Why this lesson matters
In everyday communication, it is very important to be able to talk briefly and clearly about yourself. You need this when meeting people, at school, at work, in courses, at the doctor’s, in a shop, and in many other common situations. In this lesson, you will learn simple phrases that help you say your name, age, where you live, your job or studies, and which languages you speak.
What you will learn to say
After this lesson, you will be able to build a very short self-introduction using a few simple sentences. At A1 level, you do not need to speak in a complicated way. The main thing is to speak clearly, calmly, and in a logical order.
Basic phrases about yourself
Below are some basic patterns that are often used in real speech:
Jeg heter Anna. — Меня зовут Анна.
Jeg er 25 år. — Мне 25 лет.
Jeg bor i Oslo. — Я живу в Осло.
Jeg kommer fra Ukraina. — Я из Украины.
Jeg jobber som lærer. — Я работаю учителем.
Jeg er student. — Я студент.
Jeg snakker russisk og litt norsk. — Я говорю по-русски и немного по-норвежски.
You can combine these phrases and adapt them to your own situation.
How to say your name
The most common phrase for giving your name is Jeg heter .... This is a standard and natural way to introduce yourself.
Examples:
Jeg heter Maria.
Jeg heter Ole.
Hei, jeg heter Sara.
A self-introduction often begins with this phrase. You can first say a greeting and then your name.
How to say your age
To say your age, use the pattern Jeg er ... år.
Examples:
Jeg er 19 år.
Jeg er 32 år.
Jeg er 41 år.
The word år means “years” and usually comes after the number in this kind of phrase.
How to say where you live
For your place of residence, the pattern Jeg bor i ... is very useful.
Examples:
Jeg bor i Bergen.
Jeg bor i Trondheim.
Jeg bor i en liten by.
If you do not want to name the exact city, you can use more general words, for example saying that you live in a small town.
How to say where you come from
To name your country or place of origin, use Jeg kommer fra ...
Examples:
Jeg kommer fra Polen.
Jeg kommer fra Norge.
Jeg kommer fra Litauen.
The phrases Jeg bor i ... and Jeg kommer fra ... do not mean the same thing. The first tells where you live now, and the second tells where you are from.
How to talk about work or studies
If you work, a useful pattern is Jeg jobber som ...
Examples:
Jeg jobber som sjåfør.
Jeg jobber som kokk.
Jeg jobber som sykepleier.
If you study, you can say:
Jeg er student.
Jeg studerer norsk.
Jeg går på kurs.
Jeg er student. is suitable if you are a student. Jeg studerer norsk. is useful if you want to say that you are learning Norwegian. Jeg går på kurs. means that you attend a course.
How to say which languages you speak
In everyday conversation, you often need to mention languages. For this, use the verb snakker.
Examples:
Jeg snakker russisk.
Jeg snakker ukrainsk og norsk.
Jeg snakker litt norsk.
Jeg snakker ikke så mye norsk ennå.
If you are just starting to learn the language, the word litt — “a little” — is very useful. It helps you sound natural and relaxed.
Useful words for a short self-introduction
navn — имя
alder — возраст
by — город
land — страна
jobb — работа
student — студент
språk — язык
familie — семья
You do not always need to use these words separately, but it is important to recognize them in speech and in text.
How to connect simple sentences
At beginner level, it is better to speak in short phrases. But to make your speech sound more connected, you can join sentences with og.
Examples:
Jeg heter Amir, og jeg bor i Oslo.
Jeg er 28 år, og jeg jobber som kokk.
Jeg kommer fra Polen, og jeg snakker litt norsk.
You do not need to make very long sentences. Two or three simple parts are enough.
Ready-made mini introductions
Look at how you can build a short text about yourself from the patterns in this lesson.
Hei! Jeg heter Elena. Jeg er 30 år. Jeg kommer fra Ukraina, og jeg bor i Bergen. Jeg studerer norsk. Jeg snakker russisk og litt norsk.
Hei, jeg heter Tomas. Jeg er 24 år. Jeg bor i Oslo. Jeg jobber som sjåfør. Jeg snakker polsk og norsk.
Hei! Jeg heter Lina. Jeg er student. Jeg kommer fra Litauen. Jeg bor i Trondheim, og jeg snakker litauisk, russisk og litt norsk.
Notice that all the texts are very simple. This is completely normal at A1 level. The most important thing is that the other person understands the main information.
What to pay attention to
In a self-introduction, it is useful to follow a simple order:
name;
age;
where you are from or where you live;
work or studies;
languages.
This order helps you speak calmly and not forget anything.
A small cultural note
In Norway, simplicity is often appreciated in everyday introductions. You do not need to use complicated phrases to make a good impression. A short, clear, and friendly introduction sounds natural and appropriate.
Lesson summary
Now you know the main phrases for briefly talking about yourself: your name, age, place of residence, country, work or studies, and languages. This is one of the most important skills for starting to communicate in Norwegian. In the next lesson, it will be easier to add information about family, daily life, and simple interests.