vel bekomme
/ˈʋɛl bəˈkɔmːə/
In Norwegian, the phrase used to say "bon appétit" is vel bekomme. Wiktionary also lists spis godt and håper det smaker.
Meaning: used to wish someone enjoyment of the meal they are about to eat (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Norwegian | IPA |
|---|---|
| vel bekomme | /ˈʋɛl bəˈkɔmːə/ |
| spis godt | |
| håper det smaker |
These phrases are used to wish someone enjoyment of the meal they are about to eat. håper det smaker is specifically used by the person who prepared the food to express the hope that the guests enjoy the taste.
Which one should you use?
vel bekomme is a formal and slightly old-fashioned way to wish someone a good meal. In contrast, spis godt and håper det smaker are also used, with the latter being the typical choice for a cook addressing their guests.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʋɛl bəˈkɔmːə/
Did you know?
- While English uses the French 'bon appétit', the Norwegian phrase vel bekomme literally wishes that the food 'agrees well' with the person eating it.
- In the phrase håper det smaker, the word smaker means 'tastes', but it is used without an adjective like 'good' because the positive meaning is implied.
- Unlike the English 'bon appétit' which is a command or wish for appetite, the Norwegian spis godt is a direct instruction to 'eat well'.
Examples in context
- Nyt matenEnjoy your meal
- Kos degEnjoy yourself
Example conversation
Ingrid is serving dinner to Kristoffer.
- IngridMaten er klar, Kristoffer!The food is ready, Kristoffer!
- KristofferTakk, Ingrid. Det lukter kjempegodt.Thanks, Ingrid. It smells great.
- IngridVel bekomme!Enjoy your meal!
- KristofferTakk skal du ha.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bon appétit” translations and entries vel bekomme, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bekomme, det, håper det smaker, vel, vel bekomme, CC BY-SA 4.0.
