Norwegian Pronunciation Guide

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A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g,
H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p,
Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v,
W w, X x, Y y, Z z, Æ æ, Ø ø, Å å

Norwegian is a North Germanic language and has over five million speakers. It is closely related to Danish and Swedish.

Norwegian vowels can be short or long.

Letters not listed below are pronounced approximately as in English.
--Dick Oakes


A, a   - a as in father; a as in bar
E, e   - e as in let; a as in fray; u as in lettuce
I, i   - i as in pin; also i as in machine
O, o   - o as in note; also oo as in school
U, u   - oo as in foot; u as in duke
Y, y   - i as in pin; i as in machine
 
Æ, æ   - a as in tap
Ø, ø   - ou as in buoy
Å, å   - o as in note
 
G, g   - g as in go; silent in words ending in "ig"
H, h   - ch (gutteral kh) as in loch
J, j   - y as in yes
R, r   - slightly rolled
 
DIPTHONGS:
 
Ai, ai   - ai as in kaiser
Au, au   - au as in sauerkraut
Ei, ei   - ai as in kaiser
Kj, kj   - a combination of h and ch (of loch)
Ng, ng   - ng as in song
Oi, oi   - oi as in boil
Sj, sj   - sh as in shoe
Ui, ui   - ui as in ruin
Ø, ø   - oi as in boil

Copyright © 2007 by Dick Oakes


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