Ever wondered why someone in Norway might accuse you of being 'apple-handsome' or 'high on a pear'? Buckle up for a linguistic ride through the orchard of Norwegian expressions where we reveal how common words in Norway aren't just about taste, but also about painting colorful pictures of our emotions and perceptions. Our latest episode is ripe with juicy insights, as we uncover why feeling 'sour' could mean you're more than just in need of some sugar, and how being 'crispy' goes way beyond describing the perfect snack.
Prepare to be entertained and perhaps a bit puzzled, as we navigate through the charming maze of Norway's most curious sayings—no guest needed when the language itself steals the show. Is there really an 'owl in the moss', or is something amiss? We'll tackle this and more, giving you a peck of delightful tidbits to share at your next gathering. Don't worry, by the end of our chat, you won't be left thinking you're on a 'berry trip'—instead, you'll be confidently using these phrases like a true Norwegian, all the while looking forward to the unraveling of the Marius pattern in our next episode's promise of continued cultural exploration.
Ever wondered why someone in Norway might accuse you of being 'apple-handsome' or 'high on a pear'? Buckle up for a linguistic ride through the orchard of Norwegian expressions where we reveal how common words in Norway aren't just about taste, but also about painting colorful pictures of our emotions and perceptions. Our latest episode is ripe with juicy insights, as we uncover why feeling 'sour' could mean you're more than just in need of some sugar, and how being 'crispy' goes way beyond describing the perfect snack.
Prepare to be entertained and perhaps a bit puzzled, as we navigate through the charming maze of Norway's most curious sayings—no guest needed when the language itself steals the show. Is there really an 'owl in the moss', or is something amiss? We'll tackle this and more, giving you a peck of delightful tidbits to share at your next gathering. Don't worry, by the end of our chat, you won't be left thinking you're on a 'berry trip'—instead, you'll be confidently using these phrases like a true Norwegian, all the while looking forward to the unraveling of the Marius pattern in our next episode's promise of continued cultural exploration.
I feel so sour today. This makes me crispy. You think I'm on a berry trip. Don't be so apple-handsome. You are so high on a pier and you also cry over milk you just spilled. There's also in the moss. Does this give any meaning to you? I guess not. Let's have some fun with Norwegian fun facts one more time. 1. Today we'll learn how fruitful the quirky parts of the Norwegian language is. Let's start the journey. Sur. The word sur is translated into sour. Like the English word, it also describes the food. Lemon is sour in English, is citronen er sur in Norwegian. But it also describes a feeling. I feel so. Sour means that you are grumpy and irritated.
Speaker 1:
Sprø. Sprø is crispy. In English it describes the consistency of the food, like Kentucky Fried Chicken are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. But it's also the same word for crazy. In other words, crispy in Norwegian equals sprø normen.
Speaker 1:
Bærtur, bærtur Du er på bærtur literally translates to you are on a berry trip. In English, this idiom is used to describe someone who is mistaken or wrong about something. It implies that the person is not thinking clearly or being naive. For example, if someone believes a rumor without verifying the facts, you could say you are really on a berry trip. Blesek. That actually means apple handsome, and it describes someone who is overly confident or cheeky in a bold way. It has been widely used in writing since the 1990s. Interestingly, it might have its roots in the Swedish term pelkök, which means apple, quick or lively. This Swedish expression emerged in the 1950s and was used to describe someone who is healthy, overly confident and lively. So when you encounter someone who is a bit too full of themselves, you can playfully say they are being epplesjekkt. Høy på bæra actually means high on pear and it means that you have a little too much confidence. I don't know why we use pears to explain that, but the fruit really tastes good. Ikke gråt over spilt melk Don't cry over spilled milk. But that is actually used in English language as well. So that was a bad suggestion.
Speaker 1:
But last and not least, the winner of the quirky words competition Uggler I mosan. That is a delightful Norwegian expression. It literally translates to but what does that really mean? Let's unravel the quirky phrase. When Norwegians say there are uggler I mosen, they're signaling that something is fishy or suspicious. It's like saying there's something not quite right here.
Speaker 1:
In the historical context, the expression harks back to Norway's colonial past. Before oil made Norway the richest Scandinavian country, it was colonized by neighbors. Denmark lost the power in 1814 and then turned the apple-handsome Norwegians to the Swedes, who tried to control the crispy Norwegians until they gave up in 1905. Denmark influenced Norwegian language expressions in many ways. The Danish expression det er åle I morsen, meaning there are wolves in the swamp, was used to describe shady business. The word åle referred to wolves in the Jutland dialect. Over time the wolves in Denmark were actually extended, but the expression survived. Norwegians adapted it, replacing wolves with Aals, and ja, ygglerimosen was the new term. I don't fully understand that either. But so are you ready for more fun facts from Norway? I promise you an episode about the Marius pattern, the pattern I am using on my logo. That will come in the next episode with fun facts, but before that I might talk about something meaningful and something to reflect on. See you next time.
