Ways to say it
| Norwegian | IPA |
|---|---|
| hei | /hæɪ/ |
| heisan |
The word hei is the most common and standard way to say hello in Norwegian. It serves as a friendly, informal greeting.
Which one should you use?
While hei is the standard informal greeting, heisan is a more casual, upbeat and colloquial variation often translated as "hi there" or "hi ya".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hei is the standard informal way to say hello. For a more casual and colloquial feel, you can use heisan. For everyday informal use, hallo or the friendly hei hei are also common. If you need to be formal, use god dag (good day) or god kveld (good evening, used from the late afternoon onwards).
How do you pronounce it?
/hæɪ/
When do people say it?
When greeting someone in Norway, hei is your most reliable tool for a standard, friendly hello. In more relaxed settings among friends, you might hear hei hei.
Did you know?
- The Norwegian word hei is a linguistic relative of the English word 'heath' which refers to an open area of land.
- In Norway, saying hei hei twice is not just for emphasis but is a common way to signal a friendly and casual departure as well as an arrival.
- The word hallo is sometimes used instead of hei specifically when answering the phone, even if the speaker knows exactly who is calling.
Examples in context
- Hei, John. – Jeg er ikke John."Hi, John." "I'm not John."This example shows how to use hei when addressing someone by name.Tatoeba #10941268 by Mayk, translation #2098926 by gleki
- Hei!Hi!This example demonstrates using hei as a standalone greeting.Tatoeba #12466172 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #2742244 by MTC
- Hei, far.Hi, Father.This example shows using hei to greet a family member.Tatoeba #10940657 by Mayk, translation #1802387 by AsliAbbasi
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofie and Kristoffer see each other on the street.
- SofieHei, Kristoffer!Hi, Kristoffer!
- KristofferHei, Sofie.Hi, Sofie.
- SofieHvordan går det?How are you?
- KristofferDet går bra, takk.It's going well, thanks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hi” translations and entries hei, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hei, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
