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PODCAST

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces

Silje Linn Moss

Are you learning Norwegian?Do you find some aspects of the Norwegian language hard to grasp?Don"t be puzzled! You have come to the right place!In this podcast, you can pick the episodes covering the things you struggle with, whether it is pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary nuances, expressions, cultural aspects or you need some learning tips.Bare hyggelig ;)

education language learning

All Episodes

28:01

#25 Preteritum and perfektum - How Norwegians look at...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/11/04

Send us a text Let's dig into a clear mental model that strips away guesswork and shows exactly when to use preteritum, presens perfektum, and preteritum perfektum. Instead of memorizing lists, you’ll learn a focus rule: is the time window closed and you’re reliving a finished moment, or does the action still shape what matters now? I look at English comparisons that often confuse learners. Norwegian doesn’t split past actions into continuous and simple the way English does—spiste can cover ...

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23:34

#24 Halloween in Norway listening exercise [på norsk]...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/10/28

Send us a text In this episode, I contrast two traditions that shape this season in Norway. Halloween on October 31 brings costumes, door-to-door visits, and the classic trick-or-treat phrase. All Saints Day, observed the first Sunday in November, invites a quieter vocabulary—candles at the cemetery, memories of loved ones. Halloween took hold in Norway during the 1990s while All Saints Day remained an older, less common tradition with Catholic roots. Using a clear, repeatable structure—slow ...

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33:38

#23 "Noe" or "noen"? what they can mean and how they...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/10/21

Send us a text This notorious word pair confuses even advanced learners, but today I'm breaking it down into simple, manageable parts that will transform your understanding. The secret lies in recognizing three distinct usage patterns. First, when these words stand alone, "noe" means "something/anything" while "noen" means "someone/anyone." Norwegian doesn't distinguish between these pairs the way English does—it's all about context. Second, when talking about plurals (books, peo...

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9:33

#22 A, E, and Æ pronunciation... and some geometry...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/10/14

Send us a text In this pronunciation-focused episode, we break down three connected but distinct Norwegian vowel sounds: A, E, and Æ. Rather than getting caught up in complex terminology, we use visual imagery and physical awareness to help you feel the difference between these sounds. The beauty of these particular vowels? Your tongue gets to relax completely – it's all about your lips and jaw! For the A sound, think of a vertical rectangle – open your mouth downward without smiling. When p...

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18:56

#21 Snakkes? Spises? Synes? The secrets of s-ending...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/10/07

Send us a text Struggling with those mysterious S-endings on Norwegian verbs? The secret is that there isn't just one explanation – there are three distinct reasons why Norwegian verbs might end with S. First, there's the reciprocal S, which you'll encounter in everyday phrases like "vi snakkes" (we'll talk to each other) and "vi ses" (we'll see each other). This clever construction eliminates the need for saying "each other" separately. Then there's the S-passive, which transfo...

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19:08

#20 "Skal", "vil", or "kommer til å"? You will soon...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/09/30

Send us a text Struggling with how to express future actions in Norwegian? You're not alone. The difficulty lies in the crucial distinctions between "skal," "vil," and "kommer til å" – three expressions that all translate to "will" in English but carry significantly different meanings in Norwegian. This episode dives deep into these differences, revealing how choosing the wrong one can accidentally make you sound controlling or create unintended meanings. We explore how "skal" is perfect for...

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28:33

#19 Språkforvirret? Lost in translation? Avoid these...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/09/23

Send us a text This episode dives into some of the most common translation mistakes that nearly all Norwegian learners make, regardless of their level. Welcome to the world of being språkforvirret – language confused! Have you ever tried to directly translate "I am talking" to Norwegian and ended up saying something that sounds like "I am speaks"? You're not alone. Norwegian doesn't use the continuous tense like English does, making this one of the most persistent errors among English ...

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15:52

#18 "Hvis" or "om"? If I only knew ... / Hvis jeg...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/09/16

Send us a text Starting with good news - you can always use "om" if you're uncertain, though native speakers typically differentiate between the two in conversation. But when should you use each one correctly? The key distinction lies in their grammatical functions. "Hvis" introduces hypothetical situations with consequences. For example, "Hvis du vil ha dessert, må du spise grønnsakene først" (If you want dessert, you must eat your vegetables first). A helpful trick: if you can mentall...

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20:52

#17 "Annen", "annet", "andre" : another confusing...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/09/09

Send us a text This episode tackles one of the most confusing aspects of Norwegian grammar: the different forms of "annet," "annen," and "andre" and when to use each one. I start by clarifying a fundamental distinction that English speakers often miss – the difference between "one more of something" (enda en/et) versus "a different one" (annen/annet/andre). I also address common pronunciation shortcuts that native speakers use, and explain how definiteness works with these words (and ...

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13:48

#16 Inversion: what it is, when to do it and how...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/09/02

Send us a text The logic behind Norwegian inversion is actually quite straightforward once you understand it: the verb always wants to occupy the second position in any main clause. This doesn't mean it's literally the second word, but rather the second functional element. When you place something optional at the beginning of a sentence (like "tomorrow" or "in Norway"), the subject and verb must swap places to maintain this verb-second pattern. Many learners either avoid inversion altogether...

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12:46

#15 When English "to" becomes "å", "til å", or "for...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/08/26

Send us a text The seemingly simple word "to" can transform into three different Norwegian constructions: "å" (the infinitive particle), "til å," or "for å." Each serves a distinct purpose in Norwegian. Ready to practice? Create your own examples in the comments wherever you're listening, or email me at norskmedsilje@gmail.com. I'd be happy to check your work and provide feedback. Subscribe for more Norwegian language insights and join a community of passionate Norwegian learners! Supp...

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31:03

#14 Sommer på jorda - Norwegian summer song decoded...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/07/18

Send us a text Dive into the heart of Norwegian summer through music as we explore and translate the beloved classic "Sommer på jorda" by Postgirobygget. This immersive language episode breaks down a quintessential Norwegian summer anthem line by line, offering you a unique opportunity to expand your vocabulary while gaining authentic cultural insights. The magic of this episode lies in its methodical approach to language learning through song. First, you'll hear each lyric in slow, clear Os...

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14:21

#13 Duck face Y (how to pronounce the letter Y +...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/07/08

Send us a text The letter Y in Norwegian requires precise lip positioning. Mastering this sound prevents embarrassing mistakes like saying "to drool" when you meant "to ride a bike." If yiu don't master "u" yet, you might want to start with episode 11 first. • Y pronunciation requires vertical lip opening rather than horizontal (no smiling!). • The "duck face technique" helps position lips correctly for authentic Y sounds. • Try holding a pen between your upper lip and nose...

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10:15

#12 Sikker / sikkert: two mistakes I am 99 % sure you...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/07/01

Send us a text *Bonus material below introduction* Have you ever confidently used a word in Norwegian only to be met with confusion? That's exactly what happens with the deceptively simple word "sikkert." This episode tackles one of the most common mistakes made by Norwegian language learners—a mistake that virtually all my students have fallen into the traps of. The confusion might stem from how "sikkert" dramatically changes meaning based on its grammatical function. Bonus material ...

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13:19

#11 Perfection your Norwegian "u" sound and avoid...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/06/24

Send us a text Struggling with Norwegian pronunciation? You're not alone! The letter U presents a unique challenge for English speakers, requiring tongue positioning that feels unfamiliar and awkward at first. This episode breaks down the mechanics of the Norwegian U sound with practical exercises to help you master it. The secret lies in understanding that while your lips form a circle (similar to saying "ooo"), your tongue needs to stay in the position you use when saying "ee" as in ...

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6:36

10. When private lessons might be the answer - and...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/06/17

Send us a text Struggling with motivation in your language learning journey? You're not alone. The traditional classroom setting works wonderfully for some learners but leaves others feeling either perpetually behind or consistently unchallenged. Drawing from both sides of the experience—as a language teacher and as a Mandarin student—I share why private tutoring can be transformative for language acquisition. Whether you choose weekly lessons or a less frequent schedule, consider private tu...

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23:56

#9 Å legge/ligge, å sette/sitte: two tricky verb...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/06/10

Send us a text Norwegian features tricky verb pairs that confuse even native speakers: intransitive "å ligge/å sitte" (describing states) versus transitive "å legge/å sette" (describing a change of state). These verb pairs follow different rules but look similar. • Transitive verbs (å legge, å sette) require objects afterward and describe actions or changes. • Intransitive verbs (å ligge, å sitte) describe states and don't take objects. • To say "I lie down" in Norwegian, you must use ...

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12:44

#8 Å legge, å sette and å putte: Things, their...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/06/05

Send us a text While English speakers casually "put" things anywhere, Norwegians must choose between three specific verbs—å legge, å sette, and å putte—depending on an object's final position. This episode breaks down this unique linguistic feature with clear examples and memorable rules that will transform your understanding of Norwegian. You'll discover the clever "creature with a head" technique that helps determine whether an object is "standing" or "lying"—even when it's not obvious. Fi...

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31:41

#7 Flags, Parades & Ice Cream! - 17th of May...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/05/13

Send us a text Norway's Constitution Day transforms the entire country into a sea of red, white, and blue flags, joyous celebrations, and the rhythmic march of children's parades. Through this unique listening comprehension episode, you'll get to know "Syttende Mai" (May 17th) while strengthening your Norwegian language skills through carefully crafted repetition and translation. What makes this episode particularly valuable is its three-part structure. First, you'll hear each Norwegia...

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30:10

#6 Norwegian nouns demystified (an introduction and a...

The Norwegian puzzle - find your missing pieces ·

2025/05/06

Send us a text Norwegian nouns operate within a three-gender system with unique rules for articles and definiteness that differ significantly from English. We explore how nouns transform when expressing "the" through suffixes rather than separate articles. • Nouns are words that can have "a" or "the" placed before them in English. • Norwegian has three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. • The definite article ("the") is added as a suffix to the end of Norwegian nouns. • Ma...

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25 results

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