god sankthans
The English phrase "happy summer solstice" is translated into Norwegian as god sankthans.
While the literal astronomical term for the summer solstice is sommersolverv, the standard greeting used for the midsummer festivities is god sankthans.
Which one should you use?
While god sankthans is the standard greeting, you may also encounter other ways to express similar sentiments. God sommersolverv! is an informal way to say "Happy summer solstice!", and Ha en strålende sommersolverv! is an informal way to say "Have a brilliant summer solstice!"
How does it change in a sentence?
In the greeting god sankthans, the word god (good/happy) is an adjective that remains in its singular masculine form.
When do people say it?
The term Sankthans refers to the celebration of St. John's Eve, which is the traditional Norwegian way to celebrate the summer solstice period.
Did you know?
- Although the phrase refers to 'Saint John', most Norwegians celebrate this midsummer period with large bonfires called sankthansbål rather than religious ceremonies.
- Although god sankthans refers to the summer solstice, the phrase actually names a person: 'Saint Hans', a shortened version of 'Saint John the Baptist'.
Examples in context
- God sankthans til dere alle!Happy summer solstice to you all!
- Jeg vil ønske deg en god sankthans.I want to wish you a happy summer solstice.
- Tusen takk, og god sankthans til deg også!Thank you so much, and happy summer solstice to you too!
Example conversation
Nora and Magnus meet at a neighborhood garden party.
- NoraHei Magnus, god sankthans!Hi Magnus, happy summer solstice!
- MagnusTakk, Nora! Har du det hyggelig her?Thanks, Nora! Are you having a nice time here?
- NoraJa, det er veldig fint vær i dag.Yes, the weather is very nice today.
- MagnusDet er sant, la oss nyte kvelden.That is true, let us enjoy the evening.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries god, sankthans, CC BY-SA 4.0.
