Meaning
Inquiring about language skills.
Cultural Background
Norwegians are very proficient in English, so you will almost always get a 'Yes'. Similar to Sweden and Denmark, English is widely spoken. English is the de facto language in many Norwegian corporate offices. In very remote areas, older generations might speak less English, but it's still worth asking.
Keep it simple
You don't need to add extra words. 'Snakker du engelsk?' is perfect.
Add 'Unnskyld'
Adding 'Unnskyld' (Excuse me) makes you sound much more polite.
Meaning
Inquiring about language skills.
Keep it simple
You don't need to add extra words. 'Snakker du engelsk?' is perfect.
Add 'Unnskyld'
Adding 'Unnskyld' (Excuse me) makes you sound much more polite.
Don't worry
Norwegians are very happy to help you in English.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word.
_____ du engelsk?
The verb must be in the present tense and conjugated for 'du'.
Which sentence is correct?
Choose the correct question form.
Questions in Norwegian require the verb to come before the subject.
Match the Norwegian word to its English meaning.
Match: Snakker, du, engelsk, hjelpe
Basic vocabulary matching.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercises_____ du engelsk?
The verb must be in the present tense and conjugated for 'du'.
Choose the correct question form.
Questions in Norwegian require the verb to come before the subject.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Basic vocabulary matching.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsNo, it's very polite and helpful.
Smile and say 'Takk uansett' (Thanks anyway).
Yes, it's perfectly fine.
You could say 'Snakker De engelsk?', but 'du' is standard.
Related Phrases
Kan du hjelpe meg?
similarCan you help me?
Jeg forstår ikke
builds onI don't understand
Snakker du norsk?
contrastDo you speak Norwegian?
Hva betyr det?
builds onWhat does that mean?
