faen
In Norwegian, the word for damn is faen.
faen is used as an interjection to express contempt. While it is often translated as damn, it is actually quite strong in Norwegian and is often closer in intensity to the English word fuck. You can also use the phrase faen ta deg to direct anger or contempt specifically at a person.
Meaning: non-vulgar expression of contempt etc. (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
faen is a shortened form of fanden, which literally means the devil.
Which one should you use?
Depending on the intensity of your emotion or the social situation, you might choose different words. faen is a strong, informal expression. If you want to express surprise or frustration more mildly, you can use dæven, which is closer to damn or gosh. For a much softer, non-vulgar way to express shock or disbelief, use du verden, which translates to my goodness or oh my.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
faen is an informal and strong word. In situations where you want to be polite or avoid vulgarity, use du verden instead.
Did you know?
- The word faen likely shares a root with the Old Norse word fjándinn, meaning 'the enemy'.
- Because faen is derived from fanden, using it is technically a shorthand way of summoning 'the devil' as an interjection.
Examples in context
- Faen.Damn.This example shows the use of faen as a standalone interjection.Tatoeba #12465668 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #1078143 by keira_n
- Faen ta deg!Damn you!This example shows how to use faen to direct contempt at someone.Tatoeba #9295729 by Mayk, translation #1135061 by Thanuir
- Fy, søren! Glemte nøklene mine igjen!Damn! I forgot my keys again!
- Faen, jeg ødela telefonen min!Damn it, I broke my phone!
- Helvete, bilen min nektet å starte!Damn it, my car refused to start!
- Faen, dette er vanskelig!Damn, this is difficult!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nora and Kristoffer are looking for their car keys.
- NoraHvor er nøklene? Jeg finner dem ikke.Where are the keys? I can't find them.
- KristofferDe lå på bordet i stad.They were on the table a moment ago.
- NoraFaen, vi kommer til å komme for sent!Damn, we are going to be late!
- KristofferSlapp av, Nora. Jeg har dem her.Relax, Nora. I have them here.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries faen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
