Norwegian Genealogical Word List

Revision as of 13:58, 31 March 2009 by AndersonLH (talk | contribs)

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

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

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

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

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 
 

M through O

M

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
måned                             month
 

N

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


O

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
oppholdsted                    residence
opptegnelse                    record
ordbok                            dictionary
ordfører                          mayor
oss                                  us
osv.                                 et cetera, and so on
over                                over
overlevende                   survivors
overtredelse                   transgression

P through S

P

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
 

R

register index, register
regjering government
regning bill
regnskap account
reise travel
religion religion
repslager rope maker
rett court (noun), correct
rettferdig just, righteous
ridder knight
rik wealthy
riktig correct
rundt around
rytter cavalryman
rådmann councilman


S

sa said, stated
sabbat Sabbath
sakrament sacrament
salig deceased, holy, blessed
salmaker saddler
samfunn society
samleie intercourse
samme same
samme dag the same day
sammen together
sammesteds in the same place
samtlige all
samtykke consent
sau sheep
seg oneself
seks six
seksten sixteen
sekstende sixteenth
seksti sixty
sekstiende sixtieth
selv self
selveier owner, freeholder
selvmord suicide
senere later
seng bed
sengeliggende bedridden
separeret separated
september September
side page, side
sidehus side house
siden since, later
sin, sitt, sine his, hers, its
sinnsvak insane, retarded
sinnsyk mentally ill
siste last, latter
siste olje last rites
sjette sixth
sju (syv) seven
sjuende (syvende) seventh
sjø sea, lake
sjømann sailor, seaman
skaberak elaborate horse blanket
skal shall, must
skarlagensfeber scarlet fever
skatt tax
skibsfører ship’s captain
skifte probate
skifteprotokoll probate record book
skifteretten probate court
skilsmisse divorce
skilt divorced
skiløper infantry soldier on skis, skier
skjedde happened
skjøte deed (property)
skog forest
skole school
skomaker shoemaker
skredder tailor
skriver scribe
skulle should
slag strike, blow, stroke
slakter butcher
slekt relatives, family, lineage
slektninger relatives
slektsforskning genealogy
slektshistorie family history, lineage books
slektsvåpen coat of arms
slå ihjel kill
smed smith
snart soon
snekker cabinetmaker, carpenter
sogn parish
soldat soldier
sorenskriver magistrate, probate judge
sort black
spebarn infant, baby
spillemann musician, fiddler
stabbur storehouse on pillars
stamtavle descendancy chart
stand social position
stebarn stepchild
stebror stepbrother
sted place
stedatter stepdaughter
stefar stepfather
steinhogger stonecutter
stemor stepmother
stesønn stepson
stilling status, position, office
stor large
straff punishment
straks right away, immediately
stum mute (can’t speak)
summa (Latin) totals
summarisk statistical, summary
svak weak
svakhet weakness
svart black
svenn journeyman
svensk Swedish
Sverige Sweden
svigerdatter daughter-in-law
svigerfar father-in-law
svigerinne sister-in-law
svigermor mother-in-law
svigersønn son-in-law
svoger brother-in-law
svulst tumor
syd south
sydlig southern
syerske seamstress
syk sick
sykdom disease
sypike seamstress
sytten seventeen
syttende seventeenth
sytti seventy
syttiende seventieth
syv (sju) seven
syvende (sjuende) seventh
sølv silver
søndag Sunday
sønn son
sønnedatter son’s daughter
sønnesøn son’s son
sør south
søsken siblings
søster sister
søstersønn sister’s son
så saw (see), so, if so, sow (seed)
sådan such
således thus, in this or that

T through V

T

tak roof
takk thank you
takksigelse thanksgiving
tall number, count
tambur drummer (soldier)
tante aunt
testamente last will
ti ten
tid time
tidlig early
tidsperiode period of time
tidsskrift periodical
tiende tenth, tithing
tigger beggar
til to, until, for
tillatelse dispensation, permission
time hour
tippoldefar great-great-grandfather
tippoldemor great-great-grandmother
tirsdag Tuesday
tittel title
tjene serve, work
tjeneste service
tjenestedreng servant, employee, male
tjenestepige servant, employee, female
tjue (tyve) twenty
tjueannen twenty-second
tjueen twenty-one
tjuefem twenty-five
tjuefire twenty-four
tjuefjerde twenty-fourth
tjueførste twenty-first
tjuende (tyvende) twentieth
tjueni(ende) twenty-nine (twenty-ninth)
tjueseks twenty-six
tjuesjette twenty-sixth
tjuesju(ende) twenty-seven(th)
tjuetemte twenty-fifth
tjueto twenty-two
tjuetre(dje) twenty-three (twenty-third)
tjueåtte(nde) twenty-eight (twenty-eighth)
to two
tohundre two hundred
tollbetjent customs officer
tolv twelve
tolvte twelfth
torsdag Thursday
tre three
tredevte (trettiende) thirtieth
tredje third
tredve (tretti) thirty
tretten(de) thirteen (thirteenth)
trettien(de) thirty-one (thirty-first)
trettiførste thirty-first
trolovelse engagement
trolovet engaged
trosbekjennelse creed
trossamfunn religion
tuberkulose consumption, tuberculosis
tukthus prison
tusen(de) thousand(th)
tvangsarbeide hard labor, compulsory labor
tvilling twin
tyfus typhoid fever
tysk German
Tyskland Germany
tyv thief
tyve (tjue) twenty
tyvende (tjvende) twentieth
tæring tuberculosis
tømmermann carpenter, framer, ship’s carpenter
tønne barrel
 

U

udøpt unbaptized
uekte illegitimate
ugift unmarried
uke week
ukjent unknown, foreign
ulovlig illegal
ulykke accident
umoralsk immoral
umyndig under legal age
under under, below
underholde support
underskrevne the undersigned
underskrift signature
undertegnet signed
ung young
ungkarl bachelor
unntatt except
uskyldig innocent
ussel miserable, poor
usømmelig indecent
utdrag extract
uten without
utenfor outside of
utfattog destitute, penniless
utflyttning moving out
utføre perform, do
utgi publish
uti at, in
utlagt named as, alleged
utlandet foreign country
utukt lechery, fornication
utvandre emigrate
utvandrer emigrant
utvandring emigration


V

vaccinerede vaccination
vaksinert vaccination, vaccinated
vanfør crippled, disabled
vanskapt deformed, handicapped
var was, were
vattersot dropsy
ved at, by
vedkommende person concerned
ved siden av next to
velstand prosperity
venn friend
venstre left (side)
verge guardian
verneplikt military duty
vertshus inn
vest west
vever weaver
vielse marriage, wedding
vielsesattest marriage certificate
viet married
vitne witness
vitnesbyrd testimony
vogn carriage, wagon, vehicle
vognmann coachman
voldta rape
værdig worthy
være be
vår our
våren in the spring

Y through Å

Y

yngre younger
yngst youngest
yrke profession
 

Æ

ærbødig respectful
ære honor
ærlig honest
ættegransking genealogy

Ø

øde desolate, waste
ødelegge destroy
ødemark wasteland, wilderness
ønske wish, desire, want
øre ear
øst east
øvre upper
øy island
øye, øie eye

Å

ånd spirit
åndsvak mentally deficient
år year
århundre century
årlig annual, yearly
årsak cause, reason
åsted where event took place (place of event)
åtte eight
åttende eighth
åtti eighty
åttiede eightieth

Spelling

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

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

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