How to Talk to Norwegians

Because of their extreme shyness, Norwegians might seem like some of the most confusing people you’ve ever met. Visiting Norway for the first time, you may feel like you’ve landed on a different planet rather than a different country. This doesn't mean that you should avoid talking to Norwegians or visiting Norway. In order to interact with Norwegians, you need to get a look into the well-established rules and customs that control the social interaction between them, even though it may seem like they’ve been taken a bit too far. This guide will explain some of these rules and make sure that, once in Norway, you will be able to act as ‘Norwegian’ as possible.

One of the first things you’ll notice, which probably will astonish you the most, is that Norwegians don’t talk to strangers unless they absolutely have to. Asking about the time or when the next train leaves is fine, but if you have the urge to say: ‘Hi!’ to a random Norwegian, they’ll probably raise their eyebrows and wonder why you’re talking to them. So your rule of thumb should be that if you need to talk to a Norwegian stranger, always do so with a purpose.

Due to the country’s hilly landscapes and the wintery climate, Norwegians winter sports. During the coldest months of the year, all they seem to talk about is getting the skiing equipment ready and heading out into the white. Norwegians claim to be born with skis on, so if you find yourself struggling to get accepted, the only thing you have to do is start a conversation about skiing: ski jump, slalom, cross country; it doesn't matter. But even though they love the excitement around winter sports, quite a few of them won’t go skiing unless they’re asked to by friends or family. Most Norwegians like talking about skiing a lot more than they like the skiing itself. They don’t love it, they just want to maintain the picture of themselves as fresh, healthy, ski-loving people who use the landscape of their country for all it’s worth. However, this must never be mentioned, otherwise you put yourself at risk of ruining their precious facade, and for this they will hate you forever.

On the subject of not talking, Norwegians also have their own way of communicating (or NOT communicating) with each other on public transportation. For instance, on the bus, they find a seat alone. If they can’t find a seat alone, they stand. They sit in silence, often listening to music, and they do not under any circumstance talk to each other. This does not mean that you should do anything to find your own two seats; public transportation could actually use a few more non-Norwegians in order to be filled up properly. As long as you stick to the no talking rule, you should be perfectly fine.

Now you have learned the basic rules of talking to a Norwegian. With these in mind, your journey through the magnificent and snowy country, with its sky high mountaintops and deep green fjords, will be completely painless. However, it is important to remember that beneath what looks like extreme anti-social behaviour, on the edge to rudeness, Norwegians really are friendly people.