Language: Vowels

Question 1

O (long)

Answer 1

similar to ‘oo’ in “fool”

Question 2

O (short)

Answer 2

mostly like ‘o’ in how the British say “Ox”, rendering it a short ‘å’; but in a few cases simply a short “oo”, just like a short ‘u’

Question 3

I

Answer 3

like ‘i’ in “pin”

Question 4

Ø

Answer 4

like ‘u’ in how the British say “burn” (“bu:n”). One starts with e and rounds one’s lips to produce ø.

Question 5

E

Answer 5

like ‘e’ in “where” (but like æ if it is followed by an ‘r’)(some exceptions, see below)

Question 6

U (short)

Answer 6

same sound as a long ‘o’ only short (much like the English “put”)

Question 7

Å

Answer 7

like ‘o’ in how the British say “lord” (Note: in older texts or names written as “aa”); it is long unless followed by a double consonant.

Question 8

A

Answer 8

A as in father

Question 9

U (long)

Answer 9

similar to “ewwwww!”

Question 10

Æ

Answer 10

like ‘a’ in “mad”; almost always long. A short “ær” sound is spelled ‘er’.

Question 11

Y

Answer 11

like ‘i’ in “pin” (but narrower; y doesn’t correspond to any sound in English. English speakers may have difficulty distinguishing Norwegian’s i and y. It’s similar to German ü or French u.) Halfway between “ee” and “ewwww”.