Norwegian Genealogical Word List
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
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
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
| Norwegian | English |
|
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 |
|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| magesyke | diarrhea, stomach ailment |
| mai | May |
| maler | painter |
| mandag | Monday |
| mange | many |
| mann | man, husband |
| mannkjønn | male |
| mark | field |
| mars | March |
| matrikkel | land registration |
| matros | sailor |
| med | with |
| medhjelper | assistant, helper |
| medlem | member |
| med videre (Latin) | et cetera, and so on |
| meg | me |
| mellom | middle |
| mellombygning | middle building |
| men | but |
| mer | more, additional |
| meslinger | measles |
| messingsmed | brazier, brass smith |
| mester | master (of a trade) |
| midlertidig | temporarily |
| midnatt | midnight |
| mil | metric mile (ten kilometers) |
| militær | military |
| min | mine (belongs to me) |
| mindre | lesser |
| minearbeider | miner |
| minste | smallest, youngest |
| minutt | minute |
| modig | courageous, brave |
| mor | mother |
| mord | murder |
| morfar | maternal grandfather |
| morgen | morning |
| mormor | maternal grandmother |
| motta | receive |
| murer | mason |
| musiker | musician |
| m.v. (Latin) | See med videre |
| myndig | of age |
| møbelsnekker | furniture maker |
| møller | miller |
| nabo | neighbor |
| nadverd | Communion, sacrament |
| natt | night |
| navn | name |
| nedbrent | burned down |
| nei | no |
| neste | next, neighbor |
| neste år | next year |
| nevø | nephew |
| ni | nine |
| niende | ninth |
| niese | niece |
| nitten | nineteen |
| nittende | nineteenth |
| nitti | ninety |
| nittiende | ninetieth |
| noen | some, any |
| nord | north |
| november | November |
| nu, nå | now |
| nulevende | living |
| null | zero |
| nummer | number |
| ny | new |
| nyfødt | newborn |
| nylig | lately |
| nyttår | new year |
| nær | near, close |
| næringsvei | livelihood, trade |
| nå, nu | now |
| når | when, if, reach |
| odel | birthright or allodial ownership |
| ofte | often |
| og | and |
| oktober | October |
| oldebarn | great-grandchild |
| oldefar | great-grandfather |
| oldeforeldre | great-grandparents |
| oldemor | great-grandmother |
| om | if, about |
| omegn | neighboring places |
| omtrent | about, almost, nearly |
| omvendelse | conversion |
| onkel | uncle |
| onsdag | Wednesday |
| opp | up |
| oppe | above, upstairs |
| oppfostre | foster, to rear |
| residence | |
| opptegnelse | record |
| ordbok | dictionary |
| ordfører | mayor |
| oss | us |
| osv. | et cetera, and so on |
| over | over |
| overlevende | survivors |
| overtredelse | transgression |
| pagina (Latin) | page |
| pallask | sword |
| pantebok | mortgage record |
| parsell | plot of land, allotment |
| parykkmaker | wigmaker |
| penger | money |
| pensjon | pension |
| pensjonist | retired person |
| person | person |
| pest | plague |
| pike (pige) | girl, maid |
| pikebarn | female child |
| pikenavn | maiden name, girl’s name |
| pinse | Pentecost |
| pleiebarn | foster child |
| pleiedatter | foster daughter |
| pleiefar | foster father |
| pleieforeldre | foster parents |
| pleiemor | foster mother |
| pleiesønn | foster son |
| pottemaker | potter |
| preke | preach |
| prest | minister, priest |
| prestegjeld | clerical district |
| prestekontor | parish office |
| prins | prince |
| prinsesse | princess |
| på | on, at, upon |
| påske | Easter |
| register | index, register |
| regjering | government |
| 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 |