Norwegian facts for kids

Norwegian is a word that describes anything connected to the country of Norway. It can refer to the people who live there, the language they speak, or even things that come from Norway, like a famous airline.

What Does "Norwegian" Mean?

The word "Norwegian" helps us talk about many different things related to Norway, a beautiful country in Northern Europe. It's like saying "American" for things from the United States or "French" for things from France.

The People of Norway

When we talk about Norwegians, we mean the people who live in Norway. Norway has a population of about 5.5 million people. Norwegians are known for their love of nature, outdoor activities like skiing and hiking, and their strong sense of community. Many Norwegians are proud of their history, which includes the famous Viking Age from around 793 AD to 1066 AD. During this time, Vikings were explorers, traders, and settlers who traveled across Europe and beyond.

The Norwegian Language

The Norwegian language is a North Germanic language. This means it's part of a language family that also includes Danish and Swedish. If you speak Norwegian, you can often understand a lot of what people say in Danish and Swedish, and vice versa!

Norwegian has two main official written forms:

• Bokmål (meaning "book language") is the most common form and is used by most people.
• Nynorsk (meaning "new Norwegian") is used by a smaller number of people, especially in western Norway.

Even though there are two written forms, most Norwegians can understand both. The language is known for its many different dialects, which are ways of speaking that vary from one region to another.

Norwegian Culture and Land

Norway is famous for its stunning natural beauty, especially its deep, narrow inlets of the sea called fjords. These fjords were carved by glaciers over thousands of years and are a major tourist attraction. The country also has vast forests, mountains, and even parts of the Arctic region.

Norwegian culture is rich with traditions. For example, many Norwegians enjoy outdoor activities, celebrate national holidays like Syttende Mai (May 17th), and have unique foods like brunost (a type of brown cheese) and lutefisk (a fish dish).

Norwegian Air Shuttle: A Famous Airline

Norwegian Air Shuttle is one of the largest airlines in Norway and a well-known low-cost airline in Europe. It was founded in 1993 and has grown to fly millions of passengers to destinations all over the world. When you see "Norwegian" in front of "Air Shuttle," it tells you that this airline is from Norway.