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A1 noun 3 min de lecture

sport

When discussing hobbies or physical activities in Norwegian, you'll often encounter the word sport. It's a direct loanword from English, making it quite easy to remember.

You can use sport in various contexts, similar to how you would in English. For example, to talk about playing a sport, watching a sport, or generally referring to sports as a category of activities.

It's important to note that while the spelling is identical, the pronunciation will have a distinct Norwegian flavor, often with a slightly rolled 'r' and a clear 'o' sound, different from the English diphthong. Don't overthink it though; most Norwegians will understand you perfectly.

Entraîne-toi

§ The word 'sport' in Norwegian

The Norwegian word for sport is, simply, 'sport'. Easy, right? It's a masculine noun. This means it behaves like words such as 'en bil' (a car) or 'en mann' (a man). When you're talking about a sport in general, you use 'en sport'. If you want to say 'the sport', it becomes 'sporten'. For multiple sports, it's 'sporter', and 'sportene' for 'the sports'.

DEFINITION: Sport: An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

Hva er din favoritt-sport?

English hint: What is your favorite sport?

Fotball er en populær sport i Norge.

English hint: Football is a popular sport in Norway.

§ Common phrases with 'sport'

You'll often hear 'sport' used in a few common phrases. Knowing these will make your Norwegian sound more natural.

å drive med sport: to do/participate in sport

Jeg liker å drive med sport i helgene.

English hint: I like to do sport on the weekends.

en sportsgren: a type of sport, a sporting discipline

Skiskyting er en krevende sportsgren.

English hint: Biathlon is a demanding sporting discipline.

sportsutstyr: sports equipment

Vi trenger nytt sportsutstyr.

English hint: We need new sports equipment.

§ 'Sport' vs 'idrett'

This is where it gets interesting, and it's a common point of confusion for learners. While 'sport' is widely understood, Norwegians often use 'idrett' (pronounced 'idd-rett'). They are very similar, but 'idrett' tends to have a slightly broader and more formal meaning.

DEFINITION: Idrett: Often refers to organized physical activity, competitive sports, and can also include physical education.

Here's the main difference:

Sport: This is often used for individual sports, or when you're talking about sports in a general, more informal way. It's perfectly fine to use 'sport' in most everyday conversations.

Jeg ser mye sport på TV.

English hint: I watch a lot of sport on TV.

Idrett: This word often implies a more organized or competitive aspect. You'll frequently hear it in contexts like 'Norges Idrettsforbund' (The Norwegian Confederation of Sports) or when talking about school sports ('gym og idrett'). It also encompasses the broader idea of physical activity and training.

Hun er veldig aktiv innen idrett.

English hint: She is very active in sports/physical activity.

Norske utøvere gjør det bra i vinteridrett.

English hint: Norwegian athletes do well in winter sports.

§ When to use which word

Don't overthink it too much, especially at an A1 level. Most of the time, using 'sport' will be perfectly fine and understood. However, here are some guidelines:

Use 'sport' when:
- You're talking about watching sports on TV.
- You're mentioning a specific sport informally (e.g., 'fotball er en morsom sport' - football is a fun sport).
- You're asking someone about their favorite sport.

Jeg liker å se på sport om kvelden.

English hint: I like watching sport in the evening.

Use 'idrett' when:
- Referring to sports as a field of study or profession.
- Discussing official sports organizations.
- Talking about physical education in schools.
- Emphasizing the competitive or athletic aspect of an activity.

Hun studerer idrett på universitetet.

English hint: She studies sports/athletics at university.

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'sport' was borrowed into Norwegian from English, which in turn borrowed it from Old French. It's a fairly international word!

Grammaire à connaître

In Norwegian, nouns have grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter). 'Sport' is a masculine noun.

En sport (A sport) - We use 'en' for masculine and feminine singular indefinite nouns.

The indefinite plural of 'sport' is 'sporter'.

Mange sporter (Many sports) - Notice the -er ending for indefinite plural.

The definite singular of 'sport' is 'sporten'.

Sporten er populær (The sport is popular) - The suffix '-en' indicates definite masculine singular.

The definite plural of 'sport' is 'sportene'.

Sportene er spennende (The sports are exciting) - The suffix '-ene' indicates definite plural.

When 'sport' is used in a compound noun, it often keeps its original form.

Sportsbil (Sports car) - Here 'sport' acts as a modifier.

Origine du mot

Old French 'desport' (amusement, recreation)

Sens originel : diversion, recreation

Indo-European (via Romance languages)

Contexte culturel

In Norway, 'sport' covers a wide range of activities, from competitive sports like football (soccer) and skiing to more casual outdoor pursuits like hiking (tur) and fishing (fiske). Norwegians are generally very active, and sport plays a significant role in their national identity and everyday life. Many Norwegians participate in or follow various sports, with winter sports like cross-country skiing and biathlon being particularly popular and successful.