bestevenn
also, masculine, separable
The English phrase "best friend" is translated into Norwegian as bestevenn. Wiktionary also lists bestevenninne and besteven.
Meaning: an especially close and trusted friend (noun)
Ways to say it
| Norwegian | Note |
|---|---|
| bestevenn | also, masculine, separable |
| bestevenninne | feminine |
| besteven | also, masculine, separable |
| besteveninne | feminine |
The term refers to an especially close and trusted friend.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of beste (best) and venn (friend).
Which one should you use?
Use bestevenn for male friends or as a general gender-neutral term. If you are specifically referring to a female best friend, use bestevenninne or besteveninne. Besteven is an alternative, slightly more old-fashioned or poetic form of bestevenn.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of bestevenn is bestevenner. To say "the best friend" using the masculine form, add the definite suffix -en to create bestevennen.
Did you know?
- In Norway, the social concept of 'friendship' is often viewed as a high-threshold commitment, meaning one might have many acquaintances but only a very small number of bestevenner.
- In some Norwegian dialects, people might use the word kompis to mean a close friend, which is a much more informal and slang-oriented way to describe a 'best friend' than bestevenn.
- The word venn shares a common Germanic root with the English word 'friend', meaning they are distant linguistic cousins.
Examples in context
- Du er min beste venn.You are my best friend.
- Jeg vil være din bestevenn.I want to be your best friend.
- Er han din bestevenn?Is he your best friend?
Example conversation
Sofie and Jakob are talking about their childhood friends in a cafe.
- SofieHar du en bestevenn fra barndommen?Do you have a best friend from childhood?
- JakobJa, han er min bestevenn.Yes, he is my best friend.
- SofieDet er hyggelig å høre.That is nice to hear.
- JakobHvem er din bestevenn, Sofie?Who is your best friend, Sofie?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “best friend” translations and entries bestevenn, bestevenninne, besteven, besteveninne, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries besteven, besteveninne, bestevenn, bestevenninne, CC BY-SA 4.0.
