1. What is Bokmål?
Bokmål is one of the two official written standards of the Norwegian language, the other being Nynorsk. The name comes from bok (book) and mål (language or standard), meaning roughly "the book language" or "the written language." It was officially named Bokmål in 1929; before that it was called Riksmål (national language).
Bokmål developed from the Danish written language that was used across Norway during the four centuries it was under Danish rule (1380–1814). After Norwegian independence, the written form was gradually adapted to reflect Norwegian pronunciation and vocabulary, but it retained much of its Danish structure and spelling. Today it sits comfortably between Danish and a neutral spoken Norwegian — closer to Danish in writing than Nynorsk, but immediately recognisable as Norwegian in speech.
Approximately 85–90% of Norwegians use Bokmål as their primary written standard. It is the default in Oslo and most other major cities, in national newspapers, most government publications, most books, and all major Norwegian language tests. Nynorsk is used primarily in western Norway and some rural areas.
2. Bokmål vs Nynorsk — the key differences
Norway is unusual among European countries in having two equally official written standards for the same language. Understanding the difference answers one of the most common questions from learners: which one do I study?
| Feature | Bokmål | Nynorsk |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of the name | Book language | New Norwegian |
| Historical origin | Adapted from Danish written tradition | Constructed from rural Norwegian dialects by Ivar Aasen (1800s) |
| Users in Norway | ~85–90% of Norwegians | ~10–15% of Norwegians |
| Geographic spread | Cities, eastern Norway, national media | Western Norway, some rural areas |
| Learning materials | Nearly all textbooks, apps, courses | Limited materials aimed at foreign learners |
| Norskprøven test | Yes — both written and oral | No |
| Taught in all Norwegian schools | Yes | Yes (all students learn both) |
| Relationship to Danish | Close — many shared words and spellings | More distant |
| Relationship to Swedish | Mutually intelligible in writing | Mutually intelligible in writing |
The short version: learn Bokmål. For a language learner living in or moving to Norway, there is almost no reason to start with Nynorsk. Bokmål is what your language course teaches, what the Norskprøven tests, what your workplace uses, and what you will read on every Norwegian sign, menu and website in Oslo.
All Norwegians study both written standards in school, so native speakers can read Nynorsk even if they don't write it. As a learner, you will encounter Nynorsk in some signage, municipal documents (particularly in western Norway) and some literature. You do not need to actively study it — understanding comes naturally once your Bokmål is solid.
3. Bokmål: written standard, not a spoken dialect
One thing that surprises many learners: Bokmål is primarily a written standard, not a spoken dialect. Norway has no official spoken standard language. Norwegians speak in their local regional dialects in everyday life — from Oslo to Bergen to Tromsø, the pronunciation, vocabulary and even some grammar varies considerably.
So what does a Norwegian course actually teach you to say? Most courses, teachers and textbooks use a neutral pronunciation roughly based on educated eastern Norwegian — sometimes called standard østnorsk. This is not an official spoken standard, but it is what nearly all Norwegian learning materials use, it is understood nationwide, and it aligns closely with Bokmål spelling. When people talk about "learning Bokmål," they usually mean this written standard plus this neutral spoken approximation.
The practical consequence: once your Bokmål is solid, you will be understood everywhere in Norway, but you will encounter a range of spoken dialects that differ from what you have practised. This is entirely normal and expected — Norwegians are used to it, and no one expects a learner to speak like a Bergen native or a Tromsø local.
4. Bokmål grammar — the essentials for learners
Bokmål grammar is considerably simpler than most European languages, which is one reason Norwegian is rated Category I (easiest) for English speakers by the US Foreign Service Institute.
Noun genders and articles
Bokmål has three grammatical genders — masculine (en), feminine (ei) and neuter (et) — but the feminine gender is optional in Bokmål. Most learners use masculine and neuter only, which works correctly throughout the written standard.
| Gender | Indefinite article | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | en | en bil | a car |
| Feminine (optional) | ei | ei jente | a girl |
| Neuter | et | et hus | a house |
The definite form ("the") is added as a suffix to the noun, not as a separate word: bil → bilen (car → the car), hus → huset (house → the house).
Verb conjugation — simpler than in most languages
Norwegian verbs do not change based on the grammatical person. The same verb form works for all subjects — there is no equivalent of "I am / you are / she is" requiring separate conjugations. You learn one present tense form per verb and use it for everyone.
| Subject | Bokmål | English |
|---|---|---|
| Jeg (I) | Jeg er | I am |
| Du (you) | Du er | You are |
| Han/hun (he/she) | Han/hun er | He/she is |
| Vi (we) | Vi er | We are |
| De (they) | De er | They are |
Word order — the V2 rule
In Bokmål main clauses, the finite verb must always be the second element. This is called the V2 (verb-second) rule. If a sentence starts with the subject, word order mirrors English exactly. If it starts with anything else — an adverb, a time expression, a subordinate clause — the subject and verb swap positions.
- Jeg spiser frokost. — I eat breakfast. (Subject first — same as English)
- I dag spiser jeg frokost. — Today I eat breakfast. (Adverb first — verb stays second, subject shifts)
No grammatical cases
Unlike German or Russian, Bokmål has no grammatical case system for nouns. There is no need to change noun endings based on whether a word is a subject, object or indirect object. This removes one of the most common difficulty spikes for language learners.
5. Bokmål in practice — example sentences
The example grid below compares the same phrases in Bokmål and Nynorsk, showing where they overlap and where they differ. The differences are real but rarely dramatic.
Notice: the first-person pronoun is jeg in Bokmål versus eg in Nynorsk. The verb "to be" is er in both. Many common words are identical across the two standards — the divergence is most visible in pronouns, some common verbs and certain noun forms.
6. How to start learning Bokmål Norwegian
Since September 2025, Norway no longer requires immigrants to complete a set number of mandatory course hours as a condition for the Norskprøven or permanent residence. Only the test result counts. This means you can learn Bokmål however works best for you — private lessons, a municipal course, apps, or a combination — as long as you reach the required level before the exam.
Confirm your materials use Bokmål
Most mainstream resources (Duolingo Norwegian, NTNU's Norwegian on the Web, standard adult education textbooks) default to Bokmål, but always check. Nynorsk materials for learners are rare and usually labelled explicitly.
Learn noun genders with each word
Memorise the article (en or et) alongside every new noun from the start. The gender determines how adjectives agree, how definite forms are built, and which pronoun replaces the noun. Retrofitting genders later is far harder than learning them in pairs from day one.
Drill the V2 word order rule until it is automatic
The verb-second rule is Bokmål's most important structural pattern. It feels unnatural at first but becomes automatic quickly with practice. Write 10 sentences per day that start with a time adverb (i dag, i morgen, nå) and force yourself to invert the subject and verb.
Add daily listening to your routine
NRK (nrk.no) provides free Norwegian TV, radio and news. Klartale (klartale.no) publishes simplified Bokmål news with audio, pitched at A2–B1 learners. Even 15 minutes daily of Norwegian audio builds pronunciation instincts that reading alone cannot.
Practise speaking as early as possible
Bokmål's written form and standard spoken pronunciation are close enough that what you read, you can say. The gap between reading-level and speaking-level Bokmål is smaller than in French or English. Use it: speak from week one, even imperfectly.
Work towards a specific test or goal
If you are living in Norway, align your study with the Norskprøven levels — A2 written and B1 oral for permanent residence, B1 oral for citizenship. If you are studying for work or academic purposes, find out which level your employer or institution requires and study backwards from that target.
How long does it take to reach B1 in Bokmål?
A realistic timeline from zero, based on study hours per week — and why the speaking component takes longer than most people expect.
Read: How to Learn Norwegian — A Practical Guide →7. Bokmål and the Norskprøven test
The Norskprøven is Norway's official language test for adult immigrants. It tests all four language skills — reading, listening, writing and speaking — and uses Bokmål as its written standard throughout. All test materials, reading texts and written tasks are in Bokmål.
Key levels relevant to residents in Norway:
- A2 oral + A2 written — the minimum to demonstrate basic functional Norwegian
- A2 written + B1 oral — required for permanent residence in Norway
- A2 written + B1 oral — required for Norwegian citizenship (from 1 September 2025; no mandatory course hours required, only the test result)
- B2 — required for healthcare workers (nurses, doctors) to receive full professional authorisation from Helsedirektoratet
The written components of the Norskprøven — reading, listening, writing — test your Bokmål at the level you have studied. The oral component tests spontaneous, real-time spoken Norwegian at B1 level. Most people who fail the Norskprøven fail the oral exam, not the written parts. Apps and self-study can take you far in reading and writing; the speaking component requires regular conversation practice with a teacher or native speaker.
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8. Frequently asked questions about Bokmål Norwegian
What does bokmål mean in English?
Bokmål literally means "book language" in Norwegian — bok (book) and mål (language or standard). The name reflects its origin as a codified written standard rather than a spoken dialect. It was officially named Bokmål in 1929; before that it was called Riksmål ("national language").
Is Bokmål the same as Norwegian?
Bokmål is one form of Norwegian — the most widely used written standard, used by approximately 85–90% of Norwegians. Norwegian also has a second official written standard, Nynorsk, and a wide range of spoken regional dialects. When people say "Norwegian" in the context of language learning, they almost always mean Bokmål.
Is Bokmål hard to learn for English speakers?
Bokmål is one of the easiest languages for English speakers. The US Foreign Service Institute classifies it as Category I — the simplest tier — estimating around 600 class hours to reach professional working proficiency. English and Norwegian share Germanic roots, which means hundreds of cognates (similar-looking words), verb conjugation is very simple (no person-based endings), and basic sentence structure closely mirrors English.
Should I learn Bokmål or Nynorsk?
For virtually all learners, Bokmål is the right choice. It is used by 85–90% of Norwegians, appears in nearly all textbooks and courses, is the standard used in the Norskprøven, and is what you will encounter in everyday life in Norwegian cities. Nynorsk is relevant if you have a specific connection to western Norway or a particular reason to study it. Otherwise, start with Bokmål.
Is Bokmål spoken or only written?
Bokmål is technically a written standard, not a spoken dialect. Norway has no official spoken standard language — Norwegians speak in regional dialects. However, most Norwegian courses teach a neutral spoken variety based on educated eastern Norwegian pronunciation, which closely follows Bokmål spelling. This is what is usually meant by "speaking Bokmål."
Can I understand Nynorsk if I learn Bokmål?
Yes. Once you reach a solid intermediate level in Bokmål, you will find Nynorsk largely comprehensible in writing. The two forms share most vocabulary and grammar; the main differences are in pronouns (jeg vs eg), some common verbs, and certain noun forms. All Norwegian schoolchildren study both standards, which is why native speakers can read Nynorsk even if they primarily write Bokmål.
What is the difference between Bokmål and Danish?
Bokmål developed from Danish and remains the written standard closest to it. Written Bokmål and written Danish are mutually intelligible to a high degree — a Bokmål reader can usually follow Danish text and vice versa. The key differences include Norwegian-specific vocabulary, some spelling conventions (for example, Norwegian kj where Danish uses k), and the suffix-based definite article (bilen — the car) rather than Danish's separate article (bilen works similarly in Danish, but definite article use and placement differ in some constructions). Spoken Norwegian and spoken Danish are much harder for the other group to follow due to different phonology and intonation.
Is Bokmål used in the Norskprøven?
Yes. All written components of the Norskprøven — reading texts, listening transcripts and writing tasks — use Bokmål. The oral component is spoken Norwegian (regional dialects are accepted). There is no Nynorsk version of the Norskprøven for learners.
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