bokmål
/ˈbuːkmoːɽ/neuter
bokmål is the Norwegian word for the language name Bokmål.
bokmål refers to one of the two official written standards of the Norwegian language.
Meaning: language (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of bok (book) and mål (language/speech), literally meaning "book language".
Which one should you use?
In Norway, there are two official written standards: bokmål and nynorsk (New Norwegian).
How does it change in a sentence?
As a neuter noun, the definite form of the word is bokmålet (the bokmål).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbuːkmoːɽ/
Did you know?
- The word bokmål is a direct descendant of the Old Norse bókamál, which was used specifically to refer to 'Latin'.
- The division between bokmål and nynorsk is so ingrained that some Norwegians use their choice of written standard as a subtle indicator of their political or regional identity.
- For centuries, Norway did not have its own written standard and instead used Danish. bokmål evolved as a way to move the written language closer to the actual speech of the people.
Examples in context
- Snakker du vanlig bokmål, eller har du din egen vri?Do you speak regular Bokmål, or do you have your own variation?
- Bokmål er et norsk skriftspråk.Bokmål is a Norwegian written language.
- Jeg lærer meg bokmål på skolen.I am learning bokmål at school.
- Er bokmål vanskelig å skrive?Is bokmål difficult to write?
Example conversation
Emma and Kristoffer are discussing their language classes.
- EmmaHvilken språkform studerer du, Kristoffer?Which language form are you studying, Kristoffer?
- KristofferJeg studerer bokmål akkurat nå.I am studying Bokmål right now.
- EmmaEr bokmål vanskelig å lære?Is Bokmål difficult to learn?
- KristofferNei, jeg synes det er ganske enkelt.No, I think it is quite simple.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bokmål” translations and entries bokmål, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bokmål, CC BY-SA 4.0.
