Norwegian
10 Norwegian swear words you'll actually hear
A traveller's shortlist of Norwegian expletives, insults and exclamations — what they mean, and how strong they are.
Every language swears differently. This guide collects 10 Norwegian expressions you're genuinely likely to hear — from mild exclamations to properly strong stuff — and explains what each one actually means, not just its dictionary translation.
Burn Ratings are an approximate, cross-language heuristic. Context, region, tone and who's speaking all change how a word lands. Treat these as a guide, not gospel.
- faen 3/5 · Vulgar
Literally “devil”. It's an exclamation similar to damn or fuck, often used to express frustration or anger.
Full entry → - fy faen 3/5 · Vulgar
This is a strong expression used to convey disgust, surprise, or even admiration, depending on the context. It's versatile in its emotional impact.
Full entry → - dritt 2/5 · Coarse
Literally “excrement”. It means shit or something bad and worthless. It's a straightforward way to express disdain or disappointment.
Full entry → - drittsekk 3/5 · Vulgar
It's an insult for someone who's an arsehole or generally unpleasant. Literally, it translates to 'bag of excrement.'
Full entry → - jævel 3/5 · Vulgar
Literally “devil”. It’s an insult similar to calling someone a bastard, but can also be used in a more admiring way depending on the context.
Full entry → - jævelskap 3/5 · Vulgar
Literally “devilry”. It refers to mischief, nastiness, or a wretched situation. Think of it as a way to describe something particularly troublesome or annoying.
Full entry → - jævla 3/5 · Vulgar
Literally “devilish”. It's an intensifier similar to 'fucking', used to add emphasis to whatever it's describing.
Full entry → - rasshøl 3/5 · Vulgar
It's a vulgar personal insult, akin to calling someone an arsehole. The literal translation is 'arse hole', which adds a bit of bluntness to the insult.
Full entry → - fanken 1/5 · Mild
This is a mild exclamation similar to 'darn' used to express annoyance or frustration.
Full entry →