Bedeutung
There is no place like home
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase is deeply linked to 'kos' (coziness). Norwegians invest heavily in their homes because of the long winters, making the 'hjemme best' part particularly meaningful. Similar versions exist in Swedish ('Borta bra men hemma bäst') and Danish ('Ude godt, men hjemme bedst'), showing a shared Nordic value of domestic sanctuary. On Norwegian Instagram and TikTok, this is one of the most used hashtags (#bortebrahjemmebest) for travel bloggers returning home. In rural areas, 'hjemme' can also refer to the family farm or 'hjembygda' (home village), adding a layer of ancestral connection to the phrase.
The 'Men' Addition
Adding 'men' (but) in the middle makes you sound more like a native speaker: 'Borte bra, men hjemme best.'
Don't overthink the grammar
It's a fixed phrase. Even if you haven't learned superlatives yet, just memorize it as one single unit.
Bedeutung
There is no place like home
The 'Men' Addition
Adding 'men' (but) in the middle makes you sound more like a native speaker: 'Borte bra, men hjemme best.'
Don't overthink the grammar
It's a fixed phrase. Even if you haven't learned superlatives yet, just memorize it as one single unit.
The 'Sigh'
For maximum effect, say this phrase while letting out a big breath of air as you sit down.
Social Media
Use this as a caption for your 'back from vacation' photos to instantly connect with Norwegian followers.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing words to complete the proverb.
Borte ______, hjemme ______.
The standard proverb uses 'bra' and 'best'.
Which sentence uses the proverb correctly after a trip?
Du har nettopp kommet hjem fra ferie. Hva sier du?
This is the correct fixed form of the proverb.
Match the situation to the most likely use of the phrase.
Situasjon: Du har vært på en slitsom forretningsreise og låser deg endelig inn i leiligheten din.
This is the perfect moment to express relief at being home.
Complete the dialogue.
Lise: 'Hvordan var hytteturen?' Per: 'Den var kjempefin, men det er deilig å være tilbake.' Lise: 'Ja, ______.'
Lise agrees with Per's sentiment using the proverb.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Borte vs. Hjemme
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenBorte ______, hjemme ______.
The standard proverb uses 'bra' and 'best'.
Du har nettopp kommet hjem fra ferie. Hva sier du?
This is the correct fixed form of the proverb.
Situasjon: Du har vært på en slitsom forretningsreise og låser deg endelig inn i leiligheten din.
This is the perfect moment to express relief at being home.
Lise: 'Hvordan var hytteturen?' Per: 'Den var kjempefin, men det er deilig å være tilbake.' Lise: 'Ja, ______.'
Lise agrees with Per's sentiment using the proverb.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenYes, it's grammatically correct, but it sounds more like a literal statement than the famous proverb. Stick to the short version for maximum impact.
In Bokmål (the most common written standard), it is 'hjemme'. In Nynorsk or many dialects, it is 'heime'. Both are correct depending on the context.
The best time is the moment you walk through your door after being away for at least a night.
Not at all! It is a timeless classic that is still used daily by people of all ages.
Yes, if it has been a particularly long or difficult day, it's very common to use it then too.
The closest equivalents are 'There's no place like home' or 'East or West, home is best.'
Usually, yes. It refers to your primary residence where you feel most comfortable.
It's neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
Proverbs often drop verbs to be shorter and easier to remember. This is called ellipsis.
Yes, if your home is currently a mess or under renovation, you might say it with a roll of the eyes.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Øst, vest, hjemme best
variationEast, west, home is best.
Hjem kjære hjem
similarHome sweet home.
Å lengte hjem
builds onTo long for home.
Mitt hjem er mitt slott
similarMy home is my castle.
Hjemlengsel
relatedHomesickness.
