What language is spoken in Norway. Languages of Norway - Languages of Norway Finding your own language

Our reader EdgeP writes:

1. Norway is a fantastic country. The richest and most diverse nature, huge reserves of energy resources and their reasonable development make the Norwegians an extremely wealthy nation.

2. The population of Norway is negligible - they do not even reach 5 million people. This is about a quarter of modern Moscow. More than 1.5 million Norwegians live in the capital Oslo and its suburbs. Any city with a population of over 30,000 is considered large.

3. Know: 100% of Norwegians speak, write and read English perfectly. Children learn the language from the age of 5-6 or earlier. Any child over 10 can easily communicate with you in English. The exception is very old pensioners 75+.

4. Norwegians love and appreciate the sea. They prefer to live no further than 200–300 meters from the water, or in its direct line of sight. Those who live in the depths of the country still buy a second house by the sea. Boats or boats have 80% of the population.

5. Norway has an incredibly variable climate. Fog, sun, harsh wind, rain, and again fog can change with fantastic frequency. The Norwegians even made up a saying: “Don't like our weather? wait 15 minutes."

6. The nature of Norway is majestic and diverse. Forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, the sea, and everything else - in its original state. The attitude towards nature is very careful. There are no poachers, there is practically no garbage either. Thanks to the sea, there are no mosquitoes and other insects of evil spirits. It's not hot in summer... paradise!

7. By law, any resident of the country and its guest has the right to unhindered access to all natural resources without restrictions - both in the forest and at sea. You can walk and swim wherever you want. If the land is private or fenced, it is advisable to ask permission out of courtesy.

8. The stories that Norway is a very expensive country are true. In general, all goods are expensive, and the most common products are everywhere as in the Azbuka Vkusa. It's easy to go to a supermarket and spend 200 euros without really buying anything. Services (for example, a taxi or construction) will cost even more - they cost simply unrealistic money. Gasoline is almost 2 euros per liter. Auto taxes are insane. At the same time, Norway is the 2nd oil exporting country in Europe. Such giants as Shell or Statoil are Norwegian.

9. Products in Norway are of the highest quality. Especially dairy. The local ice cream is just amazing. Even at McDonald's, the meat in the hamburger is perfectly edible. By the way, here are the most expensive hamburgers in Europe. By the same principle, any ordinary fast food costs terrible money. In an ordinary pizzeria, paying 200 euros for 4 without alcohol is the norm. However, the pizza itself is not great.

10. Compliance with laws and the absence of crime - almost everywhere. Theft is unthinkable for most residents. Only large retail chains have frames-detectors of theft of goods at the exit, or surveillance cameras. Otherwise, they are practically nowhere to be found.

11. Almost 100% of the population is connected to high-speed Internet. Due to the climate and long distances, Norwegians spend a lot of time online.

12. Norwegians love and protect their monarchy. The adult population, to a greater extent than the younger ones, are proud of the fact that they have preserved the royal family.

13. Compared to other Europeans, almost any Norwegian who travels outside the country is a mini-oligarch. In Asian countries, this is how kings are in general. The average salary for many Norwegians can be up to 5-7 thousand euros per month. Thus, for visitors, local prices are prohibitive, but for locals everything is ok.

14. Sea and lake fishing in Norway is a connoisseur's paradise. An incredible variety of fish and various marine reptiles. There are fishing regions only in the northern regions, and starting from the city of Bergen and to the south, there is no fishing. You can catch it always and in any weather, almost anywhere. Crabs, mussels, sea snails and other goodies are also in abundance. Fishing licenses are not required.

15. That is why many Europeans have recently developed a profitable hobby: to come to Norway in auto-refrigerators, live in the cheapest houses or tents, fish for two weeks without a break, stock up on fish for 6 months in advance, and go back. The Germans, Dutch and Belgians are perhaps the most active.

16. Norwegians do not collect the gifts of the forest, do not understand mushrooms and berries, do not know the properties of herbs. Therefore, in a good season, all this stuff is simply heaps. In a fruitful year, there are so many mushrooms that in 2-3 hours one person can collect a 100-liter bag of selected white mushrooms. I’m not talking about blueberries, wild raspberries and blackberries at all - they grow everywhere like a weed.

17. Norwegians are terribly surprised and admire the knowledge of Russians about mushrooms and berries. Many are sure that we are brave and risky people if we go to the forest to collect them. They refuse to try. In the supermarket, they easily take greenhouse champignons and chanterelles, completely ignoring the forest 10 meters from the house. The first time is shocking.

18. You can't just buy strong alcohol in Norway! It is sold only in special stores - Vinmonopolet. It translates as alcohol monopoly. State owned. They work strictly Monday-Friday, in the capital there are also Saturday shops, they are open until 7 maximum, with a big break for lunch in the middle of the day. And they are not everywhere. Alcohol is insanely expensive there: a bottle of vodka for 70–100 euros is the norm.

19. In supermarkets, you can only buy beer or cider not stronger than 5.2 degrees. Everything above, including wine - only in a restaurant, bar, or as already mentioned in the wine monopoly.

20. Norwegians love to drink, but they don't know how. Get drunk quickly, lose their minds just as quickly, behave noisily and funny. Hangover skills, or knowledge of how to cheer up with cucumber or cabbage pickle, are absent as a fact. They are wildly delighted if they are brought to their senses in such a simple way.

21. Norway has the longest fiords in the world. A fiord is a wide, often winding and deep channel with rocky shores, piercing from the sea deep into the mainland for many kilometers. There are also fiords in Canada, Chile, and New Zealand. The ones in Norway are the most beautiful.

22. Norwegians are very mediocre women in terms of beauty. Medium height, stocky, heavily built with wide-set eyes, snub-nosed, and generally very independent.

23. But Norwegian men are the opposite: tall, athletic, many natural blondes, a kind of Vikings with a wide smile and blue eyes. One can understand why they are not always in a hurry to marry local Norwegians.

24. Many Norwegian children are unusually beautiful. Fair-haired, slender, athletic, some with curly hair - the purity of genetic lines is visible. Children are brought up strictly enough. Pampering is not accepted.

25. You can drive all day in the central part of Norway, however, and in any other part of it, and not meet a single police car. Or the cops themselves. But a tractor on the road at a speed of 40 km per hour is quite common.

26. Each day is similar to the previous one. In the sense that everything flows very calmly and measuredly. Norwegians start working at about 10 am, and by 4 am they are already rounding off. Only restaurants or supermarkets are open on weekends. Nobody is in a particular hurry.

27. Almost 100% of the population skis and snowboards. Women are often not worse than men.

28. Children are put on skis from 4-5 years old. It's normal to see how dad pushes the baby down from a very decent slide for this age. Children of 10 years old make me, a person with 12 years of experience, almost without straining.

29. On country roads, usually near a farm, you can often find a table with vegetables or fruits. And the price tag is something. On it there will be scales, shopping bags, and a jar for money. This is a type of self-service. Everything is built on trust. There is no one around.

30. Young Norwegians and even middle-aged people are very fond of science fiction and fantasy as a genre. Movies like Lord of the Rings or Star Wars are very popular.

31. Most of the TV shows are in English, with maximum Norwegian subtitles. It is very convenient.

32. Norwegians dress very casually and simply, as in general and all of Europe. It is difficult to see a beautifully dressed girl or guy.

33. The local cuisine is simple and unpretentious. They are, to put it mildly, not very well prepared. But the Norwegians have succeeded in the recipes for harvesting fish: dried, salted, smoked, etc., much is delicious. It is customary to cook seafood very simply: a minimum of any additives, a minimum of processing. Try local fish caviar in iron tubes like RekerOst - very tasty.

34. For the most part, Norwegians are well-mannered and trusting people. The older generation is quite pedantic, many observe the traditional way of life and business.

35. Getting a very large loan from a bank at 3-4 percent per annum is not at all difficult. In general, everything is done for the sake of man. You can plan your life 10 years ahead, including any expenses and career advancement. And the plan will come true.

36. The attitude towards foreigners is restrained, but friendly. Norwegians calmly invite guests, share food, help with advice. It is quite possible to make good friends.

37. There is practically no active life outside the big cities. No clubs, no movies, no shopping malls. However, there are almost no Norwegians themselves either.

38. The state does its best to keep the population busy. Subsidies are available in many areas of private business. So, you can buy 30 pieces of sheep, nail tags on their ears, declare to the state that I am now a cheerful farmer, and let them graze for a whole year on some island. For this, you can receive subsidies, equipment, benefits from the state. At the end of the year, catch and sell - and earn some more.

39. The murder of at least one person is discussed on national TV and radio for at least a week. Robbery too.

40. The roads in Norway are very good, but almost the entire regional transport network is single lane. The highway offers only one lane in each direction. It's terribly annoying.

41. In recent years, Norway has increased the influx of immigrants from other countries. And not only from traditional Africa or Asia - but we even met Chechens! Most of the immigrants behave arrogantly, they don't want to integrate, they don't learn the language, they get together in groups, breed like cockroaches, they don't like to work and they exploit the system. This was not the case 10 years ago.

42. Learning Norwegian, or Norsk, is quite difficult. A lot of jumping intonations, heterogeneous words. But if you try - in two years everything is ok.

43. Many young Norwegians complain about boring life, excessive law enforcement, high prices and a harsh climate. However, they are proud to be themselves and part of the nation.

44. In summer, the southern part of the country is a very warm place. Strawberries, plums and pears ripen in abundance. The water in some places gets angry up to 20 degrees, and swimming in the North Sea is very funny. You can even get tanned.

45. Air travel within the country as well as abroad is extremely cheap. At the same time, the quality of service is higher than that of European air discounters. Flying to Dubrovnik from Bergen (3.5 hour flight) for 40 euros, or to Amsterdam for 35 from Oslo is a common thing.

46. Smoking is being fought with unrealistic tobacco prices. However, Norwegians love to smoke. Many people buy cut tobacco in briquettes and smoke hand-rolled cigarettes, or they bring cigarettes from duty free.

47. Norway has the largest cumulative number of tunnels in Europe. There are just hundreds of them all over the place. There is one that passes under the sea strait at a depth of about 4 km. Some tunnels are tolled, as are some bridges.

48. Renting a car, even the simplest one, is expensive. 2-3 times more expensive than in some European countries. There are very few petrols. Diesel is everything.

49. Norway is the northernmost point of mainland Europe. It is called the North Cape, located on the edge of a cliff far to the north. In good weather, you can see the edge of the Arctic glaciers.

50. Despite the geographical proximity to Sweden, the people of Norway are different people. And in general, among all the Scandinavians, they must be the most original. Nature is also different.

51. The funds that Norway receives from the sale of resources are distributed prudently. Norway has an unrealistic amount of real estate and land abroad. But few people know about this - they prefer to behave with restraint.

52. Due to the large number of islands and straits, the ferry network is very developed. Ferries go anywhere and very often. You can save hours of travel by taking the ferry. Mostly in your car. The ferries themselves are large, comfortable, and relatively inexpensive.

53. In Norway, it is legal to fish for sea crab - but not to fish for lobster. If a lobster gets to your crab catcher, and this happens quite often, according to the rules, it must be released. When asked “what are you doing with a lobster”, most Norwegians smile and say that of course they release this wonderful arthropod into the wild - while winking slyly. Live lobsters are sold at the fish market, their capture is scheduled according to quotas.

54. Silver is inexpensive in Norway. Good quality silverware.

55. If you come as a tourist, do not forget to ask for Tax-free everywhere you go. It can be issued almost everywhere and for any goods, from the purchase amount equivalent to 50 euros. As a result, you can return up to 30% of the money spent.

56. A hero of Norwegian folklore, the troll is a very popular symbol in many establishments. Despite the very demonic appearance, trolls are the spirits of nature, they protect it, and also help good people. Here's an interesting fact for you: take a troll figurine, put it next to it, and try to compare it with the appearance of the surrounding local residents, especially women. A careful observer will be able to detect an unexpected similarity!

57. Pets, especially dogs, are extremely well behaved. They bark a little, are very friendly, and generally do not interfere with the owners. Even with each other, they are very reserved.

58. It's not easy to piss off a Norwegian. Many choose not to get involved. But if you have achieved your goal - do not expect anything good. Norwegians are terrible in anger.

59. Energy in Norway costs crazy money. For 4 weeks, a family of 5 can easily threaten about 1 thousand euros for electricity. And even more. Be very rational with your energy expenditure.

60. Guardianship of children and youth is very strong. It is not at all uncommon for 20-30 children from the same locality to go to kindergarten, and no one else. For others, another garden is being built. And it's not just a house with a playroom. This is a whole complex of a playground, locker rooms, toilets, a kitchen, etc. It is customary to take off your shoes at the entrance. Being a child in Norway is a blessing.

61. There are few high-rise buildings and residential complexes, almost none. Most people live in private houses. The houses are simple but comfortable. They are usually painted red or blue and white, often with a field grass lawn on the roof. This is not only a tribute to traditions - such a roof perfectly insulates in winter. Looks funny.

62. There are not many well-known facts about Norway. The most famous associations are Vikings, Edvard Grieg, mountains, fjords and trolls.

63. Most of the economy's income comes to the treasury from the sale of petroleum products. Next comes marine fishing, shipbuilding, engineering and the construction of deep-water platforms.

64. The northern part of the country is very different from the southern climate. Winters in the north are cold and snowy. In the south, there may be no snow at all and the temperature in winter is positive.

65. In the market or in the supermarket you can buy whale meat. It is scarce and expensive. Whale meat is dark, almost black, and tastes like moose. They sell steaks and minced meat.

66. In some cities, the local fauna is completely accustomed to the neighborhood of man. Pigeons in the square can sit right on your hand and famously start eating your bun. Seagulls can soar a meter from the deck of a passing ferry and grab thrown bread right on the fly.

6 7. Engineering universities, maritime academies, as well as oil and gas institutes are very prestigious.

68. According to tradition, every man must make a knife and scabbard for himself. With my own hands. Everything that is needed for this is sold in abundance. Blades, blanks, tools, leather. Handles made from scraps of Karelian birch are especially good. Difficult to process, but beautiful and durable.

69. Along the road you can often find small cairns. They are called "tog" and no one touches them. Previously, they were folded so as not to go astray after a snowfall or in heavy fog. Now it's a fun tradition.

70. There are many game and wild animals. A deer or a galloping roe deer running out onto the road is not uncommon.

71. When drinking, Norwegians clink glasses and say “Skol!” At the same time, the letter “O” sounds like something in between the “o” itself and “ё”. Toasting is not accepted.

72. The population of the country is not very religious. Of course, there are churches and churches, but not many. The service is attended mostly by adults.

73. If you live in nature in your house and have only electricity, you can feed yourself from the earth by 80%. The sea is rich in any marine food, the water in streams and many lakes is drinkable without pre-treatment, and the forests are rich in game and fruits. However, the population is very well off, and in general does not burden nature with its presence.

74. The Norwegians have nothing, and there is no need to share with each other. In addition, many people usually know each other. As a result, the complete absence of skirmishes or hostile factions. But visitors who are generously allowed to come and live in the country often crowd out the locals with their behavior and arrogance.

75. Correct spelling is not Norwegians, but Norwegians :) Forgive me all for the habit of writing incorrectly.

76. Finding worthy Russian products is not at all easy. They are easier to order online with delivery. But there are exceptions. So, Kefir is sold everywhere in supermarkets. Almost like ours. But pickling cucumbers or fermenting cabbage is easier on your own.

77. If you set a goal, then in a fairly short time you can achieve a meeting with the Prime Minister of the country. To do this, it is not at all necessary to be a well-known oligarch, a member of his party or a classmate from the student bench.

78. If the hosts are at home, it is customary to raise the national flag on a flagpole next to the house. Many people have it. When leaving, it is lowered.

79. Respect for private property is observed everywhere. During the day, most houses are not locked at all, except for housing in big cities - and this is completely safe. Visiting is by invitation.

80. Recently, online poker has become very popular in the country. Today, this is a common trend throughout Scandinavia. Norwegian players are popular and very dangerous: they are aggressive, persistent and calculating. Many achieve excellent results in the global poker arena.

81. As a gift, Norwegians can bring high-quality alcohol. From the hands of the Russians, it is even recommended. There are no clichés in this.

82. After sea fishing, many people want to try lake or river fishing. Often, at the entrance to a freshwater lake, you can see a poster prohibiting the use of marine gear in the lake. In especially fish lakes at the entrance there are machines with detergents for your fishing rods and gear. This measure prevents marine microorganisms on gear from moving into fresh water. There have already been cases of algae infestation.

83. There are practically no expensive cars on the roads in Norway. In half of the cases, Germans or other Europeans will be driving the new S-Class or BMW X6.

84. It is almost impossible to meet beggars on the streets. The only exceptions are big cities, and almost always it is one of the immigrants. In the nineties, this was not the case at all.

85. Registering your own company is quite simple. Be prepared to pay high taxes and remember that Norwegians are very conservative in their choice of goods and services.

86. There is a beautiful amusement park near Oslo. It is very interesting and fun there, there are very few queues.

87. Pilots of civil aviation are cold-blooded and fearless guys. Takeoffs and landings are often very fast, and the weather conditions are not the most ideal. But this is justified - there are solid mountains around, there are not many direct platforms, and you need to take off quickly. Dozens of flights around the country under very harsh conditions have repeatedly proved to me their professionalism.

88. When traveling in Norway, don't spare your money and treat yourself to a traditional wool sweater! Usually they are painted in a multi-colored ornament, sometimes in deer, in squares or broken lines. They can be very expensive, from 300 euros - but the quality is excellent, and they will last you an incredibly long time without fading or shrinking.

89. Unless it's a foreigner or immigrant, the chances that you'll get a cigarette fired on the street are nil. If you yourself share it with a friend, he will try to return it to you.

90. Local residents are not inclined to be overweight. They spend a lot of time at sea and in the fresh air, the food is not greasy and of good quality. Very little fast food.

91. When getting married, Norwegian wives become very homely. Often they are very educated, hardworking and well-mannered. Given the fact that many citizens have inherited wealth for several generations, often women are quite wealthy even before marriage.

92. All cars on the roads of Norway have a built-in permanent low beam mode. It is not disabled in most cases. This is due to changeable weather.

93. For renting a boat with an engine less than 9 hp. management license is not required. It is almost impossible to rent everything that is more powerful and faster without special water rights.

9 4. The English word Thursday (Thursday) comes from the name of the Norse god of thunder Thor (Thor). At first, the day was called Thor's day.

95. Throwing show-offs, showing off and showing off are not held in high esteem by the Norwegians. Basically, this is how immigrants and tourists behave.

96. There are few Russians, almost none. This is good, because our citizens tend to spoil and behave defiantly. Recently, more often in summer, our tourists have increased. Most are well-to-do and so far behave in a civilized manner.

97. Go to the grocery store, find a large refrigerator with bags of frozen shrimp sold by weight, put them in a thermal bag, weigh them, pay - and at home just dump them in the kitchen sink and turn on the boiling water. Once the shrimp are thawed and warmed up, remove and serve. Shrimps will be juicy, fragrant and already quite salty. They don't need to be cooked or specially prepared.

98. Finding a sushi restaurant or cafe that serves sushi is almost impossible. They are only in Oslo, Bergen, and it seems in Stavanger. In other cities there is only one such institution. The quality is very modest. And, of course, expensive.

99. The private life of citizens rarely becomes public property. Climbing into other people's relationships is also not accepted. Norwegians usually do not spread personal information to anyone.

100. In the summer, Norwegians like to go to warm countries, and they don’t mind going to places where it’s warm and there are also mountains. For example, you can meet them in Croatia, Montenegro, western Italy.

101. I really love Norway, its harsh and majestic nature, calm and gentle people.