ikke tale om
The Norwegian phrase for "no way" (in the sense of absolutely not) is ikke tale om.
Ikke tale om is used to express an absolute refusal or a strong sense of "absolutely not".
Meaning: absolutely not (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ikke tale om literally translates to "not talk about".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ikke tale om is a more formal or slightly old-fashioned way to express this sentiment compared to common spoken alternatives. For a more informal way to express strong disbelief or refusal, you might use Aldri i livet, which translates to "never in my life".
Did you know?
- The word om in ikke tale om is a distant relative of the English prefix 'ambi-', as seen in 'ambidextrous'.
- Depending on the region, a speaker might use ikkje instead of ikke, which is the characteristic form used in the Nynorsk written standard.
- The word tale shares a common ancestor with the English word 'tell', though in ikke tale om it refers to the act of speaking or discussing.
Examples in context
- Aldri i livet!No way!
- Nei, så fantastisk! Jeg kan ikke tro at du vant konkurransen!No way! I can't believe you won the competition!
- Det er helt uaktuelt å hoppe fra den klippen! Det er for farlig!No way am I jumping off that cliff! It's too dangerous!
- Det er ikke tale om!That is out of the question!
- Det er ikke tale om å selge huset.There is absolutely no way we are selling the house.
Example conversation
Sofie asks Magnus if she can borrow his new car.
- SofieKan jeg låne bilen din i kveld, Magnus?Can I borrow your car tonight, Magnus?
- MagnusNei, det er ikke tale om det!No, there is absolutely no way!
- SofieHvorfor er du så streng, Sofie ber?Why are you being so strict, Sofie asks?
- MagnusDen bilen er altfor ny.That car is far too new.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ikke, om, tale, CC BY-SA 4.0.
