hilsener
The Norwegian word for "greetings" is hilsener.
hilsener is used as a formal way of saying "hello".
Meaning: formal way of saying "hello" (intj)
Which one should you use?
While hilsener serves as a formal way to express greetings, you might encounter other expressions depending on the context. For example, God dag is used for "Good day", while Hallo is a more standard "Hello".
Did you know?
- While hilsener is used for 'greetings', you will rarely hear it used as a spoken greeting in person. It is almost exclusively reserved for the written sign-offs of formal letters or emails.
- In Norwegian culture, a formal greeting often involves a firm handshake and direct eye contact. Avoiding eye contact during the exchange of hilsener can be perceived as untrustworthy or disinterested.
- In very traditional or royal contexts, the phrase Vær hilset is used, meaning 'Be greeted'. This archaic form is virtually never heard in daily life but appears in historical texts and formal ceremonies.
Examples in context
- Hei! Hvordan går det?Hi! How are you?
- Hei! Det går bra, takk.Hi! I'm good, thank you.
- God kveld! Hyggelig å møte deg.Good evening! Nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Andreas and Ingrid are writing a formal email to a client together.
- AndreasHva skal vi skrive til slutt?What should we write at the end?
- IngridVi kan bruke vennlige hilsener.We can use friendly greetings.
- AndreasDet høres veldig profesjonelt ut.That sounds very professional.
- IngridJa, det passer perfekt her.Yes, it fits perfectly here.
