Signification
Casual farewell.
Contexte culturel
The 'Norwegian Goodbye' can actually take a long time, but 'Snakkes senere' is the signal that the process has finally begun. It's a way to be polite without being overly emotional. In Norwegian offices, hierarchy is flat. You will hear interns saying 'Snakkes senere' to CEOs. It's not disrespectful; it's a sign of a healthy, egalitarian workplace. Norwegians are heavy users of emojis. 'Snakkes' is almost always accompanied by a waving hand 👋 or a smile 😊 in texts. While 'Snakkes' is universal, using regional variants like 'Preikas' in the southeast can signal strong local pride or a working-class background.
The 'S' is Key
Always remember the '-s'. It's what makes the phrase friendly and reciprocal. Without it, you sound like you're giving an order.
Don't take it literally
Just like 'What's up?' in English, 'Snakkes senere' doesn't always mean a conversation is guaranteed. It's a social lubricant.
Signification
Casual farewell.
The 'S' is Key
Always remember the '-s'. It's what makes the phrase friendly and reciprocal. Without it, you sound like you're giving an order.
Don't take it literally
Just like 'What's up?' in English, 'Snakkes senere' doesn't always mean a conversation is guaranteed. It's a social lubricant.
Shorten it for texts
In SMS or Messenger, just writing 'Snakkes!' is very common and perfectly polite for friends.
Watch the formality
If you're talking to someone very senior or in a very formal setting, 'Ha det bra' is a safer bet.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing part of the common farewell.
Det var hyggelig å se deg! Vi _______ senere.
The reciprocal form 'snakkes' is required for this idiomatic farewell.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
When would you most likely say 'Snakkes senere'?
'Snakkes senere' is an informal farewell for people you have an ongoing relationship with.
Which of these is the most natural way to end a phone call with your brother?
Ending a call:
'Snakkes senere' is the standard, natural way to end a casual phone call.
Complete the dialogue between two colleagues.
Kari: 'Jeg går nå, har en avtale.' Per: 'Den er god. _________!'
Per is using the standard farewell to acknowledge Kari's departure.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Farewell Formality
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesDet var hyggelig å se deg! Vi _______ senere.
The reciprocal form 'snakkes' is required for this idiomatic farewell.
When would you most likely say 'Snakkes senere'?
'Snakkes senere' is an informal farewell for people you have an ongoing relationship with.
Ending a call:
'Snakkes senere' is the standard, natural way to end a casual phone call.
Kari: 'Jeg går nå, har en avtale.' Per: 'Den er god. _________!'
Per is using the standard farewell to acknowledge Kari's departure.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
14 questionsNot necessarily. It's often used as a polite way to say goodbye, similar to 'See you later' in English, where no specific plans are made.
Yes, in most Norwegian workplaces, this is perfectly acceptable as long as the environment is casual/neutral.
'Vi snakkes' is slightly more complete/formal, while 'Snakkes' is the more casual, clipped version. Both are very common.
Yes, but mostly in informal writing like texts, social media, and casual emails to friends or colleagues.
Yes, if you expect to talk to them very soon (within the hour or day), but 'senere' is the more standard idiom.
The 's' makes the verb reciprocal, meaning 'to talk to each other.' It's a unique feature of Scandinavian languages.
It's better to use 'Ha det bra' with strangers unless you've had a friendly, casual interaction (like with a shopkeeper you recognize).
In most of Norway, it's a light tap or 'flap' with the tongue. In the west and south, it's a guttural 'r' from the throat.
'Snakkes' implies talking (phone or in person), while 'Sees' implies physically seeing each other again.
It's a very informal, slangy version of 'Snakkes' used mostly in and around Oslo.
No, use 'Med vennlig hilsen' or 'Beste hilsen' for formal emails.
Yes, it is understood and used throughout the entire country, regardless of dialect.
No, it has been used for a long time, though it has become even more common with the rise of informal digital communication.
The most common response is simply 'Ja, snakkes!' or 'Vi snakkes!'
Expressions liées
Vi høres
similarWe'll hear from each other
Vi ses
similarWe'll see each other
Preikas
specialized formTalk later (slang)
Ha det bra
synonymGoodbye / Have it well
Vi snakkes i morgen
builds onTalk tomorrow
