vel bekomme
/ˈʋɛl bəˈkɔmːə/
The Norwegian phrase for "enjoy your meal" is vel bekomme.
vel bekomme is used to wish someone a pleasant dining experience before they start eating. While it can function as a wish after food has been served, it is most commonly used as a polite response to someone saying takk for maten (thanks for the food).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "well received" or "may it be well received".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʋɛl bəˈkɔmːə/
When do people say it?
When someone says vel bekomme to you, a common and polite way to respond is simply to say takk (thanks).
Did you know?
- While English speakers say 'enjoy your meal', the Norwegian vel bekomme focuses on how the food 'agrees with' or 'suits' the body of the person eating.
- The word bekomme is a distant cousin of the English word 'become', as both share roots in the Proto-Germanic idea of 'coming to' a certain state.
- If you use vel bekomme to mean 'you are welcome' in a different context, like after someone says 'thank you', you are using a single phrase that covers both 'enjoy your meal' and 'you're welcome'.
Example conversation
Ingrid serves dinner to Magnus at the table.
- IngridHer er middagen, Magnus. Vel bekomme!Here is dinner, Magnus. Enjoy your meal!
- MagnusTusen takk, Ingrid!Thank you very much, Ingrid!
- IngridSer det godt ut?Does it look good?
- MagnusJa, det ser kjempegodt ut.Yes, it looks great.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry vel bekomme, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bekomme, vel, vel bekomme, CC BY-SA 4.0.
