lenge siden sist
The English phrase "long time no see" is translated into Norwegian as lenge siden sist. If unsure, use lenge siden sist. Wiktionary also lists lenge sidan sist.
Meaning: idiomatic: I (or we) have not seen you for a long time (intj)
Ways to say it
| Norwegian |
|---|
| lenge siden sist |
| lenge sidan sist |
This phrase is used as a friendly greeting when encountering someone you haven't seen in a significant amount of time.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression lenge siden sist literally translates to "long since last".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain areas of Eastern Norway, you may encounter the regional expression Lenge sia me sågast!, which means "Long time since we saw each other!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is an elliptical expression and does not require a subject or a verb to function as a greeting.
Did you know?
- The word sist is the superlative form of the Old Norse word for 'late', meaning it literally describes the 'latest' time you met.
- Norwegians often pair lenge siden sist with a physical hug or a brief hand-shake, depending on the level of intimacy.
- In the regional expression Lenge sia me sågast!, the verb sågast is a reciprocal form of 'to see', specifically meaning 'saw each other'.
Examples in context
- Det var lenge siden sist.It has been a long time since we last saw each other.
- Hei, lenge siden sist!Hi, long time no see!
- Det er jo lenge siden sist du var her.It has been a long time since you were here.
Example conversation
Sofie and Jakob run into each other at a cafe.
- SofieHei Jakob, lenge siden sist!Hi Jakob, long time no see!
- JakobJa, det var lenge siden sist, Sofie.Yes, it has been a long time, Sofie.
- SofieHvordan har du det?How are you doing?
- JakobJeg har det bra, takk.I am doing well, thanks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “long time no see” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lenge, sidan, siden, sist, CC BY-SA 4.0.
