kjære
The English phrase "dear" translates to Norwegian as kjære.
kjære is used to describe someone who is loved or lovable. It is commonly used to express closeness and affection between friends, siblings or partners.
Meaning: loved, lovable (adj)
Which one should you use?
While kjære is used for loved ones, in very casual digital communication like texting, Norwegians often omit a formal salutation entirely or use more casual terms like hei instead of kjære.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form kjære is used for all plural nouns, regardless of gender.
Did you know?
- While kjære means 'dear', the word for 'expensive' is dyr. In English, 'dear' can mean both, but in Norwegian, these two meanings are completely separate words.
- To say 'dear me' or 'my goodness' in an old-fashioned way, Norwegians might use kjære vene.
- If you use kjæresten instead of kjære, you are no longer just saying 'dear' but are explicitly referring to your 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend'.
Examples in context
- Kjære respekterte gjester, velkommen til vår årlige konferanse.Dear respected guests, welcome to our annual conference.
- Hei kjære venn, det var godt å se deg igjen!Hi dear friend, it was great to see you again!
- Hei kjære du, hvordan har dagen din vært?Hi dear, how has your day been?
- Hei skatt, hva har du lyst til å gjøre i dag?Hi treasure, what would you like to do today?
- Han er en kjære sjel.He is a dear soul.
Example conversation
Nora and Jakob are saying goodbye.
- NoraHa det bra, min kjære Jakob.Goodbye, my dear Jakob.
- JakobHa det bra, kjære Nora.Goodbye, dear Nora.
- NoraVi ses snart igjen.We will see each other soon again.
- JakobJeg gleder meg.I am looking forward to it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kjære, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
