If you’re looking for the Norwegian language alphabet, the short answer is: it contains 29 letters. It includes the 26 letters of the English alphabet plus three additional vowels — Æ, Ø, and Å. These characters give Norwegian its distinct sound and identity. Understanding them is your first step toward reading, writing, and pronouncing Norwegian correctly.
👉 To see and hear each letter in action, try free Norwegian Alphabet Tool — it includes native audio and 3D lip-sync animation so you can master pronunciation faster.
Table of Contents
Open Table of Contents
- Overview of the Norwegian Alphabet
- Special Letters: Æ, Ø, Å
- Pronunciation Basics
- Diacritics and Accents
- Bokmål vs. Nynorsk and the Alphabet
- Comparison With the English Alphabet
- How to Type Norwegian Letters (Æ, Ø, Å)
- Historical Background
- Quick Reference Table: Norwegian Alphabet
- FAQs About the Norwegian Language Alphabet
- Key Takeaways
- Final Thoughts
Overview of the Norwegian Alphabet
The Norwegian alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet and consists of:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Æ Ø Å
- 29 total letters
- 9 vowels: A, E, I, O, U, Y, Æ, Ø, Å
- 20 consonants
💡 The letters C, Q, W, X, Z are mostly used in loanwords (like quiz, watt, xylofon). Native Norwegian words rarely use them.
Special Letters: Æ, Ø, Å
These three vowels are unique to the Norwegian language alphabet:
- Æ (æ): Sounds like “a” in cat. Example: bær (berries).
- Ø (ø): Similar to French eu in peur or German ö. Example: brød (bread).
- Å (å): Sounds like “aw” in saw. Example: går (goes).
👉 Want to practice Æ, Ø, and Å interactively? Visit Norwegian Character Practice Page to hear native recordings and watch 3D lip-sync guides.
Pronunciation Basics
While the Norwegian alphabet resembles English, pronunciation can differ:
- J is pronounced like English Y (ja = yes).
- K before “i” or “y” sounds like “sh” in sheep (kilo → “shilo”).
- D is often silent at the end of words (hund = dog).
- G can be hard (like go) or soft (like year in gjøre).
Vowels Matter
Norwegian vowels can be long or short:
- tak (roof) vs. takk (thanks).
The double consonant shortens the preceding vowel.
💡 Use Alphabet Tool to repeat vowel sounds with 3D visualization until you nail the subtle differences.
Diacritics and Accents
Norwegian occasionally uses acute accents (é, è, ê, ó) to clarify meaning:
- for (for/to) vs. fôr (fodder).
- idé (idea), kafé (café).
While not frequent, they help avoid confusion.
Bokmål vs. Nynorsk and the Alphabet
Both Bokmål and Nynorsk — the two official written standards — use the same 29-letter alphabet.
- Bokmål: Derived from Danish influence, used by ~85–90% of Norwegians.
- Nynorsk: Based on rural dialects, used in western Norway and schools.
Pronunciation and spelling variations exist, but the alphabet itself remains constant.
Comparison With the English Alphabet
- English and Norwegian share 26 core letters.
- Norwegian adds Æ, Ø, Å at the end.
- Word order: in dictionaries, “Å” is the last letter (not sorted under A).
For example:
- Zoo = dyrehage in Norwegian. (Z only used in loanwords.)
- Ålesund starts with the special letter Å and is listed at the very end in alphabetical order.
How to Type Norwegian Letters (Æ, Ø, Å)
- Windows (US keyboard):
- Æ = Alt + 0198
- Ø = Alt + 0216
- Å = Alt + 0197
- Mac:
- Å = Option + A
- Ø = Option + O
- Æ = Option + ’ (apostrophe)
- Mobile: Add “Norwegian keyboard” in settings.
Historical Background
- Runic origins: Early Norwegians used the Elder Futhark runes (24 characters).
- Christianity (1030s): Latin alphabet introduced.
- 1917 reform: Replaced “aa” with “å.”
- Modern Norwegian settled with 29 letters, balancing tradition with global Latin script usage.
Quick Reference Table: Norwegian Alphabet
| Letter | Pronunciation (approx.) | Example Word |
|---|---|---|
| A a | “a” in father | alt (everything) |
| E e | “e” in bed | etter (after) |
| I i | “ee” in see | is (ice) |
| O o | “oo” in food or “o” in pot | god (good) |
| U u | “oo” but with rounded lips | hus (house) |
| Y y | Like German ü / French u | ny (new) |
| Æ æ | “a” in cat | bær (berries) |
| Ø ø | “i” in bird (British) | brød (bread) |
| Å å | “aw” in saw | går (goes) |
📘 Want to practice with real audio and visuals? Check out Norwegian Alphabet Tool to see each letter pronounced with lip-sync animation.
FAQs About the Norwegian Language Alphabet
Q: How many letters are in the Norwegian alphabet?
A: 29 letters — the English 26 plus Æ, Ø, Å.
Q: Do Norwegians still use “aa”?
A: Rarely. It appears in old names and maps but was officially replaced by “å” in 1917.
Q: Is the alphabet the same in Bokmål and Nynorsk?
A: Yes. The same 29 letters are used, though spelling may differ.
Q: Are there silent letters in Norwegian?
A: Yes. Final d (hund), final g (dag), and parts of kj or skj combinations.
Key Takeaways
- The Norwegian language alphabet has 29 letters.
- Æ, Ø, Å are unique vowels central to pronunciation.
- Bokmål and Nynorsk share the same alphabet.
- Some letters (C, Q, W, X, Z) appear only in loanwords.
- Accents (é, ê) exist but are rare.
Final Thoughts
The Norwegian language alphabet is both familiar and unique: familiar because it shares most of its structure with the English alphabet, and unique because of the special letters Æ, Ø, and Å. Learning these three characters — and their sounds — unlocks Norwegian pronunciation and spelling.
👉 Want to learn by doing? Try free Norwegian Character Practice Page. It combines native audio, 3D mouth-shape animation, and stroke order demos, helping you read, write, and pronounce Norwegian letters with confidence.
Whether you’re exploring fjords, studying Norwegian culture, or simply curious about Scandinavian languages, starting with the alphabet builds the foundation for everything else.