proof <br>bibliotek                             library <br>bind                                    volume (book) <br>biografi                               biography <br>biskop                                 bishop <br>bispedømme                       diocese <br>bli                                       become <br>blikkenslager                      tinsmith <br>blind                                   blind <br>blod                                    blood <br>blodgang                            dysentery'''  | |||
| '''blodskam                            incest <br>blodsott                               abnormal loss of blood during illness <br>bo                                        to live at <br>bodde                                  lived <br>bok                                      book <br>bokhandler                          bookseller <br>bokholder, bokfører             bookkeeper <br>bokstav                                letter, character <br>bolig                                    residence, house <br>bonde                                  farmer <br>bopel                                   residence, domicile <br>borger                                 citizen <br>borgermester                       mayor <br>borgerskap                          citizenship <br>bot                                       fine, penalty <br>brann                                   fire <br>brennevinsbrenner              distiller of spirits <br>brev                                     letter (correspondence) <br>bro                                       bridge <br>bror                                      brother <br>brordatter                             brother’s daughter <br>brorsønn                               brother’s son <br>brud                                      bride <br>brudgom                               bridegroom <br>bruk                                      farm, use <br>brygger                                 brewer <br>bryllup                                  wedding <br>budeie                                  milkmaid <br>buskap                                  livestock, crew <br>by                                         town, city <br>bygd                                     small country community, village <br>bygdebok                             rural chronicles <br>bygsel                                  lease <br>byll                                       abscess <br>byllepest                              plague (bubonic) <br>bære                                    carry <br>bøkker                                  cooper, barrel maker <br>både                                     both, either <br>båret                                     carried <br>båt                                        boat, ship <br>båtbygger                             shipbuilder <br>båtsmann                              boatswain, bosun '''  | |||
| <br> | <br> | ||
| '''C'''  | |||
| '''cirka                                      approximately <br>communion                           Communion <br>confirmerede                         confirmed <br>copulerede                            marriage '''  | |||
| <br> | |||
| ==== <u>'''D''' through F</u>  ==== | |||
| <u>'''D'''</u>  | |||
| '''dag                                        day <br>dagen før                               the previous day <br>dagsarbeider                         day laborer <br>dal                                         valley <br>Danmark                                Denmark <br>dannekvinde                         gentlewoman <br>dannemand                          gentleman <br>dansk                                    Danish <br>dato                                      date (noun) <br>datter                                    daughter <br>datterdatter                           daughter’s daughter <br>dattersønn                             daughter’s son <br>datum (Latin)                        date <br>dele                                       to divide, to share <br>dem                                       them, they <br>den                                        the, it, that <br>denne                                    this <br>der                                         there <br>deres                                      their <br>derfor                                     therefore <br>desember                               December <br>det                                          it, that, the <br>difteri                                      diphtheria <br>din                                           your <br>disse                                        these <br>diverse                                    various <br>dokument                                document <br>domkirke                                 cathedral <br>dommer                                   judge <br>dragon                                     dragoon, light cavalryman <br>dreng                                       boy <br>drengebarn                              male child <br>drepe                                       kill <br>dronning                                  queen <br>druknet                                    drowned <br>dydig                                       virtuous <br>dø                                            to die <br>døbt(e)                                     christening <br>død                                          dead, death <br>døde                                        died, death <br>dødfødt                                    stillborn <br>dødsfall                                   death <br>døgn                                        24-hour period of time <br>døpt                                         baptized, christened <br>døtre                                        daughters <br>døv                                          deaf <br>døvstum                                   deaf and dumb <br>dåp                                          baptism <br>dåpsattest                                certificate of baptism <br>dåpsdag                                   day of baptism '''  | |||
| <br> | |||
| <u>'''E'''</u> | |||
| '''efter                                           after <br>efterkommer                              descendant <br>efterlatte                                    surviving, survivors <br>efterlevende                              surviving <br>eftermiddag                               afternoon <br>efternavn                                   surname, last name <br>egen                                          own <br>egentlig                                     actual <br>egteviede                                  marriage <br>eie, eje                                      to own <br>eiendom                                    property, real estate <br>ekte                                           legitimate, to marry <br>ektefelle                                    spouse <br>ektemann                                  husband <br>ektepar                                      married couple <br>ekteskap                                    marriage <br>ekteskapelig                              marital, conjugal <br>ekteviet                                     married <br>eldre                                         older <br>eldst                                          oldest, eldest <br>elev                                           student <br>eller                                          or, or else <br>elleve                                       eleven <br>ellevte                                      eleventh <br>elv                                            river, stream <br>embete                                    public office <br>embetsmann                           public official <br>emigrant                                  emigrant <br>emigrere                                  emigrate <br>en, et                                       a, one <br>enebarn                                   only child <br>engelsk                                    English <br>England                                   England <br>enhver                                     each <br>enke                                        widow <br>enkemann                               widower <br>enkestand                                widowed <br>ennu                                        yet, still <br>epilepsi                                    epilepsy <br>er                                             is, are <br>erhverv                                    livelihood <br>erkjenne                                  acknowledge <br>et                                             a, one <br>etasje                                      floor, story <br>etc. (Latin)                               et cetera, and so on <br>etternavn                                 surname, last <br>evne                                        intelligence <br>''' | |||
| <br><u>'''F'''</u> | |||
| '''fabrikk                                    factory <br>faddere                                  christening witnesses, godparents <br>fallesyke                                epilepsy <br>falt                                         fall, be killed in war <br>familie                                   family <br>familie                                   historie lineage books <br>far                                          father <br>farfar                                      paternal grandfather <br>farger                                     dyer, tanner <br>farmor                                    paternal grandmother <br>farsot                                      pestilence, plague <br>fartøy                                      vessel, craft <br>fattig                                       poor <br>fattigvesnet                             welfare agency <br>februar                                   February <br>felles                                      common, joint <br>fem                                         five <br>femte                                      fifth <br>femten                                    fifteen <br>femtende                                fifteenth <br>femti                                       fifty <br>femtiende                               fiftieth <br>fengsel                                   prison <br>festeseddet                             rental contract <br>festning                                  fortress <br>fetter                                      cousin (male) <br>Finnland                                Finland <br>finsk                                       Finnish <br>fire                                         four <br>fisker                                      fisherman <br>fjell                                        mountain <br>fjerde                                     fourth <br>fjorten                                    fourteen <br>fjortende                                fourteenth <br>flere                                       several, more <br>flittig                                      diligent <br>flytte                                      move <br>foged, fogd                            bailiff, sheriff <br>folio                                       page (double) <br>folk                                        people <br>folkemengde                         population <br>folkeregister                          citizen register, national register <br>folketelling                            census <br>for                                          for, at, before, by <br>foran                                      in front of <br>forblødning                            bled to death <br>foreldre                                  parents <br>foreldreløs                             orphan <br>forening                                 society <br>forfedre                                 ancestors, forefathers <br>forhenværende                      former, previous, preceding <br>forhus                                    house in front (usually the main house on a farm) <br>forkjølet                                 to have a cold <br>forklaring                               explanation <br>forlate                                    leave, forgive <br>forlovelse                               engagement <br>forlovere                                marriage witnesses <br>formiddag                              between morning and afternoon <br>formynder                              guardian <br>fornavn                                  first name, given name <br>forpakter                               manager of estate <br>forrige                                   former <br>forstand                                 intellect, mind <br>forstoppelse                          constipation, obstruction <br>forsørges                               supported <br>fortelle                                  tell, relate <br>fortid                                     past <br>forvalter                                manager <br>foster                                    fetus <br>fosterbarn                             foster child <br>fostre                                    foster, to rear <br>fra                                         from <br>fraflytte                                 leave, move away <br>fraværende                          absent <br>fredag                                  Friday <br>fremmed                              foreign, foreigner <br>fremtid                                 future <br>fru                                        Mrs. <br>fruentimmer                         unmarried mother, female person (derogatory) <br>fruktsommelig                      pregnant <br>frøken                                  Miss <br>full                                       full, complete, drunk <br>fullmektig                            head clerk, agent <br>fylke                                    county <br>fyr                                        lighthouse <br>fæstebrev                            to acquire land <br>føderåd                               support received after giving one’s estate to another <br>føderådskone                      woman receiving support <br>føderådsmann                     man receiving support <br>fødested                              birthplace <br>fødsel                                  birth <br>fødselsattest                        birth certificate <br>fødselsdag                           birthday <br>født(e)                                  born (birth) <br>følgende                              following, next <br>føllaug                                 retired <br>før                                        before <br>første                                   first <br>førti                                      forty <br>førtiende                              fortieth <br>får                                        sheep, receives '''  | |||
| <br> | |||
| ==== '''G''' through I  ==== | |||
| '''G''' | |||
| '''gammel  '''                             '''old '''<br>'''gartner                                gardener <br>garver                                 tanner <br>gate                                    street <br>gave                                   gift, endowment <br>geistlig                               ecclesiastical <br>geografisk leksikon            gazetteer <br>gift                                      marriage, married, poison <br>gikt                                     rheumatism <br>gjeld                                   debt <br>gjenlevende                       survivors <br>gjennom                             through <br>gjestgiver                           innkeeper <br>gjet, gjeit                            goat <br>gjeter                                  herdsman <br>gjørtler                                brazier, brass smith <br>god                                     good <br>gods                                    estate <br>godseier                              estate owner <br>gratis                                   free <br>grav                                    grave <br>graver                                 gravedigger, sexton <br>gravlund                             cemetery <br>gravsted                              burial place <br>gren                                    branch <br>grenader                             infantryman <br>grense                                 boundary, border <br>greve                                  Count (nobility) <br>grevinne                             Countess <br>grunn                                  ground, reason <br>gruve                                  mine, pit <br>gruvearbeider                    miner <br>grønn                                 green <br>gudfar                                godfather <br>gudmor                              godmother <br>gull                                    gold <br>gulsot                                 jaundice <br>gulv                                   floor <br>gutt                                    boy <br>gå                                      go, walk <br>gård                                   farm <br>gårdbruker                         farmer <br>gårdeier                             farm owner <br>gårsdagens                        of yesterday  ''' | |||
| ''' <br>''' | |||
| '''H'''  | |||
| '''ha                                      to have <br>hadde                                had <br>halshugget                        decapitated <br>halv                                   half <br>halvbror                            half brother <br>halvsøster                         half sister <br>ham                                  him <br>han                                   he <br>handelsmann                   merchant, trader <br>hans                                 his <br>hanskemaker                   glove maker <br>har                                   has, have <br>hattemaker                      hatmaker <br>havn                                harbor <br>heller                               rather <br>helligdag                         holiday <br>hengt seg                        hanged himself or herself <br>henne                              her <br>her                                   here <br>Herr                                  Mr. <br>herred                              judicial district <br>Herren                              the Lord <br>hest                                  horse <br>heter                                is named <br>historie                             history <br>hittebarn                          orphan, foundling <br>hjem                                home <br>hjemme                           at home <br>hjemmedøpt                    baptized at home <br>hjemmehørende              residing <br>hjerte                               heart <br>hjertefeil                          heart disease <br>hjul                                  wheel <br>hjulmaker                        wheelwright <br>holde                               hold, stop <br>horeri                              adultery <br>hos                                  with, at <br>hoste                               cough <br>hovedliste                       census list <br>hun                                 she <br>hundre(de)                      hundred (hundredth) <br>hus                                  house <br>husar                              hussar, cavalryman <br>husbonde                       head of household <br>husholderske                  housekeeper <br>husmann                        cottager, tenant farmer <br>husmor                           housewife <br>hustru                             wife <br>hva                                 what <br>hvem                              who <br>hver                                every <br>hvilken                           which <br>hvis                                if, whose <br>hvit                                 white <br>hvor                                where <br>hvordan                          how <br>hvorfor                            why <br>hvorvidt                           whether <br>høsten                             in the fall <br>høy                                  tall, high, hay <br>høyre                              right (side) <br>håndarbeide                   handwork <br>håndtering                      occupation <br>håndverk                         trade, handicraft '''  | |||
| <br> | |||
| '''I'''  | |||
| '''i                                       in <br>idiot                                 idiot <br>ifølge                               according to <br>igår                                  yesterday <br>igjen                                again <br>i hjel, slå                          kill <br>ikke                                  not <br>ikke enda                         not yet <br>ild                                     fire <br>imellom                            between, among <br>imorgen                            tomorrow <br>infeksjon                           infection <br>ingen                                 none <br>inn                                     in <br>inne i                                 inside <br>innerst                               renter, innermost <br>innflyttning                        moving in <br>innhold                              content <br>innsitter                              renter <br>innsjø                                 lake <br>innvandring                        immigration <br>intet                                    none <br>introduceret                        introduced <br>Island                                  Iceland <br>islandsk                               Icelandic ''' | |||
| ==== | ==== '''J through L'''  ==== | ||
| '''J''' | |||
| '''<br>januar January <br>jeg I <br>jeger light infantry soldier, hunter <br>jomfru damsel, Miss, virgin <br>jordbruk farming <br>jordet burial <br>jordmor midwife <br>jordpåkastelse ceremony of sprinkling earth on the coffin <br>jul Christmas <br>juli July <br>juni June <br>jurist lawyer ''' | |||
|   | |||
| '''K''' | |||
| '''kallet named <br>kanskje maybe, perhaps <br>karet coach <br>kart map <br>katolsk Catholic <br>kavaleri cavalry <br>kemmer peddler <br>kikhoste whooping cough <br>kirke church <br>kirkebok parish register <br>kirkegård cemetery, churchyard <br>kirkeværge church warden <br>kiste chest, coffin <br>kjent known <br>kjønn sex <br>kjøpe buy <br>kjøpmann merchant <br>klokker sexton, parish clerk, bell ringer, deacon <br>kloster convent, monastery <br>kokarde insignia <br>kolikk colic <br>kommune municipality, township <br>kone wife <br>konfirmasjon confirmation <br>konge king <br>kongedømme kingdom <br>kongelig royal <br>kontor office <br>kopper smallpox, copper <br>kort short, card <br>kort register card index <br>krampe convulsions, spasm <br>kreft cancer <br>krig war <br>ku cow <br>kun only <br>kunngjøre declare <br>kunnskap knowledge <br>kusine cousin (female) <br>kusk coachman, teamster <br>kveg cattle <br>kvele choke <br>kvell evening <br>kvinne woman <br>kvinnekjønn female <br>kyllinger chickens <br>kår support received after giving one’s estate to another <br>kårkone woman who receives kår <br>kårmann man who receives kår <br>''' | |||
| '''L''' | |||
| '''la let, allow <br>lagrettemann court member <br>land country <br>landsby village <br>langfredag Good Friday <br>laugverge widow’s guardian or spokesman <br>legd welfare, military levying district <br>legdslem welfare recipient <br>leie hire, rent <br>leier tenant <br>leilending leaseholder <br>lejermål illicit and punishable intercourse <br>lenge long <br>lensmann sheriff <br>lese read <br>leve live <br>levende live, living <br>lignende same, alike, similar <br>lik corpse, alike <br>likeledes also, as well <br>lille small <br>lite (litt) little <br>liten little, small <br>liv life <br>los pilot (ship) <br>losjerende boarder, lodger <br>lov law <br>lovlig legal <br>lungebetendelse pneumonia <br>luteraner Lutheran <br>lysning post banns <br>lysninger banns <br>læregutt apprentice <br>lærer teacher (male) <br>lærerinne teacher (female) <br>lærling apprentice <br>løpenummer serial number <br>lørdag Saturday <br>løsaktig loose or immoral woman <br>løsarbeider day laborer <br><br><br>'''<br>'''<br><br><br><br>'''  | |||
| ==== | === Spelling  === | ||
| Spelling was not standardized when most early records were made. The following spelling variations are common:  | |||
| {| class="plain FCK__ShowTableBorders" | |||
| {| class=" | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |  | | aa used for å <br> | ||
| | j used for gj | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |  | | b used for p  | ||
| | ld used for ll | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |  | | c used for k  | ||
| | nd used for nn | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |  | | d used for t  | ||
| | q used for k | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |  | | e used for æ  | ||
| | u used for v | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |  | | f used for v  | ||
| | w used for v | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |  | | g used for k  | ||
| | x used for ks | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |  | | i used for j  <br> | ||
| | ch used for k | |||
| |- | |- | ||
| |  | | tj used for kj <br> | ||
| | hj used for j | |||
| |  | |||
| |} | |} | ||
| <br>'''Examples:'''  | |||
| "gjørtler" spelled as "giørtler"<br>"mann" spelled as "mand"<br>"kvinne" spelled as "quinde"   | |||
| ==  | === ADDITIONAL RESOURCES  === | ||
| This word list includes only words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a Norwegian-English dictionary. Several Norwegian-English dictionaries are available at the  | This word list includes only words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a Norwegian-English dictionary. Several Norwegian-English dictionaries are available at the Family History Library. These are in the Scandinavian collection. Their call numbers begin with 439.82321. Family History Centers can obtain the following dictionaries on microfilm:   | ||
| Scavenius, H. ''Glydendals Ordbøker; Norsk-Engelsk [Gyldendal’s Dictionaries; Norwegian-English]''. Oslo, Norway: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, 1945. ( | Scavenius, H. ''Glydendals Ordbøker; Norsk-Engelsk [Gyldendal’s Dictionaries; Norwegian-English]''. Oslo, Norway: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, 1945. (FHL film 1,224,705, item 4).   | ||
| cavenius, H. ''Glydendals Ordbøker; Engelsk-Norsk [Glydendal’s Dictionaries; English-Norwegian'']. Oslo, Norway: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, 1945. ( | cavenius, H. ''Glydendals Ordbøker; Engelsk-Norsk [Glydendal’s Dictionaries; English-Norwegian'']. Oslo, Norway: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, 1945. (FHL film 1,224,705, item 3).<br><br>Additional dictionaries are listed in the Subject section of the Family History Library Catalog under NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES and in the Locality section under NORWAY - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES.   | ||
| ==  | === KEY WORDS  === | ||
| In order to find and use specific types of Norwegian records, you will need to know some key words in Norwegian. This section lists key genealogical terms in English and the Norwegian words with the same or similar meanings.   | In order to find and use specific types of Norwegian records, you will need to know some key words in Norwegian. This section lists key genealogical terms in English and the Norwegian words with the same or similar meanings.   | ||
| Line 2,479: | Line 170: | ||
| For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriage. In the second column you will find Norwegian words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined, and other words used in Norwegian records to indicate marriage.   | For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriage. In the second column you will find Norwegian words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined, and other words used in Norwegian records to indicate marriage.   | ||
| {| class=" | {| class="plain FCK__ShowTableBorders" | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| | '''English'''   | | '''English'''   | ||
| Line 2,487: | Line 178: | ||
| | lysninger | | lysninger | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| | birth   | | birth <br> | ||
| | fødte, født | | fødte, født | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| | burial   | | burial <br> | ||
| | begravelse, jordet | | begravelse, jordet | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| Line 2,496: | Line 187: | ||
| | folketelling | | folketelling | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| | child  | | child <br> | ||
| | barn | | barn | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| Line 2,502: | Line 193: | ||
| | døbte, døbt | | døbte, døbt | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| | clerical district   | | clerical district   | ||
| | prestegjeld | | prestegjeld | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| | confirmation   | | confirmation <br> | ||
| | konfirmasjon, konfirmerede | | konfirmasjon, konfirmerede | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| Line 2,547: | Line 238: | ||
| | fornavn | | fornavn | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| | name, surname   | | name, surname <br> | ||
| | etternavn | | etternavn | ||
| |- | |- | ||
| Line 2,569: | Line 260: | ||
| |} | |} | ||
| [[Category:Norway  | [[Category:Norway]] [[Category:Word_List]] | ||
Revision as of 14:19, 30 March 2009
This Norwegian Word List contains Norwegian words with their English translations. The words included here are those that you are likely to find in genealogical sources. If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a Norwegian-English dictionary. (See the "Additional Resources" section below.)
Norwegian is a Germanic language like Swedish, Danish, and Icelandic. There are two official dialects in Norway. Prior to 1915 most Norwegian records are in a language closer to written Danish than to modern Norwegian. You may also want to refer to the Danish Genealogical Word List.
Records published after 1915, such as family and local histories, are in modern Norwegian. Most differences between modern and old Norwegian are simply a matter of spelling. Carefully study the section below on spelling. This will help you find the words in this list.
LANGUAGE CHARACTERISTICS[edit | edit source]
Variant Forms of Words
In Norwegian, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in a sentence. Who—whose—whom or marry—marries— married are examples of words in English with variant forms. The endings of a word in a document may differ from those in this list. For example:
| Mann | man | Kone | wife | 
| Mannen | the man | Kona | the wife | 
| Menn | men | Koner | wives | 
| Mennene | the men | Konene | the wives | 
Alphabetical Order[edit | edit source]
Written Norwegian has three letters not found in the English alphabet: Æ (æ), Ø (ø), and Å (å). In most record sources prior to 1915, Å (å) is written as Aa (aa) and filed at the beginning of the alphabet. Modern Norwegian dictionaries, indexes, the Locality section of the Family History Library Catalog, and this word list use the following alphabetical order:
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z æ ø å
A through C[edit | edit source]
A
absolvere                           to give absolution 
adel                                   nobility 
adelig                                noble 
adelsmann                         nobleman 
adoptert                             adopted 
adresse                              address 
aften                                  evening 
alder                                  age 
alderdomssvakhet             weakness of old age 
aldri                                   never 
alle                                    all 
alltid                                  always 
almisse                              charity 
almisselem                        indigent, poor 
altergang                           communion 
amt                                    county 
amtmann                           chief county administrator 
andre                                 others, other, next 
anetavle                             pedigree chart 
anfall                                  seizure, attack 
anførte                                entered, mentioned 
ankomst                              arrival 
anmerkning                        remark, notice, note 
annen, annet                      second, another 
annen gang                        second time 
anno (Latin)                        year 
annonsere                          publish, announce 
antall                                  number, count 
april                                   April 
arbeider                             laborer 
arkiv                                   archive 
arv                                      inheritance 
arvelodd                             share of inheritance 
arving                                 heir 
astma                                 asthma 
at                                        that 
atten                                   eighteen 
attende                               eighteenth 
attest                                   certificate 
august                                 August 
av                                        of, at, by, from 
avdeling                              part, division 
avdød                                  deceased 
avgangen                            departed 
avgift                                   duty (monetary), fee 
avkom                                 offspring, issue 
avtale                                  agreement 
  
B
bakbygning                        back building (additional residence behind the main building) 
baker                                 baker 
bakke                                 hill 
bannlyse                            excommunicate 
baptist                                Baptist 
bar                                     carried 
bar barnet                          held child (at baptism font) 
bare                                   only 
barn                                   child 
barna                                 children 
barndom                            childhood 
barnebarn                          grandchild 
barnedåp                           child baptism 
barnefar                             child’s father 
barnløs                               childless 
barsel                                 birth 
barselfeber                         childbed fever 
barselseng                          birthing bed 
be                                       pray, request 
beboer                                occupant, resident 
bededag                             prayer day 
bedrive hor                         commit adultery 
befolkning                           population, people 
begge                                  both 
begivenhet                          event, occurrence 
begravelse                          funeral, burial 
begravet                              buried 
behandle                            handle, treat, manage 
bemerkning                        remark 
ben                                     leg, bone 
benekte                              deny 
benåde                               pardon 
beruset                               drunk 
besetning                           livestock, crew 
beskrivelse                         description 
beslektet                             related 
bestefar                              grandfather 
besteforeldre                      grandparents 
bestemor                            grandmother 
besvangre                          impregnate, get with child, make pregnant 
betale                                 pay 
betler                                  beggar 
bevilge                               grant 
bevis                                   proof 
bibliotek                             library 
bind                                    volume (book) 
biografi                               biography 
biskop                                 bishop 
bispedømme                       diocese 
bli                                       become 
blikkenslager                      tinsmith 
blind                                   blind 
blod                                    blood 
blodgang                            dysentery 
blodskam                            incest 
blodsott                               abnormal loss of blood during illness 
bo                                        to live at 
bodde                                  lived 
bok                                      book 
bokhandler                          bookseller 
bokholder, bokfører             bookkeeper 
bokstav                                letter, character 
bolig                                    residence, house 
bonde                                  farmer 
bopel                                   residence, domicile 
borger                                 citizen 
borgermester                       mayor 
borgerskap                          citizenship 
bot                                       fine, penalty 
brann                                   fire 
brennevinsbrenner              distiller of spirits 
brev                                     letter (correspondence) 
bro                                       bridge 
bror                                      brother 
brordatter                             brother’s daughter 
brorsønn                               brother’s son 
brud                                      bride 
brudgom                               bridegroom 
bruk                                      farm, use 
brygger                                 brewer 
bryllup                                  wedding 
budeie                                  milkmaid 
buskap                                  livestock, crew 
by                                         town, city 
bygd                                     small country community, village 
bygdebok                             rural chronicles 
bygsel                                  lease 
byll                                       abscess 
byllepest                              plague (bubonic) 
bære                                    carry 
bøkker                                  cooper, barrel maker 
både                                     both, either 
båret                                     carried 
båt                                        boat, ship 
båtbygger                             shipbuilder 
båtsmann                              boatswain, bosun  
C
cirka                                      approximately 
communion                           Communion 
confirmerede                         confirmed 
copulerede                            marriage  
D through F[edit | edit source]
D
dag                                        day 
dagen før                               the previous day 
dagsarbeider                         day laborer 
dal                                         valley 
Danmark                                Denmark 
dannekvinde                         gentlewoman 
dannemand                          gentleman 
dansk                                    Danish 
dato                                      date (noun) 
datter                                    daughter 
datterdatter                           daughter’s daughter 
dattersønn                             daughter’s son 
datum (Latin)                        date 
dele                                       to divide, to share 
dem                                       them, they 
den                                        the, it, that 
denne                                    this 
der                                         there 
deres                                      their 
derfor                                     therefore 
desember                               December 
det                                          it, that, the 
difteri                                      diphtheria 
din                                           your 
disse                                        these 
diverse                                    various 
dokument                                document 
domkirke                                 cathedral 
dommer                                   judge 
dragon                                     dragoon, light cavalryman 
dreng                                       boy 
drengebarn                              male child 
drepe                                       kill 
dronning                                  queen 
druknet                                    drowned 
dydig                                       virtuous 
dø                                            to die 
døbt(e)                                     christening 
død                                          dead, death 
døde                                        died, death 
dødfødt                                    stillborn 
dødsfall                                   death 
døgn                                        24-hour period of time 
døpt                                         baptized, christened 
døtre                                        daughters 
døv                                          deaf 
døvstum                                   deaf and dumb 
dåp                                          baptism 
dåpsattest                                certificate of baptism 
dåpsdag                                   day of baptism  
E
efter                                           after 
efterkommer                              descendant 
efterlatte                                    surviving, survivors 
efterlevende                              surviving 
eftermiddag                               afternoon 
efternavn                                   surname, last name 
egen                                          own 
egentlig                                     actual 
egteviede                                  marriage 
eie, eje                                      to own 
eiendom                                    property, real estate 
ekte                                           legitimate, to marry 
ektefelle                                    spouse 
ektemann                                  husband 
ektepar                                      married couple 
ekteskap                                    marriage 
ekteskapelig                              marital, conjugal 
ekteviet                                     married 
eldre                                         older 
eldst                                          oldest, eldest 
elev                                           student 
eller                                          or, or else 
elleve                                       eleven 
ellevte                                      eleventh 
elv                                            river, stream 
embete                                    public office 
embetsmann                           public official 
emigrant                                  emigrant 
emigrere                                  emigrate 
en, et                                       a, one 
enebarn                                   only child 
engelsk                                    English 
England                                   England 
enhver                                     each 
enke                                        widow 
enkemann                               widower 
enkestand                                widowed 
ennu                                        yet, still 
epilepsi                                    epilepsy 
er                                             is, are 
erhverv                                    livelihood 
erkjenne                                  acknowledge 
et                                             a, one 
etasje                                      floor, story 
etc. (Latin)                               et cetera, and so on 
etternavn                                 surname, last 
evne                                        intelligence 
F
fabrikk                                    factory 
faddere                                  christening witnesses, godparents 
fallesyke                                epilepsy 
falt                                         fall, be killed in war 
familie                                   family 
familie                                   historie lineage books 
far                                          father 
farfar                                      paternal grandfather 
farger                                     dyer, tanner 
farmor                                    paternal grandmother 
farsot                                      pestilence, plague 
fartøy                                      vessel, craft 
fattig                                       poor 
fattigvesnet                             welfare agency 
februar                                   February 
felles                                      common, joint 
fem                                         five 
femte                                      fifth 
femten                                    fifteen 
femtende                                fifteenth 
femti                                       fifty 
femtiende                               fiftieth 
fengsel                                   prison 
festeseddet                             rental contract 
festning                                  fortress 
fetter                                      cousin (male) 
Finnland                                Finland 
finsk                                       Finnish 
fire                                         four 
fisker                                      fisherman 
fjell                                        mountain 
fjerde                                     fourth 
fjorten                                    fourteen 
fjortende                                fourteenth 
flere                                       several, more 
flittig                                      diligent 
flytte                                      move 
foged, fogd                            bailiff, sheriff 
folio                                       page (double) 
folk                                        people 
folkemengde                         population 
folkeregister                          citizen register, national register 
folketelling                            census 
for                                          for, at, before, by 
foran                                      in front of 
forblødning                            bled to death 
foreldre                                  parents 
foreldreløs                             orphan 
forening                                 society 
forfedre                                 ancestors, forefathers 
forhenværende                      former, previous, preceding 
forhus                                    house in front (usually the main house on a farm) 
forkjølet                                 to have a cold 
forklaring                               explanation 
forlate                                    leave, forgive 
forlovelse                               engagement 
forlovere                                marriage witnesses 
formiddag                              between morning and afternoon 
formynder                              guardian 
fornavn                                  first name, given name 
forpakter                               manager of estate 
forrige                                   former 
forstand                                 intellect, mind 
forstoppelse                          constipation, obstruction 
forsørges                               supported 
fortelle                                  tell, relate 
fortid                                     past 
forvalter                                manager 
foster                                    fetus 
fosterbarn                             foster child 
fostre                                    foster, to rear 
fra                                         from 
fraflytte                                 leave, move away 
fraværende                          absent 
fredag                                  Friday 
fremmed                              foreign, foreigner 
fremtid                                 future 
fru                                        Mrs. 
fruentimmer                         unmarried mother, female person (derogatory) 
fruktsommelig                      pregnant 
frøken                                  Miss 
full                                       full, complete, drunk 
fullmektig                            head clerk, agent 
fylke                                    county 
fyr                                        lighthouse 
fæstebrev                            to acquire land 
føderåd                               support received after giving one’s estate to another 
føderådskone                      woman receiving support 
føderådsmann                     man receiving support 
fødested                              birthplace 
fødsel                                  birth 
fødselsattest                        birth certificate 
fødselsdag                           birthday 
født(e)                                  born (birth) 
følgende                              following, next 
føllaug                                 retired 
før                                        before 
første                                   first 
førti                                      forty 
førtiende                              fortieth 
får                                        sheep, receives  
G through I[edit | edit source]
G
gammel                               old 
gartner                                gardener 
garver                                 tanner 
gate                                    street 
gave                                   gift, endowment 
geistlig                               ecclesiastical 
geografisk leksikon            gazetteer 
gift                                      marriage, married, poison 
gikt                                     rheumatism 
gjeld                                   debt 
gjenlevende                       survivors 
gjennom                             through 
gjestgiver                           innkeeper 
gjet, gjeit                            goat 
gjeter                                  herdsman 
gjørtler                                brazier, brass smith 
god                                     good 
gods                                    estate 
godseier                              estate owner 
gratis                                   free 
grav                                    grave 
graver                                 gravedigger, sexton 
gravlund                             cemetery 
gravsted                              burial place 
gren                                    branch 
grenader                             infantryman 
grense                                 boundary, border 
greve                                  Count (nobility) 
grevinne                             Countess 
grunn                                  ground, reason 
gruve                                  mine, pit 
gruvearbeider                    miner 
grønn                                 green 
gudfar                                godfather 
gudmor                              godmother 
gull                                    gold 
gulsot                                 jaundice 
gulv                                   floor 
gutt                                    boy 
gå                                      go, walk 
gård                                   farm 
gårdbruker                         farmer 
gårdeier                             farm owner 
gårsdagens                        of yesterday  
 
H
ha                                      to have 
hadde                                had 
halshugget                        decapitated 
halv                                   half 
halvbror                            half brother 
halvsøster                         half sister 
ham                                  him 
han                                   he 
handelsmann                   merchant, trader 
hans                                 his 
hanskemaker                   glove maker 
har                                   has, have 
hattemaker                      hatmaker 
havn                                harbor 
heller                               rather 
helligdag                         holiday 
hengt seg                        hanged himself or herself 
henne                              her 
her                                   here 
Herr                                  Mr. 
herred                              judicial district 
Herren                              the Lord 
hest                                  horse 
heter                                is named 
historie                             history 
hittebarn                          orphan, foundling 
hjem                                home 
hjemme                           at home 
hjemmedøpt                    baptized at home 
hjemmehørende              residing 
hjerte                               heart 
hjertefeil                          heart disease 
hjul                                  wheel 
hjulmaker                        wheelwright 
holde                               hold, stop 
horeri                              adultery 
hos                                  with, at 
hoste                               cough 
hovedliste                       census list 
hun                                 she 
hundre(de)                      hundred (hundredth) 
hus                                  house 
husar                              hussar, cavalryman 
husbonde                       head of household 
husholderske                  housekeeper 
husmann                        cottager, tenant farmer 
husmor                           housewife 
hustru                             wife 
hva                                 what 
hvem                              who 
hver                                every 
hvilken                           which 
hvis                                if, whose 
hvit                                 white 
hvor                                where 
hvordan                          how 
hvorfor                            why 
hvorvidt                           whether 
høsten                             in the fall 
høy                                  tall, high, hay 
høyre                              right (side) 
håndarbeide                   handwork 
håndtering                      occupation 
håndverk                         trade, handicraft  
I
i                                       in 
idiot                                 idiot 
ifølge                               according to 
igår                                  yesterday 
igjen                                again 
i hjel, slå                          kill 
ikke                                  not 
ikke enda                         not yet 
ild                                     fire 
imellom                            between, among 
imorgen                            tomorrow 
infeksjon                           infection 
ingen                                 none 
inn                                     in 
inne i                                 inside 
innerst                               renter, innermost 
innflyttning                        moving in 
innhold                              content 
innsitter                              renter 
innsjø                                 lake 
innvandring                        immigration 
intet                                    none 
introduceret                        introduced 
Island                                  Iceland 
islandsk                               Icelandic 
J through L[edit | edit source]
J
januar January 
jeg I 
jeger light infantry soldier, hunter 
jomfru damsel, Miss, virgin 
jordbruk farming 
jordet burial 
jordmor midwife 
jordpåkastelse ceremony of sprinkling earth on the coffin 
jul Christmas 
juli July 
juni June 
jurist lawyer 
 
K
kallet named 
kanskje maybe, perhaps 
karet coach 
kart map 
katolsk Catholic 
kavaleri cavalry 
kemmer peddler 
kikhoste whooping cough 
kirke church 
kirkebok parish register 
kirkegård cemetery, churchyard 
kirkeværge church warden 
kiste chest, coffin 
kjent known 
kjønn sex 
kjøpe buy 
kjøpmann merchant 
klokker sexton, parish clerk, bell ringer, deacon 
kloster convent, monastery 
kokarde insignia 
kolikk colic 
kommune municipality, township 
kone wife 
konfirmasjon confirmation 
konge king 
kongedømme kingdom 
kongelig royal 
kontor office 
kopper smallpox, copper 
kort short, card 
kort register card index 
krampe convulsions, spasm 
kreft cancer 
krig war 
ku cow 
kun only 
kunngjøre declare 
kunnskap knowledge 
kusine cousin (female) 
kusk coachman, teamster 
kveg cattle 
kvele choke 
kvell evening 
kvinne woman 
kvinnekjønn female 
kyllinger chickens 
kår support received after giving one’s estate to another 
kårkone woman who receives kår 
kårmann man who receives kår 
L
la let, allow 
lagrettemann court member 
land country 
landsby village 
langfredag Good Friday 
laugverge widow’s guardian or spokesman 
legd welfare, military levying district 
legdslem welfare recipient 
leie hire, rent 
leier tenant 
leilending leaseholder 
lejermål illicit and punishable intercourse 
lenge long 
lensmann sheriff 
lese read 
leve live 
levende live, living 
lignende same, alike, similar 
lik corpse, alike 
likeledes also, as well 
lille small 
lite (litt) little 
liten little, small 
liv life 
los pilot (ship) 
losjerende boarder, lodger 
lov law 
lovlig legal 
lungebetendelse pneumonia 
luteraner Lutheran 
lysning post banns 
lysninger banns 
læregutt apprentice 
lærer teacher (male) 
lærerinne teacher (female) 
lærling apprentice 
løpenummer serial number 
lørdag Saturday 
løsaktig loose or immoral woman 
løsarbeider day laborer 
 
Spelling[edit | edit source]
Spelling was not standardized when most early records were made. The following spelling variations are common:
| aa used for å | j used for gj | 
| b used for p | ld used for ll | 
| c used for k | nd used for nn | 
| d used for t | q used for k | 
| e used for æ | u used for v | 
| f used for v | w used for v | 
| g used for k | x used for ks | 
| i used for j | ch used for k | 
| tj used for kj | hj used for j | 
Examples: 
"gjørtler" spelled as "giørtler"
"mann" spelled as "mand"
"kvinne" spelled as "quinde" 
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES[edit | edit source]
This word list includes only words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a Norwegian-English dictionary. Several Norwegian-English dictionaries are available at the Family History Library. These are in the Scandinavian collection. Their call numbers begin with 439.82321. Family History Centers can obtain the following dictionaries on microfilm:
Scavenius, H. Glydendals Ordbøker; Norsk-Engelsk [Gyldendal’s Dictionaries; Norwegian-English]. Oslo, Norway: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, 1945. (FHL film 1,224,705, item 4).
cavenius, H. Glydendals Ordbøker; Engelsk-Norsk [Glydendal’s Dictionaries; English-Norwegian]. Oslo, Norway: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, 1945. (FHL film 1,224,705, item 3).
Additional dictionaries are listed in the Subject section of the Family History Library Catalog under NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES and in the Locality section under NORWAY - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES. 
KEY WORDS[edit | edit source]
In order to find and use specific types of Norwegian records, you will need to know some key words in Norwegian. This section lists key genealogical terms in English and the Norwegian words with the same or similar meanings.
For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriage. In the second column you will find Norwegian words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined, and other words used in Norwegian records to indicate marriage.
| English | Norwegian | 
| banns | lysninger | 
| birth | fødte, født | 
| burial | begravelse, jordet | 
| census | folketelling | 
| child | barn | 
| christening | døbte, døbt | 
| clerical district | prestegjeld | 
| confirmation | konfirmasjon, konfirmerede | 
| death | døde, død | 
| engagement | forlovelse, trolovelse | 
| father | far | 
| female | kvinnekjønn | 
| husband | ektemann | 
| index | register | 
| male | mannkjønn | 
| marriage | copulerede, egteviede, gift, vielse | 
| military | militær | 
| mother | mor | 
| moving in | innflyttning | 
| moving out | utflyttning | 
| name, given | fornavn | 
| name, surname | etternavn | 
| parents | foreldre | 
| parish | sogn | 
| probate | skifte | 
| vaccination | vaccinerede, vaksinert | 
| wife | hustru | 
| year | år |