Today I have a little blurb update about embarrassing little mistakes in Norwegian. I’ve made two ones that have amused me enough to not traumatize me into suppressing the memory of them, so here’s part one…
This began when I had just started learning basic phrases, and knew nothing about grammar; before my trip to Norway, when I decided to really commit to learning the language.
I was speaking online with my Norwegian friend, and the following exchange occurred:
Me: How’s it going? Wait, I got this. Hvordan går det? (How’s it going?)
Him: Nice! Går bra. 🙂 (It’s going well.)
Me: I UNDERSTOOD THAT!
Him: Og med deg? (And with you?)
Me: Jeg er bra?
Him: Lol!
Me: Was that wrong?
Him: Well, technically yes. It has a different meaning than what it would seem.
Me: Oh jeez…
Him: Correct would be: Bare bra, jeg har det bra, det går bra, fint, samme her. (Just fine, I’m fine, it’s going well, fine, same here)
Me: Oh right, I learned “bare bra.” …So what did I say?
Him: Hard to explain, but you basically said you’re good looking 😛
For a few months, whenever someone asked me how I was, my first reaction was always in my head, “I’m good looking!”