What this lesson is about
In this lesson, you will learn the most useful phrases for a first meeting. You will learn how to greet someone, start a conversation politely, introduce yourself, and ask simple questions. This is the foundation of everyday communication at A1 level.
Greetings
In Norwegian, there are several simple greetings that work in most situations. The most universal word is Hei. It is suitable for both informal and neutral communication. People also often use God morgen, God dag, and God kveld depending on the time of day.
Examples:
Hei!
God morgen!
God dag!
God kveld!
To say goodbye, people often say Ha det or Vi sees.
Examples:
Ha det!
Vi sees!
Polite phrases
When meeting someone, it is important to use simple polite expressions. They make your speech sound natural and friendly.
Useful phrases:
Takk
Tusen takk
Vær så snill
Unnskyld
Beklager
Takk and Tusen takk are used when you thank someone. Vær så snill can be used in requests. Unnskyld is suitable when you want to get attention, ask someone to repeat, or apologize in a simple situation. Beklager sounds a little more formal.
How to introduce yourself
To say your name, the most common structure is Jeg heter .... Another frequent option is Jeg er ... with a name in informal speech, but for a first meeting it is safer to start with Jeg heter ....
Examples:
Jeg heter Anna.
Jeg heter Ole.
If you want to say where you are from, use the phrase Jeg kommer fra ....
Examples:
Jeg kommer fra Ukraina.
Jeg kommer fra Polen.
Jeg kommer fra Norge.
If you want to say what language you speak, the model Jeg snakker ... is useful.
Examples:
Jeg snakker russisk.
Jeg snakker litt norsk.
Jeg snakker polsk og norsk.
How to ask for a name and simple information
At a first meeting, it is useful to be able to ask short and clear questions. At the beginning, it is best to use simple patterns that are easy to remember.
Basic questions:
Hva heter du?
Hvor kommer du fra?
Hvor bor du?
Snakker du norsk?
Hvordan går det?
These questions help you start a conversation without difficult grammar. The answers usually use structures you already know.
How to answer simple questions
Short answers are especially important at beginner level. You do not need to build long sentences. One simple phrase is enough.
Example answers:
Jeg heter Maria.
Jeg kommer fra Litauen.
Jeg bor i Oslo.
Ja, litt.
Bra, takk.
If you want to sound a little more natural, you can combine short phrases:
Hei! Jeg heter Jonas.
Jeg kommer fra Polen, men jeg bor i Bergen.
Bra, takk. Og du?
Mini-dialogue for a first meeting
Look at an example of a very simple introduction. Notice how the greeting, question, answer, and polite reaction are used.
A: Hei! Jeg heter Emma. Hva heter du?
B: Hei! Jeg heter Ali.
A: Hyggelig å møte deg.
B: Hyggelig å møte deg også.
The phrase Hyggelig å møte deg is a polite reaction when meeting someone. It is useful to remember it as a fixed expression.
More useful phrases for a first meeting
Below are a few short expressions that often appear at the beginning of a conversation:
Hvordan går det?
Det går bra.
Så hyggelig.
Hyggelig å hilse på deg.
Og du?
The phrase Og du? is very useful because it helps you keep the conversation going and return the question to the other person.
What is important to remember
For a first meeting at A1 level, it is enough to be able to do four things: greet someone, say your name, say where you are from, and ask one or two simple questions. Do not try to say too much. In real communication, simple and clear phrases work best.
The main patterns from this lesson:
Hei!
Jeg heter ...
Jeg kommer fra ...
Hva heter du?
Hvor kommer du fra?
Hyggelig å møte deg.
In the next lesson, you will continue talking about yourself and learn how to say a little more: where you live, what you do, and what languages you speak.