The chart below shows how the International Phonetic Alphabet shows Norwegian pronunciation.

This page is based on Bokmål, not Nynorsk.

Consonants
IPA Examples Nearest English sound
b bil bee
ç kjip hue
d dag day, but dental
ɖ sardin hard
f fot foot
ɡ god good
h hatt hat
j jojo yoyo
k kafé coffee
l lake, Karl, Hordaland lack
Abel little, but without velarization; German Esel
ɫ falsk pull
m man man
n natt night, but dental
natten chosen
ɳ barn night
ɳ̍ Kristoffersen unnecessary
ŋ ting thing
p pappa papa
r år GA atom
ɽ audio speaker iconlerenga GA atom, but retroflex
s sabel sabre
ʂ sjø, torsdag shoe, but retroflex
t tirsdag time, but dental
ʈ parti time
v vaktel vat
Non-native consonants
ʈʂ Chile, match challenge, but retroflex
Other symbols
◌ː sommer [ˈsɔ̂mːər] roommate
Stress and tone
IPA Examples Explanation
ˈ◌̀ bønder
[ˈbœ̀nːər]
Low tone / tone 1 / acute accent
ˈ◌̂ bønner
[ˈbœ̂nːər]
Falling tone / tone 2 / grave accent
ˌ◌ skoledisippel
[ˈskûːɽədɪˌsɪpːl̩]
Secondary stress
Vowels
IPA Examples Nearest English sound
Monophthongs
ɑ fast art
ɑː mat bra, RP car
æ fersk, æsj trap
æː ære Australian mad
ɛ helle, ætt set
hel, græle Scottish save
ɪ sill hill
i need
ɔ åtte off
mål story
œ nøtt> roughly like bet, but with rounded lips; German Röcke
øː dø roughly like Scottish save, but with rounded lips; German schön
ʊ ond put
bot fool
ʉ full Australian goose; German müssen
ʉː ful Australian choose; German üben
ʏ nytt roughly like hit, but with rounded lips; Swedish syll
syl roughly like leave, but with rounded lips; Swedish syl
Diphthongs
ɑɪ kai price
æɪ bein Australian day
æʉ hauk have
ɛɪ mail day
ɔʏ boi boy
œʏ røyk Canadian ice
ʉɪ hui fluid
Reduced vowels
ə påle about

References

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  • Berulfsen, Bjarne (1969), Norsk Uttaleordbok (in Norwegian), Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co (W Nygaard)
  • Kristoffersen, Gjert (2000), The Phonology of Norwegian, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-823765-5
  • Kvifte, Bjørn; Gude-Husken, Verena (2005) [First published 1997], Praktische Grammatik der norwegischen Sprache (3rd ed.), Gottfried Egert Verlag, ISBN 3-926972-54-8
  • Skaug, Ingebjørg (2003) [First published 1996], Norsk språklydlære med øvelser (in Norwegian) (3rd ed.), Oslo: Cappelen Akademisk Forlag AS, ISBN 82-456-0178-0
  • Vanvik, Arne (1979), Norsk fonetikk (in Norwegian), Oslo: Universitetet i Oslo, ISBN 82-990584-0-6
  • Vanvik, Arne (1985), Norsk Uttaleordbok: A Norwegian pronouncing dictionary, Oslo: Fonetisk institutt, Universitetet i Oslo, ISBN 978-8299058414
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