Norwegian is a Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway. It belongs to the North Germanic branch of the Germanic languages and is closely related to Swedish and Danish. About 5 million people speak Norwegian as their mother tongue, and it’s one of Norway’s official languages. There are two official types of Norwegian: Bokmål and Nynorsk.
Language learning apps offer different teaching methods and strategies for learning Norwegian online. After I’ve analysed 15 different apps based on their Norwegian courses, variety of exercises, ease of use, design and user reviews, I want to highlight the best of them.
However, before we look at the specific apps for learning Norwegian, it’s important to consider some basic information about the language itself and its linguistic characteristics. After that, I will take a look at how easy or difficult it is to learn Norwegian.
Is It Difficult To Learn Norwegian?
Norwegian is often considered one of the most beautiful and interesting of the North Germanic languages. It is relatively easy to learn for speakers of German or English due to its simple grammatical structure.
Especially when it comes to basic grammatical structures, this makes the learning process easier. The language shares similarities with English and German, mostly follows the subject-verb-object structure.
However, there are specific challenges that can make learning difficult, but these can be overcome. One significant feature is the lack of a unified pronunciation standard due to the variety of regional dialects. Even after learning standard Norwegian, it’s not guaranteed that communication with all Norwegians will be smooth, as most teaching materials focus on the dialect of the capital, Oslo.
Another significant challenge is pronunciation, as Norwegian has sounds that don’t exist in many other languages. In particular, the sounds ‘å’, ‘ø’ and ‘r’ can be difficult for beginners to pronounce. But with enough practice and study, it is possible to speak Norwegian as fluently as a native.
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Norwegian in a Nutshell
Norwegian is part of the Scandinavian family within the Germanic language group and has connections with English, German, Dutch and other Scandinavian languages such as Swedish, Danish, Icelandic and Faroese. This means that there are considerable similarities in vocabulary and grammar between these languages and Norwegian
Learners who already have some knowledge of English often find it easier to learn Norwegian due to the similarity of words and grammatical constructions. Those who know other Germanic languages are likely to find the learning process even more straightforward.
Interestingly, Russian speakers can also find pleasant parallels in Norwegian, such as the words “svine” for pig and “tallerke” for plate.
Norwegian is closely related to its Scandinavian colleagues, a fact that comes from geographical proximity and historical developments. With the exception of Icelandic and Faroese, which have a special place in the Scandinavian language family, Norwegian is particularly close to Danish and Swedish.
As a rule, Norwegians find it easier to read Danish texts and understand spoken Swedish than vice versa. This is a generalisation and there are many reasons for this, but it provides a simple starting point for the question of whether Norwegians can understand Swedes and Danes.
Check out the following for more insights into learning Germanic languages:
Features of the Norwegian Language
Norway has about 4 million Norwegian speakers, and the language itself consists of two officially accepted written forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål is widely used in literature, media and education, while Nynorsk was developed in the 19th century to unify the diversity of Norwegian dialects.
Norwegian, Swedish and Danish are closely related due to historically shifting borders and political unions. Linguistically, Norwegian has several peculiarities, such as three grammatical genders and flexibility in the use of articles. The formation of plurals and the use of definite and indefinite articles follow their own rules, as well as the distinction between strong and weak verbs.
Linguistic features at a glance:
- In Norwegian, nouns have one of three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine or neuter. However, feminine nouns are rarely used with an article. Most words originally assigned to the feminine gender in dialects or Old Norwegian can be used with either a feminine or masculine article (e.g. “dør” – “døra” or “døren”).
- The plural form is mainly formed by adding -(e)r to nouns of the general and feminine gender, while no suffixes are used for nouns of the neuter gender. But there are many exceptions to this rule.
- The indefinite article appears in different forms: “en” for masculine nouns, “ei” for feminine nouns and “et” for neuter nouns. The indefinite article is rarely used for feminine nouns; the -en form is often used instead.
- Adjectives have both “strong” and “weak” forms, similar to Danish and Swedish. For example: “en fin dag” (a fine day), “den fine dag(en)” (the fine day), “fine dager” (fine days), “et fint vær” (a fine weather).
- Verbs in Norwegian, as in all Scandinavian languages, are divided into strong and weak forms. They do not change according to person or number, and the tense system is the same in all Scandinavian languages.
- The Norwegian definite article is expressed by a suffix indicating time or mood. For example, “språk” (language) and “språket” (the specific language). The suffix “-(e)r” is added to regular verbs in the present tense.
Norwegian spelling largely reflects pronunciation, although there have been some orthographic reforms. Some historical spellings are retained, especially for unpronounced consonants such as “land”, “god” and “hjelp
- The letter “o” can represent either a long [u:] or a short [ɔ] sound, as in the words “ord” (word) and “hopp” (jump), but there are numerous exceptions, such as “lov” (law).
- The sound [å:] is represented by the letter “е”, for example in “gе” (go), while the short sound [å] is represented by either the letter “o” or “е”, as in “end” (spirit).
- There are about 3000 pairs of words in the Norwegian language that are distinguished solely by differences in pitch accent with identical phonemic structure.
- The principles of pitch accent differentiation are quite complex and have many exceptions. In general, these principles can be divided into the following groups: monosyllabic words usually have the first pitch accent, while disyllabic and multisyllabic words have the second pitch accent. However, this formulation only applies to about half of all variants.
Apps for Learning Norwegian: My Rating
When I searched for the most effective apps for learning Norwegian, I considered several factors, which included
- The scope and structure of the learning materials
- Learning methods
- Prices and subscription models
- Usability
- Content presentation
- Reviews
I used these criteria to make my recommendation list. Before I go into the specific features and pros and cons of each app according to my tests, I would like to give you my personal ranking:
Top Recommendations:
Babbel: This useful app offers effective learning strategies for various aspects of the Norwegian language, including grammar and pronunciation.
Mondly: This essential vocabulary learning tool covers a wide range of topics, including family, geographical and language names, food and drink, romantic expressions and more.
Italki: With its interactive approach, Italki offers a flexible and efficient way to improve your Norwegian reading, speaking and writing skills.
Preply: Similar to Italki, this platform makes it easy to connect with native speakers, make appointments and practice Norwegian conversation skills.
Recommended:
FunEasyLearn: Allows you to learn a wide range of vocabulary, but does not offer specific grammar and sentence-building exercises.
Glossika: Focuses on regular practice and repetition to improve language skills, mainly by learning sentences, with no direct grammatical explanations or targeted grammar exercises.
LinGo: Provides the opportunity to learn new words in a variety of contexts to improve language understanding. It does not cover all areas of language learning, so additional materials for grammar and conversation practice may be needed.
Memrise: The quality of the lessons varies and some Norwegian words lack audio pronunciation. Verbs are mostly presented in their simple form, with no information on conjugation.
LingQ: Offers much more than just a reading and listening experience and includes many additional features. While the focus is on reading and listening, the app also allows you to interact with native speakers via Skype.
HelloTalk: Learn Norwegian by chats with native speakers. This app allows you to interact with language partners through text and voice messages, stickers, voice and video calls, as well as interactive language rooms and live chats.
Bluebird Languages: Access to a huge library of over six million hours of language learning content, the equivalent of around 630,000 audio books. However, some users may find the cost of certain courses a little high and there are fewer interactive elements compared to other language learning platforms.
Quizlet: Offers smart flashcards and supports images, diagrams, multiple languages and even audio uploads. Users can create and share their own sets and find others’ sets.
Less recommended:
Duolingo: The effectiveness and teaching methods of Duolingo are controversial, even though the app is free to use.
Drops: Offers a large selection of new vocabulary, but neglects advanced topics such as verb conjugations or cultural nuances.
Pimsleur: Focuses on daily 30-minute listening lessons that support learning through repetition and rearranging sentences and words. Despite the higher cost of the app, it lacks detailed grammar explanations, conjugation tables and related features.
TOP15 Apps for Learning Norwegian in the Big Comparison
In the next section, I will share my personal experiences with various language learning apps and present my top picks. We’ll look at the different courses, lessons, cost structures and the pros and cons of these apps.
Together we will examine their services and discover how they can help you learn Norwegian.
#1. Babbel
Babbel is one of the world’s top language learning apps and offers courses in Norwegian. The app features a wide variety of topics, from travel to culture to business, and covers a wide range of learning levels – from beginner to advanced – with a special focus on improving conversational skills through interactive exercises.
Users of the Babbel app will start with the most important grammatical structures and basic words. By filling in the gaps in sentences, users can improve their language skills and pronunciation.
As learners progress, the app unlocks more complex exercises where learners speak words into a microphone, construct complex sentences and produce translations for specific phrases. For more information on the Babbel app, please see “How Much Does Babbel Cost?” and “Rosetta Stone vs Babbel vs Duolingo: Which App is Better?”
In addition, Babbel offers comprehensive courses on its website that not only improve language skills, but also provide deeper cultural insights to enrich and deepen the learning of Norwegian.
#2. Mondly
Mondly, an award-winning language learning app, is currently very popular. This app stands out for its innovative mix of translation activities, fun components, rich course content and advanced features such as Augmented Reality (AR) and chatbots.
Mondly’s interface is both intuitive and easy to use, and it offers a variety of learning formats, from text input to audio exercises and images related to the words.
Mondly focuses more on learning language structures that are useful in real-life conversational situations – such as greetings, goodbyes and simple everyday dialogue – rather than just repeating phrases or vocabulary. For more insights, read my review: “Mondly vs Duolingo: Which One’s Better for Learning Languages?”
With over 300 lessons based on real-life topics such as family, weather, travel, sports and nutrition, and over 50 realistic conversation simulations, Mondly helps you make rapid language progress. In addition, with over 2,100 daily exercises, weekly quizzes and monthly tests, Mondly reinforces learning and supports a fun learning routine.
There are, however, challenges with the clarity of grammar instruction. Mondly provides grammar units, but often doesn’t present the rules in a systematic way. This becomes particularly problematic when certain expressions or sentence structures are used that are difficult to understand without additional explanation.
#3. Duolingo
Duolingo is a widely used language learning app that provides a personalised learning experience and motivates learners through various reward systems for their progress. This encourages a consistent learning routine when learning Norwegian. Although the basic version is free, there’s also a premium version with no ads.
Duolingo’s method for learning Norwegian is based on flashcards and provides vocabulary and thematic content that either needs to be translated or requires you to find mistakes in given sentences. For more details about this app, read “What Languages Are Offered on Duolingo?“.
Duolingo includes many grammar modules that focus on specific language elements such as vowels and consonants, prepositions, conjunctions, numbers, pronouns, nouns and verbs. At the end of each module there’s a test which, if passed, unlocks the next section.
If test results don’t meet expectations, the app gives constructive feedback on mistakes and recommends what needs to be revisited for improvement.
#4. Memrise
Memrise stands out for its variety of teaching methods, making language learning both effective and fun. The platform offers courses in a wide range of languages, including Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Swedish and Norwegian.
The Memrise app is based on the concepts of spaced repetition and mental association. It lets your knowledge grow in your mind like a flower in the app through regular revision. The app automatically calculates when you need to review each word and then presents it to you. This way, words are memorised quickly and easily. It doesn’t take much time – set aside at least 5-15 minutes a day.
For each word, a vivid illustration or picture “anchor” is chosen to help you remember it. With Memrise, you can create your own word lists or use existing ones.
The Norwegian courses on Memrise focus on basic vocabulary, expressions and grammar rules that are essential for beginners. Lesson topics range from everyday situations to specific topics such as travel or work. For more details on the app see “Memrise vs Duolingo Review: Which App Is Better?”.
The app is free, but there is a paid subscription with additional features. Words are pronounced by native speakers
Some users may find Memrise’s learning method too elementary, especially if they’re looking for deeper language immersion. The fixed course structure may also be too strict for some learners who want more adaptability and customisation options.
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#5. Drops
In 2018, Drops was awarded “App of the Year” by Google. The app, along with its children’s version Droplets, allows users to learn more than 2000 Norwegian vocabulary words spread across 100 carefully curated thematic lists.
The premium version of Drops offers additional listening exercises to further improve comprehension. After each learning session, users receive detailed feedback on their performance.
A typical learning session with Drops lasts five minutes and uses mini-games to present new words to the user. Instead of typing, users interactively select the correct answers, which engages their visual memory and promotes quick and efficient learning of Norwegian.
Drops is particularly recommended for beginners, as it provides the basic vocabulary for a gradual approach to the Norwegian language. For advanced learners, there’s the opportunity to delve deeper into specific dialects and expand their language skills.
#6. LinGo
LinGo presents itself as a groundbreaking dictionary app that prioritises learning through social interaction with other users. Users can take part in competitions, win prizes and climb the leader boards.
The app is designed for learners at different levels, from beginners to advanced. It offers vocabulary training through flashcards and interactive online games.
The variety of topics covered by the content ranges from art, household, tourism, health and medicine to science, sports and business.
With LinGo, users have the opportunity to learn Norwegian at any time, with access available around the clock. They can improve their Norwegian skills at any level, with courses designed specifically for beginners and advanced learners. Learning comes in a variety of interactive formats including exercises, quizzes and tasks.
Furthermore, users can improve their listening comprehension through Norwegian audio and video material and their speaking skills through targeted activities and exercises
The app also allows users to track their personal learning progress by displaying results in a clear table, giving a good overview of the skills achieved as well as areas that need further practice.
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#7. FunEasyLearn
FunEasyLearn is a comprehensive and free learning application that features varied content and genuine pronunciation by native speakers. The app is designed to teach users the alphabet, vocabulary and reading basics, and includes a wide range of games to develop listening, reading, writing and speaking skills.
A smart rating system continuously monitors users’ progress and helps them keep track of what they learned. With a wide range of 6,000 Norwegian words and 5,000 phrases, supported by over 300,000 audio recordings and divided into 10 levels of difficulty, FunEasyLearn is suitable for a wide audience.
The app is designed for children who want to learn about animals, fruit and vegetables in a fun way, as well as adults who need to prepare for a business trip abroad, including learning specialised terminology, business communication techniques and how to deal with authorities.
With 140 subtopics, the app covers a wide range of everyday topics, providing words with phonetic transcriptions, images and native speaker audio.
FunEasyLearn makes learning Norwegian fun through a variety of games, such as
- A dictionary game
- Find the picture, based on the flashcard method
- Choose the word by its meaning
- Listen to the pronunciation and choose the picture
- Match pairs of words with their meanings
- Write the word shown
These games create an interactive and motivational learning atmosphere for learners of all levels.
#8. Quizlet
Quizlet is a web-based learning platform that allows users to create, share and use interactive learning materials. Founded in 2005 by Andrew Sutherland, the platform has since become one of the most popular and widely used learning resources.
The app provides a wide range of languages, including German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Norwegian and many more. With the variety of languages available, users can improve their language skills in different foreign languages.
Quizlet makes learning Norwegian easier in a variety of ways – from flashcards and timed games to creating your own questions and practice tests. Quizlet’s main feature is digital flashcards, which show classic terms or concepts on one side and their definitions or explanations on the other to help you memorise them. Quizlet also offers various fun games and activities such as Match, Gravity and Scatter to make learning more interactive and engaging.
There are several subscription options available on Quizlet. These range from free basic subscriptions to paid premium subscriptions with advanced features such as offline access, custom learning modes, and advanced analytics tools. Although Quizlet Plus offers valuable features – especially after recent updates – it can be quite expensive.
#9. Preply
Preply is an advanced online platform that allows learners to take individual language courses with qualified teachers from around the world. The platform offers a variety of languages to choose from, including English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese and Norwegian.
Classes on Preply are mainly conducted through video conferences, which enables direct interaction between students and teachers.
The courses are adapted to the personal needs and goals of each learner and include methods such as conversation practice, vocabulary training and grammar exercises to guarantee effective learning results.
Norwegian courses on Preply cover all levels, from beginner to advanced, and lessons can include topics such as pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and communication skills.
One potential drawback is that the quality of the courses on Preply can vary, as they depend heavily on the skills and experience of the individual teachers. Moreover, the cost of private lessons can be relatively high compared to other online learning options or group courses.
#10. LingQ
LingQ offers an immersive and dynamic language learning programme with a wide range of languages to choose from, such as Norwegian, English, Spanish, German and French.
The platform features an extensive collection of learning materials, from articles and podcasts to videos and books, all written by native speakers. These resources are designed to improve listening comprehension, increase vocabulary and develop overall language skills.
A key feature of LingQ is the ability to import content from the web via a browser extension and convert it into individual lessons, so users can add material based on their interests and language level. Users can also use LingQ to build their vocabulary with a vocabulary-building tool that makes it easy to save and review new words and phrases.t ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
For learners of Norwegian, LingQ presents specially created content such as articles, podcasts and books tailored to their specific needs. These resources are particularly useful to develop an understanding of the Norwegian language and a better knowledge of grammar and conjugation
One potential concern with LingQ could be its focus on passive learning methods, with less emphasis on active learning approaches such as spoken practice or detailed grammar practice. This could mean that in order to gain a full understanding of Norwegian grammar and conjugation, learners may need to rely on supplementary learning resources.
#11. Italki
italki offers online tutoring similar to Preply. The platform is easy to use: you create an account, choose your target language and specify your level.
Then you select the reason for learning – whether it’s academic, professional or personal interests such as travelling. You are then presented with a selection of suitable learning options based on your choice of regional language and personal interests.
An important feature of Italki is the wide range of available tutors, which can be both an advantage and a challenge. The quality of tutors varies and it may take some time to find the ideal tutor.
The rates of the tutors on Italki vary according to their qualifications and experience, ranging from around 4 dollars to 80 dollars per hour. A higher hourly rate doesn’t necessarily guarantee a better teacher; the tutor’s experience, teaching method and availability are crucial factors.
Experienced teachers often charge higher rates but may offer more specialised lessons and personalised learning materials. In addition, tutors may give discounts for booking multiple lessons or special offers for new students.
#12. Pimsleur
Pimsleur is a respected language learning programme known for its audio-focused approach. It focuses on active listening and speaking to improve users’ language skills. It has courses in a wide range of languages, including Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Norwegian.
Pimsleur’s audio courses feature spoken dialogues in the target language, accompanied by instructions and exercises. Learners listen to a dialogue, repeat the sentences and respond, which helps to improve pronunciation and comprehension. The structure of the courses is systematic and progressive, which helps students learn vocabulary and grammar step by step.
Pimsleur Norwegian courses cover important topics like greetings, conversation, shopping, travel and other everyday situations. Learners are motivated to express themselves quickly in the new language through regular listening and speaking practice.
Despite its strengths, Pimsleur received some negative reviews, mainly due to the lack of written materials and the limited variety of exercises, which focus mainly on listening and speaking. Some learners find the course progresses too slowly or does not fully meet their specific learning needs.
#13. Glossika
Glossika is a sophisticated language learning tool which uses authentic context to develop natural language understanding. It covers more than 60 languages – from the most widely spoken such as English, Spanish and Chinese to less common languages such as Icelandic, Swahili and Tamil, including Norwegian (Nynorsk) in the course programme.
Glossika’s learning method is based on the technique of active repetition, which requires learners to listen and repeat sentences and expressions in the target language. This approach helps not only to learn vocabulary and grammar, but also to develop an instinctive understanding of the structure and sound of Norwegian (Nynorsk).
Learners have access to a large collection of sentences and expressions organised by topic and level. By listening, repeating and imitating the pronunciation and intonation of native speakers, users can continuously improve and deepen their language skills.
Although Glossika offers many advantages, some users may find the repetition method monotonous, which could potentially lead to disinterest. Another point of concern is that the platform does not provide structured lesson units or clear progress indicators, which can make it difficult for learners to monitor and evaluate their progress effectively.
#14. HelloTalk
HelloTalk offers a unique approach by way of a partially free service concept. Instead of traditional courses and lessons, the app connects native speakers around the world, so users can learn a variety of languages at any time. This is based on the tandem principle, where two people help each other learn a language.
For those who want to get more involved with HelloTalk and learn a language more effectively, there are three subscription options, ranging from US$6,67 per month (HelloWords Plus) to US$12.99 per month (HelloTalk VIP). Access to the Pro-Teacher version is available for a one-time fee of US$9.50.
Reviews for HelloTalk are mixed, with the app receiving between 3.1 and 4.6 out of 5 stars on various review sites. While some users find it extremely motivating, others criticise the technical shortcomings of the app.
One specific point of concern is the loss of communication history after uninstalling the app, which means that users have no access to their previous learning content after changing devices or resetting.
On the positive side, the app is relatively free of advertising. Users also noted as an advantage of HelloTalk that the main features are available in the free version.
#15. Bluebird Languages
Bluebird Languages is an user-friendly and innovative app developed by Pronounciator, LLC, based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It uses a simple learning method similar to the Pimsleur system, with audio and spaced repetition.
The app contains an extensive collection of over six million hours of learning material, the equivalent of around 630,000 audio books. Users have access to around 164 languages, covering almost 97 per cent of the world’s spoken languages, and 12.5 million interactive audio lessons in 146 languages.
Each lesson in Bluebird Languages is accompanied by a short quiz to reinforce learning, with no limit on the number of repetitions. Users can delve into a variety of topics or create customised lessons that focus solely on their areas of interest. It is also possible to create lessons specifically for certain professions. Prepared lessons include basic vocabulary, important verb forms, complete sentence construction, essential phrases for travel and everyday situations, as well as complex dialogues.
The standard length of a prepared lesson is 30 minutes, while a daily lesson is six minutes and a conversation exercise is 45 minutes. Personalised audio courses can be easily tailored to the user’s professional or personal interests
Each personalised course is specifically tailored to the amount of time available, language level, age group and other relevant user preferences. These personalised courses can vary in length from 5 to 60 minutes, based on the user’s preference.
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Conclusion: Which App is Best to Learn Norwegian?
The wide range of available language learning apps allows every learner to find the right resource to match their individual needs, goals and preferred learning styles. The perfect app depends on your personal preferences and learning goals.
For learning Norwegian, I recommend these apps:
- Babbel offers a wide range of exercises and a structured course layout, making it a solid foundation for learning Norwegian.
- Mondly attracts users with its interactive features, making learning fun and interactive
- Preply is ideal for learners who value individual support and personalised feedback
- FunEasyLearn is specially designed for those who prefer a playful approach to vocabulary learning
I advise you to try different apps to find the one that suits you best. Regular practice and commitment are needed to learn Norwegian. Whatever you choose, the key to success is persistence and a motivation to keep going.
If you enjoyed my article, please feel free to share it. Have any questions? Don't hesitate to email me!
Disclaimer: I select and review independently. If you buy through affiliate links, I may earn commissions that help support my testing at no extra cost to you. Please read my full disclosure for more information.
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