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Lessons for English speakers

Learn to read Norwegian

A short, active path into reading Norwegian: three extra letters and the silent ones, nine real words decoded before any grammar, why the verb sits second in a statement, how “the” hides on the end of the noun, and two short fables before your first book.

13 core sections · ≈ 33 min + 3 optional lookups · ≈ 44 min with everything
15

A new reading: try it before revealing help

≈ 3 min
What you'll learn
  • The pronunciation and the English begin hidden.
  • The story is told in the one-word past books are printed in.
  • Aim for the scene, not a perfect translation.
  • If you can recover who did what, you are ready for the first book.

One new word, and one reminder

å boaw boo“to live”The new one: to live somewhere
megmay“me”Not new: the receiving form of jegyay

Every other word below has appeared earlier, some wearing the “the” ending.

Tika og treet

Read each scene aloud, say what you think happened, then reveal.

  1. Det var en gang en liten fugl. Han het Tika.

    The fairy-tale opening, then the past of “is called”.

    Show answer +
    Det var en gang en liten fugl. Han het Tika.day vahr en gang en LEE-ten fuul. han hayt TEE-kah“Once upon a time there was a small bird. His name was Tika.”
  2. Huset hans var i et stort tre. En dag kom vinden, og treet falt.

    The owner word follows the thing; something other than the doer opens the second sentence.

    Show answer +
    Huset hans var i et stort tre. En dag kom vinden, og treet falt.HUU-suh hans vahr ee et stoort tray. en dahg kom VIN-nen, aw TRAY-uh falt“His house was in a big tree. One day the wind came, and the tree fell.”
  3. «Hvorfor er du trist?» spurte reven. «Treet mitt falt», sa Tika.

    A question, then its answer.

    Show answer +
    «Hvorfor er du trist?» spurte reven. «Treet mitt falt», sa Tika.VOOR-for air duu trist, SPUUR-tuh RAY-ven. TRAY-uh mit falt, sah TEE-kah““Why are you sad?” asked the fox. “My tree fell,” said Tika.”
  4. «Kom med meg. Du kan bo i skogen min», sa reven. Nå var Tika glad igjen.

    An order, then a helper with a bare verb.

    Show answer +
    «Kom med meg. Du kan bo i skogen min», sa reven. Nå var Tika glad igjen.kom may may. duu kan boo ee SKOO-gen meen, sah RAY-ven. naw vahr TEE-kah glah ee-YEN““Come with me. You can live in my forest,” said the fox. Now Tika was happy again.”