What Language Do They Speak in Norway?

Official languages of Norway Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

Norway has 3 official languages: Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami.

Learn some Norwegian Bokmål before you go

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We are also a member of the CJ Affiliate and AWIN affiliate networks. Links below are affiliate links.

AMAZON

Norwegian Bokmål Phrasebook & Dictionary
The essentials for ordering food, asking directions and being polite.

Check Price →

AMAZON

Learn Norwegian Bokmål for Beginners
A structured course book to go beyond the basics.

Check Price →

Languages of Norway at a glance

Official languages	Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami
Number of official languages	3
Countries on this site where Norwegian Bokmål is official	1
People (demonym)	Norwegian
Capital	Oslo
Internet domain	.no

Languages of neighbouring countries

Finland	Finnish, Swedish
Sweden	Swedish
Russia	Russian

Norway in context

Norway covers 386,224 km², making it the 61st largest of the 196 countries on this site.
Its population density of about 15 people per km² ranks 180th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
It shares a land border with 3 countries: Finland, Sweden, Russia.
With 5,606,944 people, Norway holds about 5.1% of the population of Northern Europe.
With 3 official languages, Norway has more than most countries on this site.
Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
Norway is a member state of the United Nations.

Compare Norway

Useful phrases for visitors to Norway

Everyday Norwegian Bokmål phrases you will hear and use in Norway:

English	Norwegian Bokmål
Hello	Hei
Thank you	Takk
Please	Vær så snill
Goodbye	Ha det
Yes	Ja
No	Nei

Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.

Languages in Norway — FAQ