Norwegian Genealogical Word Lists
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Word Lists
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This Norwegian Word List contains Norwegian words with their English translations. The words included here are those that you are likely to find in genealogical sources. If the word you are looking for is not on this list, please consult a Norwegian-English dictionary. (See "Additional Resources" below.)
Norwegian is a Germanic language like Swedish, Danish, and Icelandic. There are two official dialects in Norway. Prior to 1915 most Norwegian records are in a language closer to written Danish than to modern Norwegian. You may also want to refer to the Danish Genealogical Word List.
Records published after 1915, such as family and local histories, are in modern Norwegian. Most differences between modern and old Norwegian are simply a matter of spelling. Carefully study the section below on spelling. This will help you find the words in this list.
Some regions in Norway spoke/wrote in a dialect. For words that are in dialect, see the Dialect word list.
Variant Forms of Words
In Norwegian, as in English, the forms of some words will vary according to how they are used in a sentence. Who—whose—whom or marry—marries— married are examples of words in English with variant forms. The endings of a word in a document may differ from those in this list. For example:
Mann
|
man
|
Kone
|
wife
|
Mannen
|
the man
|
Kona
|
the wife
|
Menn
|
men
|
Koner
|
wives
|
Mennene
|
the men
|
Konene
|
the wives
|
Written Norwegian has three letters not found in the English alphabet: Æ (æ), Ø (ø), and Å (å). In most record sources prior to 1915, Å (å) is written as Aa (aa) and filed at the beginning of the alphabet. Modern Norwegian dictionaries, indexes, the Locality section of the FamilySearch Catalog, and this word list use the following alphabetical order:
(See also, this link for an additional word list)
Norwegian |
English
|
aabodsfri stand |
good condition
|
aarlig |
yearly
|
absolvere |
to give absolution
|
adel |
nobility
|
adelig |
noble
|
adelsmann |
nobleman
|
adoptert |
adopted
|
adresse |
address
|
aften |
evening
|
alder |
age
|
alderdomssvakhet |
weakness of old age
|
aldri |
never
|
alen |
2 fot = 24 tommer = .63 meter
|
alle |
all
|
alltid |
always
|
almisse |
charity
|
almisselem |
indigent, poor
|
altergang |
Communion
|
amt |
county
|
amtmann |
chief county administrator
|
andre |
others, other, next
|
anetavle |
pedigree chart
|
anfall |
seizure, attack
|
anførte |
entered, mentioned
|
ankomst |
arrival
|
anmerkning |
remark, notice, note
|
annen, annet |
second, another
|
annen gang |
second time
|
anno (Latin) |
year
|
annonsere |
publish, announce
|
antall |
number, count
|
april |
April
|
arbeider |
laborer
|
arkiv |
archive
|
arv |
inheritance
|
arvelodd |
share of inheritance
|
arving |
heir
|
astma |
asthma
|
at |
that
|
atten |
eighteen
|
attende |
eighteenth
|
attest |
certificate
|
august |
August
|
auksjonsskjøte |
A deed of conveyannce by the auction agent (sorenskriveren) to the new owner by official auction.
|
av |
of, at, by, from
|
avdeling |
part, division
|
avdød |
deceased
|
avgangen |
departed
|
avgift |
duty (monetary), fee
|
avkom |
offspring, issue
|
avtale |
agreement
|
Norwegian |
English
|
badstue |
sauna
|
bakbygning |
back building (additional residence behind the main building)
|
baker |
baker
|
bakke |
hill
|
bannlyse |
excommunicate
|
baptist |
Baptist
|
bar |
carried
|
bar barnet |
held child (at baptism font)
|
bare |
only
|
barn |
child
|
barna |
children
|
barndom |
childhood
|
barnebarn |
grandchild
|
barnedåp |
child baptism
|
barnefar |
child’s father
|
barnløs |
childless
|
barsel |
birth
|
barselfeber |
childbed fever
|
barselseng |
birthing bed
|
be |
pray, request
|
beboer |
occupant, resident
|
bededag |
prayer day
|
bedrive hor |
commit adultery
|
befolkning |
population, people
|
begge |
both
|
begivenhet |
event, occurrence
|
begravelse |
funeral, burial
|
begravet |
buried
|
behandle |
handle, treat, manage
|
bemerkning |
remark
|
ben |
leg, bone
|
benefisert gods |
Land which the official has income from
|
benekte |
deny
|
benåde |
pardon
|
beruset |
drunk
|
besetning |
livestock, crew
|
beskrivelse |
description
|
beslektet |
related
|
besofet |
conceived outside of wedlock
|
bestefar |
grandfather
|
besteforeldre |
grandparents
|
bestemor |
grandmother
|
besvangre |
impregnate, get with child, make pregnant
|
betale |
pay
|
betaling |
payment
|
betler |
beggar
|
bevilge |
grant
|
bevis |
proof
|
bibliotek |
library
|
bind |
volume (book)
|
biografi |
biography
|
biskop |
bishop
|
bispedømme |
diocese
|
blandkorn |
mixture of grains (usually barley and oats)
|
bli |
become
|
blikkenslager |
tinsmith
|
blind |
blind
|
blod |
blood
|
blodgang |
dysentery
|
blodskam |
incest
|
blodsott |
abnormal loss of blood during illness
|
bo |
to live at
|
bodde |
lived
|
bok |
book
|
bokhandler |
bookseller
|
bokholder, bokfører |
bookkeeper
|
bokstav |
letter, character
|
bolig |
residence, house
|
bonde |
farmer
|
bondegods |
land which the farmers owned
|
bondelensmannen |
lowest level in the local administration
|
bondesag/bygdesag |
a sawmill that from 1688-1818 could only be used for the local market
|
bopel |
residence, domicile
|
borger |
citizen
|
borgermester |
mayor
|
borgerskap |
citizenship
|
bot |
fine, penalty
|
brann |
fire
|
brendeved |
firewood
|
brennevinsbrenner |
distiller of spirits
|
brev |
letter (correspondence)
|
bro |
bridge
|
bror |
brother
|
brordatter |
brother’s daughter
|
brorsønn |
brother’s son
|
brud |
bride
|
brudgom |
bridegroom
|
bruk, gårdsbruk |
farm or a part of a farm which is usually inhabited by a family
|
bruksdeling |
division of a farm into several parts (bruk)
|
brygger |
brewer
|
bryllup |
wedding
|
budeie |
milkmaid
|
bubeite |
grazing land for cattle in the forest
|
bumerke |
a sign or figure used as signature or carved on the house and tools. The use of this dwindled as people learned to write
|
buskap |
livestock, crew
|
by |
town, city
|
byg |
barley
|
bygd |
small country community, village
|
bygdebok |
rural chronicles
|
bygdesag/bondesag |
a sawmill that from 1688-1818 could only be used for the local market
|
bygdeting |
the lowest court in the country where from the 1600s the district judge (sorenskriver) presided. He was assisted by several magistrates (lagrettesmenn)
|
bygsel |
rental of land. The tenant farmer or lease-holder paid rent to the right to lease the land
|
bygselrett |
the authority to rent land to a tenant farmer. When the farm had several owners, the owner of the largest part had the authority for the entire farm
|
byll |
abscess
|
byllepest |
plague (bubonic)
|
byttestreng |
boundary
|
bære |
carry
|
bøkker |
cooper, barrel maker
|
både |
both, either
|
båret |
carried
|
båt |
boat, ship
|
båtbygger |
shipbuilder
|
båtsmann |
boatswain, bosun
|
Norwegian |
English
|
cirka |
approximately
|
communion |
Communion
|
confirmerede |
confirmed
|
copulerede |
marriage
|
Norwegian |
English
|
dag |
day
|
dagen før |
the previous day
|
dagsarbeider |
day laborer
|
dal |
valley
|
daler |
see riksdaler, riksbankdaler, speciedaler and skylddaler
|
Danmark |
Denmark
|
dannekvinde |
gentlewoman
|
dannemand |
gentleman
|
dansk |
Danish
|
dato |
date (noun)
|
datter |
daughter
|
datterdatter |
daughter’s daughter
|
dattersønn |
daughter’s son
|
datum (Latin) |
date
|
degn |
deacon, in older usage the title of the parish clerk (klokker or kirkesanger)
|
dele |
to divide, to share
|
dem |
them, they
|
den |
the, it, that
|
denne |
this
|
der |
there
|
deres |
their
|
derfor |
therefore
|
desember |
December
|
det |
it, that, the
|
difteri |
diphtheria
|
din |
your
|
disse |
these
|
diverse |
various
|
dokument |
document
|
domkirke |
cathedral
|
dommer |
judge
|
dragon |
dragoon, light cavalryman
|
dreng |
boy
|
drengebarn |
male child
|
drepe |
kill
|
dronning |
queen
|
druknet |
drowned
|
dydig |
virtuous
|
dø |
to die
|
døbt(e) |
christening
|
død |
dead, death
|
døde |
died, death
|
dødfødt |
stillborn
|
dødsfall |
death
|
døgn |
24-hour period of time
|
døpt |
baptized, christened
|
døtre |
daughters
|
døv |
deaf
|
døvstum |
deaf and dumb
|
dåp |
baptism
|
dåpsattest |
certificate of baptism
|
dåpsdag |
day of baptism
|
Norwegian |
English
|
efter |
after
|
efterkommer |
descendant
|
efterlatte |
surviving, survivors
|
efterlevende |
surviving
|
eftermiddag |
afternoon
|
efternavn |
surname, last name
|
egen |
own
|
egentlig |
actual
|
egteviede |
marriage
|
eie, eje |
to own
|
eiendom |
property, real estate
|
ekte |
legitimate, to marry
|
ektefelle |
spouse
|
ektemann |
husband
|
ektepar |
married couple
|
ekteskap |
marriage
|
ekteskapelig |
marital, conjugal
|
ekteviet |
married
|
eldre |
older
|
eldst |
oldest, eldest
|
elev |
student
|
eller |
or, or else
|
elleve |
eleven
|
ellevte |
eleventh
|
elv |
river, stream
|
embete |
public office
|
embetsmann |
public official
|
emigrant |
emigrant
|
emigrere |
emigrate
|
en, et |
a, one
|
enebarn |
only child
|
endestav |
the corner marker of the boundary of a farm
|
engelsk |
English; English mint sterling. 1 hud = 12 engelsk. Earlier there could be 18 or 20 engelsk in 1 hud. 1 engelsk equaled 1 calf skin
|
England |
England
|
enhver |
each
|
enke |
widow
|
enkemann |
widower
|
enkestand |
widowed
|
ennu |
yet, still
|
epilepsi |
epilepsy
|
er |
is, are
|
erhverv |
livelihood
|
erkjenne |
acknowledge
|
erter |
peas
|
et |
a, one
|
etasje |
floor, story
|
etc. (Latin) |
et cetera, and so on
|
etternavn |
surname, last
|
evne |
intelligence
|
Norwegian |
English
|
fabrikk |
factory
|
faddere |
christening witnesses, godparents
|
fallesyke |
epilepsy
|
falt fall |
be killed in war
|
familie |
family
|
familie historie |
linage books
|
far |
father
|
farfar |
paternal grandfather
|
farger |
dyer; tanner
|
farmor |
paternal grandmother
|
farsot |
pestilence, plague
|
fartøy |
vessel, craft
|
fattig |
poor
|
fattigvesen |
welfare agency
|
favn |
3 alen = 6 fot = 1.88 meters
|
februar |
February
|
felles |
common, joint
|
fem |
five
|
femte |
fifth
|
femten |
fifteen
|
femtende |
fifteenth
|
femti |
fifty
|
femtiende |
fiftieth
|
fengsel |
prison
|
festebrev, bygselbrev |
a document issued by the landowner, which regulated the contract between the owner and the renter of real estate
|
festeseddel |
rental contract
|
festning |
fortress
|
fetter |
cousin (male)
|
Finnland |
Finland
|
finsk |
Finnish
|
fore |
four
|
fisker |
fisherman
|
fjell |
mountain
|
fjerde |
fourth
|
fjorten |
fourteen
|
fjortende |
fourteenth
|
flere |
several, more
|
flittig |
diligent
|
flomsag |
a sawmill which could only be used in times of high water
|
flytte |
move
|
fogd, fut |
originally the bailiff's servant who administered for him. The most important task was to demand the taxes. The fogd acted also as the grand jury in punishment cases. In the 1600s the fogd was directly responsible to the royal rule in Copenhagen. At the same time his responsibilities were lessened.
|
foged, fogd |
bailiff, sheriff
|
folio |
page (double)
|
folk |
people
|
folkemengde |
population
|
folkeregister |
citizen register, national register
|
folketelling |
census
|
folkevandringstida |
abt 400-600 A.D.
|
follaug |
an agreement that the previous owners would be provided in exchange for the farm. It was most used when the parents were passing the farm to their children similar to a life estate
|
for, at |
before, by
|
foran |
in front of
|
forblødning |
bled to death
|
foreldre |
parents
|
foreldreløs |
orphan
|
forening |
society
|
forfedre |
ancestors, forefathers
|
forgjengeren |
predecessor
|
forhenværende |
former, previous, preceding
|
forhus |
house in front (usually the main house on a farm)
|
forkjølet |
to have a cold
|
forklaring |
explanation
|
forlate |
leave, forgive
|
forlovelse |
engagement
|
forlovere |
marriage witnesses
|
formiddag |
between morning and afternoon
|
formynder |
guardian
|
fornavn |
first name, given name
|
forpakter |
manager of estate
|
forpligtet |
obligated
|
forrige |
former
|
forstand |
intellect, mind
|
forstoppelse |
constipation, obstruction
|
forsørges |
supported
|
fortelle |
tell, relate
|
fortid |
past
|
forvalter |
manager
|
foster |
fetus
|
fosterbarn |
foster child
|
fostre |
foster, to rear
|
fot |
½ alen = 12 tommer = 0.31 meter
|
fra |
from
|
fraflytte |
leave, move away
|
fraværende |
absent
|
fredag |
Friday
|
fremmed |
foreign, foreigner
|
fremtid |
future
|
fru |
Mrs.
|
fruentimmer |
unmarried mother, female person (derogatory)
|
fruktsommelig |
pregnant
|
frøken |
Miss
|
full |
full, complete, drunk
|
fullgard |
a farm which paid full tax. It is a taxation term from the middle ages and the 1600s
|
fullmektig |
head clerk, agent
|
fylke |
county
|
fyr |
lighthouse
|
fæstebrev |
to acquire land
|
føderåd |
support received after giving one's estate to another; same as follaug
|
føderådskone |
woman recieving support
|
føderådsmann |
man receiving support
|
fødested |
birthplace
|
fødsel |
birth
|
fødselsattest |
birth certificate
|
fødselsdag |
birthday
|
født(e) |
born (birth)
|
følgende |
following, next
|
føllaug |
retired
|
før |
before
|
første |
first
|
førstebygsel |
rent paid at the time of renting a farm
|
førti |
forty
|
førtiende |
fortieth
|
får |
sheep, receives
|
Norwegian |
English
|
gammel |
old
|
gartner |
gardener
|
garver |
tanner
|
gate |
street
|
gave |
gift, endowment
|
geistlig |
ecclesiastical
|
geitskinn |
goat skin / hide; a measure of debt equal to 3 engelsk
|
geografisk leksikon |
gazetteer
|
gift |
marriage, married, poison
|
gikt |
rheumatism
|
giftingsgods |
land which was obtained through marriage
|
gjeld |
debt
|
gjenlevende |
survivors
|
gjennom |
through
|
gjerdene |
fences
|
gjestgiver |
innkeeper
|
gjet, gjeit |
goat
|
gjeter |
herdsman
|
gjørtler |
brazier, brass smith
|
god |
good
|
gods |
estate
|
godseier |
estate owner
|
gotisk skrift |
Gothic script was the handwriting which was used in Norway from the 1200s to the last of the nineteenth century
|
gratis |
free
|
grav |
grave
|
graver |
gravedigger, sexton
|
gravlund |
cemetery
|
gravsted |
burial place
|
gren |
branch
|
grenader |
infantryman
|
grense |
boundary, border
|
greve |
Count (nobility)
|
grevinne |
Countess
|
grunn |
ground, reason
|
gruve |
mine, pit
|
gruvearbeider |
miner
|
grønn |
green
|
gudfar |
godfather
|
gudmor |
godmother
|
gull |
gold
|
gulsot |
jaundice
|
gulv |
floor
|
gutt |
boy
|
gå |
go, walk
|
gård |
farm; the entity which was designated with a name. From the 1800’s it was also designated with a farm number. One farm could be subdivided into several parcels called bruk.
|
gårdbruker |
farmer
|
gårdeier |
farm owner
|
gårsdagens |
of yesterday
|
Norwegian |
English
|
ha |
to have
|
hadde |
had
|
halshugget |
decapitated
|
halv |
half
|
halvbror |
half brother
|
Halvgård |
a farm which paid ½ of the full tax
|
halvsøster |
half sister
|
ham |
him
|
han |
he
|
handelsmann |
merchant, trader
|
hans |
his
|
hanskemaker |
glove maker
|
har |
has, have
|
hattemaker |
hatmaker
|
havn |
harbor
|
havre |
oats
|
heller |
rather
|
helligdag |
holiday
|
hengt seg |
hanged himself or herself
|
henne |
her
|
her |
here
|
Herr |
Mr.
|
herred |
judicial district
|
Herren |
the Lord
|
hest |
horse
|
heter |
is named
|
historie |
history
|
hittebarn |
orphan, foundling
|
hjem |
home
|
hjemme |
at home
|
hjemmedøpt |
baptized at home
|
hjemmehørende |
residing
|
hjerte |
heart
|
hjertefeil |
heart disease
|
hjul |
wheel
|
hjulmaker |
wheelwright
|
holde |
hold, stop
|
horeri |
adultery
|
hos |
with, at
|
hoste |
cough
|
hovedliste |
census list
|
hud |
hide; a measure of debt which was used until 1838, but sometimes longer. 1 hud = 4 geitskinn = 12 engelsk. Originally used for payment of land taxes.
|
hun |
she
|
hundre(de) |
hundred (hundredth)
|
hus |
house
|
husar |
hussar, cavalryman
|
husbonde |
head of household
|
husene |
houses
|
husholderske |
housekeeper
|
husmann |
cottager, tenant farmer, share crofter; a person who lived on land without a farm number. Could often use a parcel of land by paying the landowner.
|
husmannsplass |
the designation of the parcel of land/cottage where the husmann lived
|
husmor |
housewife
|
hustru |
wife
|
hva |
what
|
hvem |
who
|
hver |
every
|
hvete |
wheat
|
hvilken |
which
|
hvis |
if, whose
|
hvit |
white
|
hvor |
where
|
hvordan |
how
|
hvorfor |
why
|
hvorvidt |
whether
|
høsten |
in the fall
|
høy |
tall, high, hay
|
høyre |
right (side)
|
håndarbeide |
handwork
|
håndtering |
occupation
|
håndverk |
trade, handicraft
|
Norwegian |
English
|
i |
in
|
idiot |
idiot
|
ifølge |
according to
|
igår |
yesterday
|
igjen |
again
|
i hjel, slå |
kill
|
ikke |
not
|
ikke enda |
not yet
|
ild |
fire
|
imellom |
between, among
|
imorgen |
tomorrow
|
inderst |
a person who rented a room from others and had his own household
|
infeksjon |
infection
|
ingen |
none
|
inn |
in
|
inne i |
inside
|
innerst |
renter, innermost
|
innflyttning |
moving in
|
innhold |
content
|
innsitter |
renter
|
innsjø |
lake
|
innvandring |
immigration
|
intet |
none
|
introduceret |
introduced
|
Island |
Iceland
|
islandsk |
Icelandic
|
Norwegian |
English
|
januar |
January
|
jeg |
I (personal pronoun)
|
jeger |
light infantry soldier, hunter
|
jomfru |
damsel, Miss, virgin
|
jordbruk |
farming
|
jordegods |
landed property
|
jordet |
burial; the ground
|
jordferd |
burial, funeral
|
jordfeste |
burial, interment
|
jordfæstede |
sealing the grave; when a person was buried without a priest, the practice by which the priest would later consecrate the grave
|
jordfesting |
burial, interment
|
jordmor |
midwife
|
jordpåkastelse |
ceremony of sprinkling earth on the coffin
|
jordvei, vei |
road
|
jul |
Christmas
|
juli |
July
|
juni |
June
|
jurist |
lawyer
|
Norwegian |
English
|
kakkelovn |
from the 1700s a somewhat misused term for an iron stove. A closed fireplace clad with glazed ceramic tiles used for heating buildings.
|
kalemank |
wool, often used to make vests and trousers
|
kallet |
named
|
kanskje |
maybe, perhaps
|
karet |
coach
|
kart |
map
|
katolsk |
Catholic
|
kavaleri |
cavalry
|
kemmer |
peddler
|
kikhoste |
whooping cough
|
kirke |
church
|
kirkebok |
parish register
|
kirkegods |
land which was reserved for the clergy or which was owned by local or central religious institutions
|
kirkegård |
cemetery, churchyard
|
kirkeverger |
a couple of farmers in each parish which should control or supervise the local church estate
|
kirkeværge |
church warden
|
kiste |
chest, coffin
|
kjent |
known
|
kjønn |
sex
|
kjøpe |
buy
|
kjøpmann |
merchant
|
kledning |
usual description of a man's clothing consisting of trousers, undershirt, and tunic
|
klokker |
sexton, parish clerk, bell ringer, deacon
|
kloster |
convent, monastery
|
kokarde |
insignia
|
kolikk |
colic
|
kommune |
municipality, township
|
kone |
wife
|
konfirmasjon |
confirmation
|
konge |
king
|
kongedømme |
kingdom
|
kongelig |
royal
|
kontor |
office
|
kopper |
smallpox, copper
|
koppskatt |
person tax
|
kort |
short, card
|
kort register |
card index
|
krampe |
convulsions, spasm
|
kreft |
cancer
|
krig |
war
|
krongods |
land which belonged to the crown or state
|
ku |
cow
|
kun |
only
|
kunngjøre |
declare
|
kunnskap |
knowledge
|
kusine |
cousin (female)
|
kusk |
coachman, teamster
|
kveg |
cattle
|
kvele |
choke
|
kvell |
evening
|
kvern |
a machine which would mill grain often called a bekkekvern (brook mill). A water wheel was used to turn the mill. If the brook was suitable 3 or 4 mills could be built. There were also smaller hand mills
|
kvindemenneske |
female
|
kvinne |
woman
|
kvinnekjønn |
female
|
kyllinger |
chickens
|
kår |
support received after giving one’s estate to another
|
kårkone |
woman who receives kår
|
kårmann |
man who receives
|
Norwegian |
English
|
la |
let, allow
|
lagmann |
judge at the high court which was an appeals court over the local court
|
lagrettemann |
farmer who after taking an oath could function as judges or witnesses
|
land |
country
|
landsby |
village
|
langfredag |
Good Friday
|
landskyld |
yearly rent which the renter paid to the land owner
|
laugverge |
widow’s guardian or spokesman
|
ledstø |
a stone boundary marker between two outer markers
|
legd |
A group of farms which together were responsible for a portion of the community obligations such as taxes, providing soldiers, or taking care of the poor.
|
legdslem |
welfare recipient
|
leidang |
a sea military defense ordinance in Viking times. Later it was made an annual tax
|
leie |
hire, rent
|
leier |
tenant
|
leilending |
leaseholder; the person who rented land from the land owner
|
lejermål, leiermål |
unlawful and punishable sexual union outside of marriage
|
lenge |
long
|
lensmann/lensherre |
sheriff; nobleman who had received a district from the king
|
lensmannen |
lowest level official in the local administration
|
lese |
read
|
leve |
live
|
levende |
live, living
|
lignende |
same, alike, similar
|
lik |
corpse, alike
|
likeledes |
also, as well
|
lille |
small
|
lite (litt) |
little
|
liten |
little, small
|
liv |
life
|
los |
pilot (ship)
|
losjerende |
boarder, lodger
|
lov |
law
|
lovlig |
legal
|
lungebetendelse |
pneumonia
|
luteraner |
Lutheran
|
lysning |
post banns
|
lysninger |
banns
|
læregutt |
apprentice
|
lærer |
teacher (male)
|
lærerinne |
teacher (female)
|
lærling |
apprentice
|
løpenummer |
serial number; the number given to a parcel of a farm. See more under Matrikkel.
|
lørdag |
Saturday
|
løsaktig |
loose or immoral woman
|
løsarbeider |
day laborer
|
låve |
barn
|
Norwegian |
English
|
magesyke |
diarrhea, stomach ailment
|
mai |
May
|
makeskifte |
record of grown men. The oldest is from the 1660’s. Can also be used as a record of those who owe taxes.
|
maler |
painter
|
mandag |
Monday
|
mange |
many
|
mann |
man, husband
|
mannkjønn |
male
|
mark |
field; as a coin = 1 ort whose weight is about 250 grams
|
markegang |
boundary line
|
mars |
March
|
matrikkel |
land registration; official register of real estate used as the foundation for taxation. In the first part of the 1600’s the farms were divided into full farms, half farms, and uninhabited farms and taxed accordingly. In the 1600’s the matrikkel commissions attempted to register all the property in Norway and to justify the tax burden for them. This resulted in the matrikkelen of 1688. Then they used the old terms of hud, geitskinn, og engelsk. This was the official matrikkelen until 1838 although there was a new matrikkel in 1723 which was never used. In 1818 work was started on a new matrikkelen which was put into effect in 1838. Each farm received a new number and each parcel (bruk) received a sub-number (løpenummer). These sub-numbers were a continuous number series for the entire registration as the farms were divided in 1820. With further divisions the numbers were followed by a letter of the alphabet, for example, 279a, 279b, etc. It was a difficult process because so many farms were continuously subdivided or the two parcels were once again united. In 1838 the debt was categorized as skylddaler = 5 ort = 120 schillings. In the 1860’s work was begun on a new matrikkel. Each farm received, once again, a new number and limitless bruksnummer beginning with 1. At the same time the debt values were used as 1 skyldmark = 100 øre. A revised version of this matrikkelen was instituted in 1906. Printed copies of the matrikkelen of 1838, 1889 and 1906 are available. They show the farm and the bruk name, owner, or tenant and the tax value.
|
matrikkelnummer |
the number assigned to identify property for taxation purposes.
|
matros |
sailor
|
med |
with
|
medhjelper |
assistant, helper
|
medlem |
member
|
med videre (Latin) |
et cetera, and so on
|
meg |
me
|
mellom |
middle
|
mellombygning |
middle building
|
men |
but
|
mer |
more, additional
|
meslinger |
measles
|
messingsmed |
brazier, brass smith
|
mester |
master (of a trade)
|
midlertidig |
temporarily
|
midnatt |
midnight
|
mil |
metric mile (ten kilometers)
|
militær |
military
|
min |
mine (belongs to me)
|
mindre |
lesser
|
minearbeider |
miner
|
minste |
smallest, youngest
|
minutt |
minute
|
modig |
courageous, brave
|
mor |
mother
|
mord |
murder
|
morfar |
maternal grandfather
|
morgen |
morning
|
mormor |
maternal grandmother
|
motta |
receive
|
murer |
mason
|
musiker |
musician
|
m.v. (Latin) |
See med videre
|
myndig |
of age
|
møbelsnekker |
furniture maker
|
møller |
miller
|
Norwegian |
English
|
nabo |
neighbor
|
nadverd |
Communion, sacrament
|
natt |
night
|
navn |
name
|
nedbrent |
burned down
|
nei |
no
|
neste |
next, neighbor
|
neste år |
next year
|
nevø |
nephew
|
ni |
nine
|
niende |
ninth
|
niese |
niece
|
nitten |
nineteen
|
nittende |
nineteenth
|
nitti |
ninety
|
nittiende |
ninetieth
|
noen |
some, any
|
nord |
north
|
november |
November
|
nu, nå |
now
|
nulevende |
living
|
null |
zero
|
nummer |
number
|
ny |
new
|
nyfødt |
newborn
|
nylig |
lately
|
nyttår |
new year
|
nær |
near, close
|
næringsvei |
livelihood, trade
|
nå, nu |
now
|
når |
when, if, reach
|
Norwegian |
English
|
odel |
birthright or allodial ownership
|
odelsgods |
property which someone has right to by inheritance. It is also used on all privately owned property except privileged noble estates
|
odelsskatt |
tax on private property paid by a certain part of the property tax based on the amount of land which they didn’t used themselves. This term is a bit misleading because this tax was not only paid on private property, but also on purchased and mortgaged property.
|
ofte |
often
|
og |
and
|
oktober |
October
|
oldebarn |
great-grandchild
|
oldefar |
great-grandfather
|
oldeforeldre |
great-grandparents
|
oldemor |
great-grandmother
|
om |
if, about
|
omegn |
neighboring places
|
omtrent |
about, almost, nearly
|
omvendelse |
conversion
|
onkel |
uncle
|
onsdag |
Wednesday
|
opgave (ved uægte børn af hvem Opgaven er skeet) |
task (specifically, for illegitimate children, who reported their status)
|
opp |
up
|
oppe |
above, upstairs
|
oppfostre |
foster, to rear
|
oppgivelsesskifte |
probate held before the property was turned over to heirs when receiving a life estate. Also for the one which probated is deceased.
|
opptegnelse |
record
|
ordbok |
dictionary
|
ordfører |
mayor
|
ort |
as money 1 ort = 24 skilling. Also used as a measure of debt.
|
oss |
us
|
osv. |
et cetera, and so on
|
over |
over
|
overhoffretten |
the highest court in Norway from 1666-1797
|
overlevende |
survivors
|
overtredelse |
transgression
|
Norwegian |
English
|
pagina (Latin) |
page
|
pallask |
sword
|
pantebok |
mortgage record
|
pantegods |
property which is mortgaged. From the beginning of the 1700’s the mortgage holder had the right to all the properties income. He must also pay taxes on this income. In the 1700’s the mortgage holder collected yearly interest while the mortgagee kept the right of disposition of the property
|
parsell |
plot of land, allotment
|
parykkmaker |
wigmaker
|
penger |
money
|
pensjon |
pension
|
pensjonist |
retired person
|
person |
person
|
pest |
plague
|
pike (pige) |
girl, maid
|
pikebarn |
female child
|
pikenavn |
maiden name, girl’s name
|
pinse |
Pentecost
|
pladsen |
the cottage - houses, place the cottager occupied
|
plass |
see Husmannsplass
|
pleiebarn |
foster child
|
pleiedatter |
foster daughter
|
pleiefar |
foster father
|
pleieforeldre |
foster parents
|
pleiemor |
foster mother
|
pleiesønn |
foster son
|
poteter |
potatoes
|
pottemaker |
potter
|
preke |
preach
|
prest |
minister, priest
|
prestegjeld |
clerical district
|
prestegods |
the property which supported the priest and which he had income from as part of his salary
|
prestekontor |
parish office
|
prestemanntall |
count or census of the priests
|
prins |
prince
|
prinsesse |
princess
|
på |
on, at, upon
|
påske |
Easter
|
Norwegian |
English
|
register |
index, register
|
regjering |
government
|
regning |
bill
|
regnskap |
account
|
reise |
travel
|
religion |
religion
|
repslager |
rope maker
|
rett |
court (noun), correct
|
rettferdig |
just, righteous
|
ridder |
knight
|
rik |
wealthy
|
riksbankdaler |
main currency in Norway 1813-1816. 1 riksbankdaler = 6 mark = 96 riksbankskilling. At that time a very large amount of riksbankdaler were issued such that the value of them quickly decreased
|
riksdaler |
main currency in Norway 1544-1813. From 1625 1 rikdaler = 4 ort = 96 skilling
|
riktig |
correct
|
rug |
rye
|
rulle |
a record of soldiers
|
rundt |
around
|
ryg |
rye
|
rytter |
cavalryman
|
rådmann |
councilman
|
Norwegian |
English
|
sa |
said, stated
|
sabbat |
Sabbath
|
sagskjærer |
sawmill worker who cut with a handsaw
|
sakefall |
term for both fines and property confiscation of a condemned person which was paid to the authorities in the 1600’s
|
sakrament |
sacrament
|
salig |
deceased, holy, blessed
|
salmaker |
saddler
|
samfunn |
society
|
samleie |
intercourse
|
samme |
same
|
samme dag |
the same day
|
sammen |
together
|
sammesteds |
in the same place
|
samtlige |
all
|
samtykke |
consent
|
sau |
sheep
|
seg |
oneself
|
seks |
six
|
seksten |
sixteen
|
sekstende |
sixteenth
|
seksti |
sixty
|
sekstiende |
sixtieth
|
selv |
self
|
selveier |
owner, freeholder; farmer which owned his own land in contrast to one who rented land
|
selvmord |
suicide
|
senere |
later
|
seng |
bed
|
sengeliggende |
bedridden
|
separeret |
separated
|
september |
September
|
side |
page, side
|
sidehus |
side house
|
siden |
since, later
|
sin, sitt, sine |
his, hers, its
|
sinnsvak |
insane, retarded
|
sinnsyk |
mentally ill
|
siste |
last, latter
|
siste olje |
last rites
|
sjette |
sixth
|
sju (syv) |
seven
|
sjuende (syvende) |
seventh
|
sjø |
sea, lake
|
sjømann |
sailor, seaman
|
skaberak |
elaborate horse blanket
|
skaffe |
produce
|
skal |
shall, must
|
skarlagensfeber |
scarlet fever
|
skatt |
tax
|
skibsfører |
ship’s captain
|
skifte |
probate
|
skifteprotokoll |
probate record book
|
skifteretten |
probate court
|
skilling |
currency like 1/96 of a daler until 1816, later 1/120 speciedaler
|
skilsmisse |
divorce
|
skilt |
divorced
|
skiløper |
infantry soldier on skis, skier
|
skinn |
calf skin. In about 1200 each farm paid the tax of one calf skin. In 1661 this tax was combined with Biskops- and Olavstax and then was revised to be assessed by the size of the farm so that the tax value varied between 1 and 3 skins per farm
|
skipreide |
administrative unit originally tied to leidangsvesenet. In the middle ages it was revised to be a district which paid rent to the crown. Later used as designation of jurisdiction, see tinglag
|
skjedde |
happened
|
skjøte |
deed (property)
|
skog |
forest
|
skole |
school
|
skomaker |
shoemaker
|
skoskatt |
personal tax in 1711 of all who had shoes
|
skredder |
tailor
|
skriver |
scribe
|
skulle |
should
|
skyld/landskyld |
yearly rent the lessee should pay to the landowner. In older times it was at the same time a set measurement for the property at purchase, sale, or probate. From the 1600’s the tax was aligned with the debt. All independent farms were taxed, whether it was rented or self-owned
|
skylddaler |
1 skylddaler = 5 ort = 120 skilling
|
skylddeling |
division of the debt when a farm was subdivided
|
skyssplikt |
the farmers had the obligation to take care of the horse and horseman for travelers
|
skysskaffer |
person who had the assignment to obtain a horse and horseman for travelers
|
slag |
strike, blow, stroke
|
slakter |
butcher
|
slekt |
relatives, family, lineage
|
slektninger |
relatives
|
slektsforskning |
genealogy
|
slektshistorie |
family history, lineage books
|
slektsvåpen |
coat of arms
|
slå ihjel |
kill
|
smed |
smith
|
snart |
soon
|
snekker |
cabinetmaker, carpenter
|
sogn |
parish
|
soldat |
soldier
|
sorenskriver |
magistrate, probate judge; the office of sorenskriver was created by royal proclamation 31 July 1591. The sorenskriver was to be the secretary of the local court. But by the early 1600’s he had progressed to be the judge at the local court and after a time he became the sole judge. He also had obligations as a probate manager, auction manager, court attendant, notary public, etc.
|
sort |
black
|
spebarn |
infant, baby
|
spillemann |
musician, fiddler
|
speciedaler (spd) |
main currency in Norway 1816-1875. 1 speciedaler = 5 ort = 120 skilling. With the switch to the crown (krone) in 1875 a speciedaler was to equal 4 crowns
|
stabbur |
storehouse on pillars
|
stamtavle |
descendancy chart
|
stand |
social position
|
stebarn |
stepchild
|
stebror |
stepbrother
|
sted |
place
|
stedatter |
stepdaughter
|
stefar |
stepfather
|
steinhogger |
stonecutter
|
stemor |
stepmother
|
stervbo |
the deceased’s dwelling (from the german “sterben”)
|
stesønn |
stepson
|
stilling |
status, position, office
|
stor |
large
|
straff |
punishment
|
straks |
right away, immediately
|
strandsitter |
husmann who lived on the seacoast
|
stum |
mute (can’t speak)
|
summa (Latin) |
totals
|
summarisk |
statistical, summary
|
svak |
weak
|
svakhet |
weakness
|
svart |
black
|
svenn |
journeyman
|
svensk |
Swedish
|
Sverige |
Sweden
|
svigerdatter |
daughter-in-law
|
svigerfar |
father-in-law
|
svigerinne |
sister-in-law
|
svigermor |
mother-in-law
|
svigersønn |
son-in-law
|
svoger |
brother-in-law
|
svulst |
tumor
|
syd |
south
|
sydlig |
southern
|
syerske |
seamstress
|
syk |
sick
|
sykdom |
disease
|
sypike |
seamstress
|
sytten |
seventeen
|
syttende |
seventeenth
|
sytti |
seventy
|
syttiende |
seventieth
|
syv (sju) |
seven
|
syvende (sjuende) |
seventh
|
sølv |
silver
|
søndag |
Sunday
|
sønn |
son
|
sønnedatter |
son’s daughter
|
sønnesøn |
son’s son
|
sør |
south
|
søsken |
siblings
|
søster |
sister
|
søstersønn |
sister’s son
|
så |
saw (see), so, if so, sow (seed)
|
sådan |
such
|
således |
thus, in this or that
|
Norwegian |
English
|
tak |
roof
|
takk |
thank you
|
takksigelse |
thanksgiving
|
tall |
number, count
|
tambur |
drummer (soldier)
|
tante |
aunt
|
testamente |
last will
|
ti |
ten
|
tid |
time
|
tidlig |
early
|
tidsperiode |
period of time
|
tidsskrift |
periodical
|
tiende |
tenth, tithing; originally a payment to the church of 1/10 of increase. In the 1600’s it was paid annually
|
tigger |
beggar
|
til |
to, until, for
|
tillatelse |
dispensation, permission
|
time |
hour
|
tinglag |
area of court jurisdiction for a local court
|
tippoldefar |
great-great-grandfather
|
tippoldemor |
great-great-grandmother
|
tirsdag |
Tuesday
|
tittel |
title
|
tjene |
serve, work
|
tjeneste |
service
|
tjenestedreng |
servant, employee, male
|
tjenestepige |
servant, employee, female
|
tjue (tyve) |
twenty
|
tjueannen |
twenty-second
|
tjueen |
twenty-one
|
tjuefem |
twenty-five
|
tjuefire |
twenty-four
|
tjuefjerde |
twenty-fourth
|
tjueførste |
twenty-first
|
tjuende (tyvende) |
twentieth
|
tjueni(ende) |
twenty-nine (twenty-ninth)
|
tjueseks |
twenty-six
|
tjuesjette |
twenty-sixth
|
tjuesju(ende) |
twenty-seven(th)
|
tjuetemte |
twenty-fifth
|
tjueto |
twenty-two
|
tjuetre(dje) |
twenty-three (twenty-third)
|
tjueåtte(nde) |
twenty-eight (twenty-eighth)
|
to |
two
|
tohundre |
two hundred
|
tollbetjent |
customs officer
|
tolv |
twelve
|
tolvte |
twelfth
|
torsdag |
Thursday
|
tre |
three
|
tredevte (trettiende) |
thirtieth
|
tredje |
third
|
tredjeårstake |
lease payment which was due every three years
|
tredve (tretti) |
thirty
|
tretten(de) |
thirteen (thirteenth)
|
trettien(de) |
thirty-one (thirty-first)
|
trettiførste |
thirty-first
|
trolovelse |
engagement
|
trolovet |
engaged
|
trosbekjennelse |
creed
|
trossamfunn |
religion
|
tuberkulose |
consumption, tuberculosis
|
tukthus |
prison
|
tusen(de) |
thousand(th)
|
tvangsarbeide |
hard labor, compulsory labor
|
tvilling |
twin
|
tyfus |
typhoid fever
|
tysk |
German
|
Tyskland |
Germany
|
tyv |
thief
|
tyve (tjue) |
twenty
|
tyvende (tjvende) |
twentieth
|
tæring |
tuberculosis
|
tømmermann |
carpenter, framer, ship’s carpenter
|
tønne |
barrel
|
Norwegian |
English
|
udøpt |
unbaptized
|
uekte |
illegitimate
|
ugift |
unmarried
|
uke |
week
|
ukjent |
unknown, foreign
|
ulovlig |
illegal
|
ulykke |
accident
|
umoralsk |
immoral
|
umyndig |
under legal age
|
under |
under, below
|
underholde |
support
|
underskrevne |
the undersigned
|
underskrift |
signature
|
undertegnet |
signed
|
ung |
young
|
ungkarl |
bachelor
|
unntatt |
except
|
uskyldig |
innocent
|
ussel |
miserable, poor
|
usømmelig |
indecent
|
utdrag |
extract
|
uten |
without
|
utenfor |
outside of
|
utfattog |
destitute, penniless
|
utflyttning |
moving out
|
utføre |
perform, do
|
utgi |
publish
|
uti |
at, in
|
utlagt |
named as, alleged
|
utlandet |
foreign country
|
utskiftning |
dissolution and redistribution of the several parcels of land making up the farm to make it more evenly distributed
|
utskyld |
yearly payment to the crown in the southwest of Norway. Probably it was originally a duty of the farms along a road to support the king before the unification of Norway
|
utukt |
lechery, fornication
|
utvandre |
emigrate
|
utvandrer |
emigrant
|
utvandring |
emigration
|
Norwegian |
English
|
vaccinerede |
vaccination
|
vaksinert |
vaccination, vaccinated
|
vanfør |
crippled, disabled
|
vanskapt |
deformed, handicapped
|
var |
was, were
|
vattersot |
dropsy (edema)
|
ved |
at, by
|
vedkommende |
person concerned
|
ved siden av |
next to
|
ved uægte børn af hvem Opgaven er skeet |
for illegitimate children, who reported their status
|
velstand |
prosperity
|
venn |
friend
|
venstre |
left (side)
|
verge |
guardian
|
verneplikt |
military duty
|
vertshus |
inn
|
vest |
west
|
vever |
weaver
|
vielse |
marriage, wedding
|
vielsesattest |
marriage certificate
|
viet |
married
|
vikingtida |
about 800-1000 years A.D.
|
vitne |
witness
|
vitnesbyrd |
testimony
|
vogn |
carriage, wagon, vehicle
|
vognmann |
coachman
|
voldta |
rape
|
værdig |
worthy
|
være |
be
|
vår |
our
|
våren |
in the spring
|
Norwegian |
English
|
yngre |
younger
|
yngst |
youngest
|
yrke |
profession
|
Norwegian |
English
|
ærbødig |
respectful
|
ære |
honor
|
ærlig |
honest
|
ættegransking |
genealogy
|
Norwegian |
English
|
øde |
desolate, waste
|
ødegård |
from the late 1500’s this was also a classification of a farm for tax purposes and was used for all farms in the lowest classification. 1 ødegård = a quarter farm
|
ødelegge |
destroy
|
ødemark |
wasteland, wilderness
|
ønske |
wish, desire, want
|
øre |
ear; after 1889 taxes owed, 100 øre = 1 skyldmark
|
øst |
east
|
øvre |
upper
|
øy |
island
|
øye, øie |
eye
|
Norwegian |
English
|
åmage |
it was usual when one wanted to preserve the inheritance in property but did not have the economic ability to pay by a certain time that they announced their rights to the land in the court to retain their inheritance
|
ånd |
spirit
|
åndsvak |
mentally deficient
|
år |
year
|
årgangssag |
sawmill which had a large enough water supply to operate throughout the year
|
århundre |
century
|
årlig |
annual, yearly
|
årsak |
cause, reason
|
åsetesrett |
the right to take over an undivided landed property
|
åsted |
where event took place (place of event)
|
åtte |
eight
|
åttende |
eighth
|
åtti |
eighty
|
åttiede |
eightieth
|
This word list includes only words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a Norwegian-English dictionary. Several Norwegian-English dictionaries are available at the Family History Library. These are in the Scandinavian collection. Their call numbers begin with 439.82321. Family History Centers can obtain the following dictionaries on microfilm:
Scavenius, H. Glydendals Ordbøker; Norsk-Engelsk [Gyldendal’s Dictionaries; Norwegian-English]. Oslo, Norway: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, 1945. (FHL film 1,224,705, item 4).
cavenius, H. Glydendals Ordbøker; Engelsk-Norsk [Glydendal’s Dictionaries; English-Norwegian]. Oslo, Norway: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, 1945. (FHL film 1,224,705, item 3).
Additional dictionaries are listed in the Subject section of the FamilySearch Catalog under NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE - DICTIONARIES and in the Locality section under NORWAY - LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGES.
In order to find and use specific types of Norwegian records, you will need to know some key words in Norwegian. This section lists key genealogical terms in English and the Norwegian words with the same or similar meanings.
For example, in the first column you will find the English word marriage. In the second column you will find Norwegian words with meanings such as marry, marriage, wedding, wedlock, unite, legitimate, joined, and other words used in Norwegian records to indicate marriage.
English
|
Norwegian
|
banns
|
lysninger
|
birth
|
fødte, født
|
burial
|
begravelse, jordet
|
census
|
folketelling
|
child
|
barn
|
christening
|
døbte, døbt
|
clerical district
|
prestegjeld
|
confirmation
|
konfirmasjon, konfirmerede
|
death
|
døde, død
|
engagement
|
forlovelse, trolovelse
|
father
|
far
|
female
|
kvinnekjønn
|
husband
|
ektemann
|
index
|
register
|
male
|
mannkjønn
|
marriage
|
copulerede, egteviede, gift, vielse
|
military
|
militær
|
mother
|
mor
|
moving in
|
innflyttning
|
moving out
|
utflyttning
|
name, given
|
fornavn
|
name, surname
|
etternavn
|
parents
|
foreldre
|
parish
|
sogn
|
probate
|
skifte
|
vaccination
|
vaccinerede, vaksinert
|
wife
|
hustru
|
year
|
år
|