The Norwegian Special Vowels (Æ, Ø, and Å) Explained
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The Norwegian alphabet looks almost exactly like the English alphabet, but with three “strange” letters tacked onto the end:
Æ, Ø, and Å.
These aren’t just fancy versions of A and O.
They’re completely separate letters with their own distinct sounds. If you mix them up with regular vowels, you might end up saying something very different from what you intended.
They’re actually quite easy to master.
What are the letters Æ, Ø, and Å?
These three vowels are the last three letters of the Norwegian alphabet (27, 28, and 29). They’re essential for speaking and writing, and you’ll see them everywhere.
Keep reading and I’ll explain exactly how to say them and how to type them on your keyboard.
Table of Contents:
The three special vowels
In English, vowel sounds can change a lot depending on the word. In Norwegian, vowels are generally much more consistent.
Let’s look at each one.
How to pronounce Æ
The letter Æ (lowercase: æ) is a combination of the letters ‘A’ and ‘E’.
The sound is very open. It sounds very similar to the ‘a’ in the English words sad, cat, or bad.
You open your mouth quite wide to say it.
Here are some common Norwegian words that use Æ:
| Norwegian Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Være | To be | Sounds like the ‘a’ in ‘bad’ |
| Lære | To learn | rhymes with ‘Være’ |
| Bær | Berry | Sounds like ‘bare’ in English |
| Klær | Clothes | - |
Here is an example sentence:
Jeg elsker å plukke bær.
How to pronounce Ø
The letter Ø (lowercase: ø) is an ‘O’ with a slash through it.
This sound doesn’t really exist perfectly in American English, which makes it the trickiest one for beginners.
It sounds similar to the ‘u’ in burn or fur, or the ‘i’ in bird (especially if you say it with a British accent without rolling the ‘r’). If you speak French, it is very close to the ‘eu’ sound in bleu.
To make this sound, round your lips like you are going to say “oh,” but try to say “ee” instead.
Common words with Ø:
| Norwegian Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Øl | Beer | Like ‘Earl’ without the ‘rl’ |
| Brød | Bread | - |
| Sør | South | Like ‘Sir’ |
| Hjørne | Corner | - |
Kan jeg få en øl?
How to pronounce Å
The letter Å (lowercase: å) is an ‘A’ with a small ring above it.
This is actually the newest letter in the Norwegian alphabet (it was officially added in 1917). Before that, it was written as “Aa”. You will still see “Aa” in old family names or city names (like Aarhus), but it is pronounced exactly like Å.
The sound is very similar to the ‘o’ in born, lord, or the ‘aw’ in law.
It is a deep, round sound.
Common words with Å:
| Norwegian Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation Tip |
|---|---|---|
| År | Year | Sounds like ‘or’ |
| Nå | Now | Sounds like ‘gnaw’ |
| Blå | Blue | Sounds like ‘blow’ but stop before the ‘w’ |
| Språk | Language | - |
Hvor mange år er du?
How to type the letters
One of the biggest frustrations for learners is typing in Norwegian when you have an American or British keyboard.
Here is how you can type them without buying a new computer.
On a Mac:
- Æ: Hold down
Option+'(apostrophe) - Ø: Hold down
Option+o - Å: Hold down
Option+a
On Windows (using the Number Pad):
- Æ:
Alt+0230 - Ø:
Alt+0248 - Å:
Alt+0229
On a Smartphone (iOS and Android):
Usually, you just need to long-press the A or O keys, and a menu will pop up where you can select Æ, Ø, or Å.
Emergency replacements:
If you absolutely cannot type the characters, there is an accepted way to write them using standard English letters. This was standard before computers had international keyboards:
- Write Æ as AE
- Write Ø as OE
- Write Å as AA
For example, the word Blåbærsyltetøy (blueberry jam) would look like Blaabaersyltetoey. It looks messy, but Norwegians will understand you.
Regional variations and fun facts
Norway has many dialects, and sometimes the pronunciation of these vowels changes slightly depending on where you are.
The “Æ” in the North:
In Standard Eastern Norwegian (Oslo area), the word for “I” is jeg. However, in Northern Norway and Trøndelag (around Trondheim), the word for “I” is actually just the letter æ.
Æ e fra Norge.
(In standard Bokmål, this is: Jeg er fra Norge).
The Ø sounds:
In some distinct dialects, the Ø sound can become even more open, almost sounding like the ‘oe’ in ‘shoe’, but for the most part, the “u in burn” rule works everywhere.
The letters Æ, Ø, and Å give Norwegian its distinct sound.
Don’t be afraid to exaggerate the sounds when you practice. Open your mouth wide for Æ, round your lips tight for Ø, and drop your jaw for Å.
