hvithval
masculine
The Norwegian word for beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) is hvithval. Wiktionary also lists kvitkval.
Meaning: Delphinapterus leucas (noun)
Ways to say it
| Norwegian | Note |
|---|---|
| hvithval | masculine |
| kvitkval | masculine |
Which one should you use?
hvithval is the standard form, while kvitkval is a dialectal variation.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both hvithval and kvitkval are masculine nouns.
Did you know?
- The word hvithval can also refer to the 'white whale' from Herman Melville's 'Moby Dick' in many Norwegian translations.
- In Norway, the word kval is used as a broad category for all cetaceans, meaning dolphins and porpoises are linguistically grouped as 'whales' alongside the hvithval.
- While English uses 'beluga' from a Russian loanword, Norwegian uses a descriptive compound hvithval which literally means 'white whale'.
Examples in context
- En hvithval svømmer i havet.A beluga swims in the ocean.
- Jeg så en hvithval på TV.I saw a beluga on TV.
- Er den hvithvalen veldig stor?Is that beluga very large?
Example conversation
At the aquarium.
- KristofferSe på den hvithvalen!Look at that beluga!
- SofieDen er så utrolig søt, Kristoffer.It is so incredibly cute, Kristoffer.
- KristofferHvor er den fra?Where is it from?
- SofieDen kommer fra det kalde Arktis.It comes from the cold Arctic.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “beluga” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
