When you go to a restaurant in Norway, you'll see a meny. This word is very similar to the English word "menu" and it means the same thing: a list of all the food and drinks you can order. It's one of the first words you'll learn in Norwegian because it's so practical. Knowing this word helps you ask for the menu or understand when someone offers it to you. So, next time you're hungry in Norway, you know what to ask for!
When you go to a restaurant in Norway, you'll want to ask for the meny. This is the menu, where you can see all the delicious food and drinks they offer. You might say, "Kan jeg få menyen, takk?" (Can I have the menu, please?) or "Hva står på menyen i dag?" (What's on the menu today?).
When you're at a restaurant in Norway, you'll ask for «menyen» to see what food they offer. It's a fundamental word for dining out.
While «meny» primarily means a restaurant menu, it can also refer to a computer menu, like a drop-down «meny» on a website. However, in everyday conversation about food, it's always about the dishes you can order.
When you're out to eat in Norway, you'll definitely encounter the word meny. This refers to the menu at a restaurant, cafe, or bar. It's where you'll find all the dishes and drinks available to order.
You might see phrases like "Hva står på menyen?" (What's on the menu?) or "Kan jeg få menyen, takk?" (Could I have the menu, please?). Understanding meny is crucial for ordering food and drinks.
§ What 'Meny' Means
The Norwegian word meny is quite straightforward for English speakers. It directly translates to 'menu'. Just like in English, it refers to a list of food and drinks available to order in a restaurant, cafe, or at an event. It's a very common word you'll encounter when dining out in Norway.
- DEFINITION
- a list of food available to order
You'll use and hear meny every time you go to a place that serves food. It's an essential word for ordering, asking about options, and generally navigating a dining experience in Norway. Think of it as your guide to what's on offer.
§ When to Use 'Meny'
You use meny in many common situations. Here are some of the most frequent:
- When asking for the menu: This is probably the most common use. You'll often say, "Kan jeg få menyen, vær så snill?" (Can I have the menu, please?)
- When discussing food options: If you're trying to decide what to eat, you might ask, "Hva står på menyen i dag?" (What's on the menu today?)
- Referring to specific menus: You can talk about a 'lunch menu' (lunsjmeny) or a 'dinner menu' (middagsmeny).
§ Examples of 'Meny' in Use
Let's look at some practical examples to help you understand how to use meny in Norwegian conversations.
Kan vi få menyen, vær så snill?
This means: "Can we get the menu, please?" This is a standard phrase for asking for the menu in a restaurant.
Hva står på menyen i dag?
This translates to: "What's on the menu today?" You might ask this if you're curious about daily specials or a rotating selection.
Jeg har ikke sett menyen ennå.
This means: "I haven't seen the menu yet." You could say this if a waiter asks for your order but you haven't had a chance to look at the options.
De har en flott lunsjmeny her.
This translates to: "They have a great lunch menu here." This shows how meny can be combined with other words to describe specific types of menus.
As you can see, meny is a straightforward and highly useful word for anyone learning Norwegian, especially when navigating social situations involving food and dining.
§ What is a meny?
- Definition
- a list of food available to order
When you go to a restaurant in Norway, you will ask for a meny. It's the same word as in English, just spelled slightly differently. It means the list of food and drinks that a restaurant offers.
Kan jeg få menyen, takk? (Can I have the menu, please?)
Hva står på menyen i dag? (What's on the menu today?)
§ Asking for the meny
When you're seated at a restaurant, you'll want to ask for the meny. Here are some simple phrases:
Kan jeg se menyen? (Can I see the menu?)
Har dere en meny? (Do you have a menu?)
§ Types of menues
Just like in English, there are different kinds of menyer (plural of meny).
Lunsjmeny (Lunch menu)
Middagsmeny (Dinner menu)
Barnas meny (Children's menu)
Dagens meny (Today's menu/special)
Drikkemeny (Drink menu)
§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives
While meny is the standard for a restaurant's food list, you might encounter other words. However, stick to meny for ordering food.
- 'Spisekart' or 'Matliste'
These words also refer to a list of food. 'Spisekart' literally means 'eating map' and 'matliste' means 'food list'. While technically correct, they are far less common in everyday conversation at a restaurant. 'Meny' is the word you will hear and use 99% of the time.
Servitøren ga oss menyen. (The waiter gave us the menu.)
You would rarely hear: Servitøren ga oss spisekartet. It sounds a bit old-fashioned or overly formal in this context.
- 'Katalog' or 'Oversikt'
These words mean 'catalog' or 'overview'. They are used for general lists or collections of items, not for restaurant food.
En produktkatalog (A product catalog)
En oversikt over utgifter (An overview of expenses)
Using these in a restaurant would be incorrect and confusing.
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'menu' is a direct borrowing from French and has been adopted into many languages, including Norwegian, to refer to a list of dishes offered in a restaurant.
Grammaire à connaître
Nouns in Norwegian have grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, neuter). 'Meny' is a masculine noun.
en meny (a menu)
Definite singular nouns are formed by adding a suffix. For masculine nouns, this is typically '-en'.
menyen (the menu)
Indefinite plural nouns are often formed by adding '-er' to the singular form.
menyer (menus)
Definite plural nouns are often formed by adding '-ene' to the singular form.
menyene (the menus)
When asking for the menu, you would typically use the definite form if referring to a specific menu, or the indefinite if generally asking for any menu.
Kan jeg få menyen? (Can I have the menu?)
Exemples par niveau
Kan jeg få menyen, takk?
Can I have the menu, please?
Menyen har mange gode retter.
The menu has many good dishes.
Kan jeg få se menyen, takk?
Can I see the menu, please?
Common phrase for asking for the menu.
Menyen har mange gode retter.
The menu has many good dishes.
Describing the menu's contents.
Hva er dagens meny?
What is today's menu?
Asking about daily specials.
Jeg har valgt fra menyen.
I have chosen from the menu.
Indicating a selection has been made.
Dessertmenyen er veldig fristende.
The dessert menu is very tempting.
Refers to a specific type of menu.
Er det en barnemeny?
Is there a children's menu?
Asking about options for children.
Vi bestilte alt fra hovedmenyen.
We ordered everything from the main menu.
Referring to the primary menu.
Jeg kan ikke finne prisen på menyen.
I can't find the price on the menu.
Looking for price information on the menu.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Kan jeg få menyen?
Can I have the menu? (lit. Can I get the menu?)
Hva står på menyen?
What's on the menu? (lit. What stands on the menu?)
Har dere en engelsk meny?
Do you have an English menu?
Jeg vil se på menyen først.
I want to look at the menu first.
Menyen ser bra ut.
The menu looks good.
Vi bestemte oss fra menyen.
We decided from the menu.
Hva er den beste tingen på menyen?
What is the best thing on the menu?
Er det noe nytt på menyen?
Is there anything new on the menu?
Vi trenger mer tid til å se på menyen.
We need more time to look at the menu.
Menyen er veldig variert.
The menu is very varied.
Souvent confondu avec
Often confused with 'bra' (good), but 'god' and 'godt' are declinable adjectives.
Often confused with 'mye' (much), but 'mange' is for countable nouns.
Often confused with 'å vite' (to know), but 'å kjenne' is for knowing people or places.
Expressions idiomatiques
"å ta på seg store sko"
to take on too much; to bite off more than one can chew
Han tok på seg store sko da han sa ja til å lede begge prosjektene samtidig. (He bit off more than he could chew when he said yes to leading both projects at the same time.)
neutral"å ha en finger med i spillet"
to have a hand in something; to be involved in something
Jeg tror hun hadde en finger med i spillet da avgjørelsen ble tatt. (I think she had a hand in it when the decision was made.)
neutral"å snakke rett fra leveren"
to speak frankly; to speak one's mind
Han snakket rett fra leveren og fortalte dem hva han virkelig mente. (He spoke frankly and told them what he really thought.)
neutral"å tråkke i salaten"
to put one's foot in one's mouth; to make a blunder
Jeg tråkket skikkelig i salaten da jeg spurte om hennes nye kjæreste. (I really put my foot in my mouth when I asked about her new boyfriend.)
informal"å være på bærtur"
to be way off track; to be completely wrong
Du er helt på bærtur hvis du tror det er den riktige løsningen. (You're completely off track if you think that's the right solution.)
informal"å ha bein i nesa"
to be assertive; to be strong-willed
Hun har bein i nesa og lar seg ikke tråkke på. (She is strong-willed and won't let herself be walked all over.)
neutral"å kaste perler for svin"
to cast pearls before swine; to offer something valuable to someone who doesn't appreciate it
Det er som å kaste perler for svin å prøve å forklare kunst for ham. (It's like casting pearls before swine to try and explain art to him.)
formal"å ikke se skogen for bare trær"
to not see the forest for the trees; to be unable to see the whole situation because of too much focus on details
Han ser ikke skogen for bare trær når han analyserer problemene. (He can't see the forest for the trees when he analyzes the problems.)
neutral"å være midt i smørøyet"
to be in the middle of the action; to be in the best spot
Vi var midt i smørøyet da festen startet. (We were in the middle of the action when the party started.)
informal"å ha ugler i mosen"
to smell a rat; to suspect something is wrong
Jeg har ugler i mosen, det er noe som ikke stemmer her. (I smell a rat; something isn't right here.)
neutralFacile à confondre
'Gift' can mean both 'married' and 'poison' in Norwegian. The context usually makes the meaning clear.
'Gift' (married) is an adjective, often used with 'være' (to be). 'Gift' (poison) is a noun.
De er gift. (They are married.) Dette er gift! (This is poison!)
'Bra' means 'good', but learners often confuse it with 'god' or 'godt'.
'Bra' is an invariable adjective, meaning it doesn't change with gender or number. 'God' (masculine/feminine) and 'godt' (neuter) do change.
Det er bra. (That is good.) Han er en god mann. (He is a good man.) Et godt hus. (A good house.)
'Mye' and 'mange' both mean 'much' or 'many', which can be confusing for English speakers.
'Mye' is used for uncountable nouns (e.g., water, time). 'Mange' is used for countable nouns (e.g., books, people).
Jeg har mye vann. (I have much water.) Jeg har mange bøker. (I have many books.)
'Gjerne' doesn't have a direct English equivalent, making its usage tricky. It often translates to 'gladly' or 'would like to'.
It expresses willingness or preference, often in response to an offer or a question about desires.
Vil du ha kaffe? Ja, gjerne! (Would you like coffee? Yes, gladly! / Yes, please!) Jeg vil gjerne spise. (I would like to eat.)
'Å vite' and 'å kjenne' both translate to 'to know' in English, but they have distinct uses in Norwegian.
'Å vite' refers to knowing facts or information. 'Å kjenne' refers to knowing a person, place, or being familiar with something.
Jeg vet svaret. (I know the answer.) Jeg kjenner Oslo. (I know Oslo - I am familiar with it.) Jeg kjenner ham. (I know him.)
Comment l'utiliser
When referring to a restaurant menu, you use «en meny». For example, you might say «Kan jeg få se menyen?» (Can I see the menu?). This word is also used for a set meal, like a «tre-retters meny» (three-course menu).
A common mistake is confusing «meny» with «matliste». While both relate to food, «matliste» is more like a grocery list or a general list of food items, not typically what you'd ask for in a restaurant. Remember to use «meny» when you want to see the options for ordering food at an establishment.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of the English word 'menu' – it's almost the same! Just change the 'u' to a 'y'.
Association visuelle
Imagine a waiter handing you a physical menu in a cozy Norwegian cafe. What does it look like? What delicious food is listed on it?
Word Web
Défi
Next time you go to a restaurant, try to think 'meny' instead of 'menu' when you ask for it. Even better, try to say 'Kan jeg få menyen, takk?'
Origine du mot
French (menu)
Sens originel : small, detailed list
Indo-European (Romance branch)Contexte culturel
When you go to a restaurant in Norway, you'll ask for 'menyen' to see what food and drinks are available. It's common to browse the 'meny' before deciding what to order. Many Norwegian restaurants will also have a 'dagens meny' (today's menu) or 'ukens meny' (week's menu) which features special dishes for that day or week.
Teste-toi 24 questions
You are at a restaurant in Norway. Write a short sentence asking for the menu.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Kan jeg få menyen, takk?
Imagine you are describing a menu to a friend. Write a sentence saying that the menu has many good options.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Menyen har mange gode retter.
You just finished looking at the menu. Write a sentence about what you did next.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Vi leste menyen og bestilte mat.
What kind of dishes does the person like?
Read this passage:
Jeg er på restauranten nå. Jeg ser på menyen. Den har mange forskjellige fiskeretter og kjøttretter. Jeg liker fisk, så jeg skal velge en fiskerett fra menyen.
What kind of dishes does the person like?
The passage states, 'Jeg liker fisk, så jeg skal velge en fiskerett fra menyen.' (I like fish, so I will choose a fish dish from the menu.)
The passage states, 'Jeg liker fisk, så jeg skal velge en fiskerett fra menyen.' (I like fish, so I will choose a fish dish from the menu.)
What is the mother looking for on the menu?
Read this passage:
Familien min er på en ny restaurant i Oslo. Vi har akkurat fått menyene. Faren min leser menyen nøye. Moren min spør om det er noen vegetariske alternativer på menyen. Jeg leter etter desserter.
What is the mother looking for on the menu?
The passage says, 'Moren min spør om det er noen vegetariske alternativer på menyen.' (My mother asks if there are any vegetarian options on the menu.)
The passage says, 'Moren min spør om det er noen vegetariske alternativer på menyen.' (My mother asks if there are any vegetarian options on the menu.)
Why was it difficult to choose from the menu?
Read this passage:
Servitøren ga oss menyene. Vi så på menyen, men det var vanskelig å velge fordi alt så godt ut. Etter ti minutter bestemte vi oss for å bestille en forrett og en hovedrett fra menyen.
Why was it difficult to choose from the menu?
The passage states, 'det var vanskelig å velge fordi alt så godt ut.' (it was difficult to choose because everything looked good.)
The passage states, 'det var vanskelig å velge fordi alt så godt ut.' (it was difficult to choose because everything looked good.)
The speaker needs help reading something.
The server is describing a special dish.
They are having trouble making a decision about food.
Read this aloud:
Kan du spørre servitøren om dagens meny?
Focus: menyen
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Jeg leter etter vegetariske alternativer på menyen.
Focus: vegetariske, alternativer
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hvilken dessert anbefaler du fra menyen?
Focus: anbefaler, dessert
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence structure (subject-verb-object-adverbial phrase) is common in Norwegian. 'Gjennomgikk' (reviewed) acts on 'menyforslagene' (menu suggestions) before the action of 'bestilte' (ordered) 'middag' (dinner).
The subject 'kokken' (the chef) performs the action 'har nøye utformet' (has carefully designed) on 'hver rett' (each dish), which is 'på menyen' (on the menu). The adverb 'nøye' (carefully) comes before the past participle.
The adverbial phrase 'Etter lang diskusjon' (After long discussion) starts the sentence, followed by the verb 'endret' (changed), the subject 'restauranten' (the restaurant), and then the object 'menyen' (the menu), with the adverb 'radikalt' (radically) at the end describing the change.
Which of the following would you most likely find in a 'meny'?
A 'meny' specifically refers to a menu, which lists food items in a restaurant or similar establishment.
If you are in a Norwegian restaurant and want to see what food they offer, what would you ask for?
'Menyen' means 'the menu' in Norwegian, which is what you would ask for to see the food options.
Which sentence correctly uses the word 'meny'?
This sentence correctly uses 'meny' in the context of reading a menu to choose food.
A 'meny' typically contains information about upcoming concerts.
A 'meny' is a list of food and drinks offered, not concert information.
You would expect to find prices for food items on a 'meny'.
Menus commonly include prices for the listed dishes.
The word 'meny' in Norwegian refers to a type of car.
The word 'meny' means 'menu' in Norwegian, not a type of car.
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
