How to pronounce Norwegian
Say it like nor-WEE-jun. Norwegian has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Norwegian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- nor
- WEE
- jun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Norwegian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- norGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- WEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- junKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Norwegian
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: naw-WEE-jun.
What does Norwegian mean?
- a native or inhabitant of Norway
- a Scandinavian language that is spoken in Norway
- of or relating to Norway or its people or culture or language“Norwegian herring”
Words that rhyme with Norwegian
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Norwegian.
Questions about saying Norwegian
How do you pronounce Norwegian?
Say nor-WEE-jun. The American pronunciation is /ˌnɔrˈwidʒən/. In British English it is /ˌnɔːˈwiːdʒən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Norwegian?
Norwegian has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (WEE). Broken into parts: nor · WEE · jun.
Is Norwegian pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌnɔːˈwiːdʒən/ (naw-WEE-jun).