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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

Reading

3 sections
14

First reading with help: two animals meet

≈ 3 min
What you'll learn
  • Read the Norwegian line first, then the support lines.
  • Every word has appeared earlier, some of it wearing a “the” ending; one is new.
  • After Såsaw the doing word comes second and the doer slides behind it.
  • Watch the pointed speech marks, and the speaker coming after the verb.

One new word, two reminders

hungry
sultenSUUL-ten“hungry”
The one word here you have not met.
home, homewards
hjemyem“home”
Not new: the silent h in front of j.
en musen muus“a mouse” + Mina
musen MinaMUU-sen MEE-nah“Mina the mouse”
The “the” form first, the name after.

Mina og Dara

  1. Musen Mina er på veien.

    MUU-sen MEE-nah air paw VAY-en

    Mina the mouse is on the road.

  2. Så kommer reven Dara.

    saw KOM-mer RAY-ven DAH-rah

    Then Dara the fox comes.

  3. «God dag, Mina!» sier Dara.

    goo dahg, MEE-nah, SEE-er DAH-rah

    “Good day, Mina!” says Dara.

  4. «Hvor går du?» spør han.

    voor gawr duu, spurr han

    “Where are you going?” he asks.

  5. «Jeg går til treet fordi jeg er sulten», svarer Mina.

    yay gawr til TRAY-uh for-DEE yay air SUUL-ten, SVAH-rer MEE-nah

    “I am going to the tree, because I am hungry,” answers Mina.

  6. «Ser du fuglen?» spør Dara.

    sair duu FUU-len, spurr DAH-rah

    “Do you see the bird?” asks Dara.

  7. «Ja. Den sitter i treet mitt», sier Mina.

    yah. den SIT-ter ee TRAY-uh mit, SEE-er MEE-nah

    “Yes. It is sitting in my tree,” says Mina.

  8. «Ha det, Dara!» sier hun, og så løper musen hjem.

    hah day, DAH-rah, SEE-er huun, aw saw LUR-per MUU-sen yem

    “Bye, Dara!” she says, and then the mouse runs home.

Three delayed recalls before the new story

No hints this time.

  1. treet
    Show answer +
    treetTRAY-uh“the tree”
  2. skogen
    Show answer +
    skogenSKOO-gen“the forest”
  3. huset mitt
    Show answer +
    huset mittHUU-suh mit“my house”