Exploring Norwegian Grammar

Page 11

Thus, a common exchange would go something like this: Hei! Hvordan går det? Takk, bare bra. Og du?

Hi! How are you? Thanks, I’m fine. And you?

Goodbyes

When you say goodbye to someone, the most usual way is with the phrase: Ha det bra!

(Lit.: Have it good!)

This expression is a gentle hope that things will go well for you, but it is so automatic that a lot of people, especially in the younger generation, would use an abbreviated version: Ha det! Alternative versions of Ha det bra! are: Ha det fint! Ha det godt! Two non-traditional versions of Ha det bra which are becoming more and more common, are: Ha en god dag! Ha en hyggelig dag!

Have a good day! Have a pleasant day!

This expression is particularly common among shop assistants, staff at cafés, and people in similar jobs. It is said when a customer leaves, and is a bit stronger than a simple Ha det bra. Hei, which used to be used exclusively when you meet someone, is now also being used more and more when someone is leaving. This is more common on the telephone than in other contexts, and is very casual. If you hope or assume that you will be seeing someone again, you can indicate this in several different ways: Ses senere! See you later! Ses snart! See you soon! Ses i morgen! See you tomorrow! Ses! See you! På gjensyn! See you again! / Au revoir! / Auf Wiedersehen! Other farewell greetings that contain gentle wishes for another’s well-being: God natt! Sov godt! Vel hjem! God tur!

[Have a] good night! Sleep well! Safe journey home! Have a nice trip!

Farvel and Adjø are traditional goodbyes that are so formal they are now mostly obsolete.

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Exploring Norwegian Grammar by Cappelen Damm - Issuu