pen
The English word 'pretty' can be translated into Norwegian as pen. Wiktionary also lists vakker.
Meaning: especially of women and children: pleasant, attractive (adj)
Ways to say it
| Norwegian |
|---|
| pen |
| vakker |
The term is used to describe someone, especially women and children, as being pleasant or attractive.
Which one should you use?
While pen means 'pretty', the form vakker is a stronger and more formal term meaning 'beautiful'.
Did you know?
- The word vakker shares an ancestral root with the English word 'wakeful', stemming from the Old Norse vakr, which meant 'awake' or 'vigilant'.
- The word pen can be used to describe a 'pretty' sum of money, meaning the amount is surprisingly large or significant.
- While pen is a common way to say 'pretty', it is also the standard Norwegian word for 'neat' or 'tidy' when describing a room or a person's handwriting.
Examples in context
- Tom syntes Mary var pen.Tom thought Mary was pretty.This sentence shows how to use pen to describe someone's appearance.Tatoeba #10940811 by Mayk, translation #2309390 by CK
- Kona hans er veldig pen.His wife is very pretty.This sentence demonstrates using pen with an intensifier to mean 'very pretty'.Tatoeba #14060360 by Mayk, translation #5831790 by Hybrid
- Eg kjøpte ein penn til ei pen jente.I bought a pen for a pretty girl.This sentence shows pen being used to describe a girl.Tatoeba #12629350 by Barend, translation #12629349 by Barend
- Marie er en veldig pen kvinne.Marie is a very pretty woman.
- Du har et pent hjem.You have a beautiful home.
- Maleriet er utrolig pent.The painting is incredibly pretty.
- Du ser veldig fin ut i den kjolen.You look very pretty in that dress.
- Hva synes du om den nye bilen min? Synes du den er fin?What do you think of my new car? Do you think it's pretty?
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Andreas and Nora are looking at a photo of Nora's niece.
- AndreasHvem er denne jenta på bildet?Who is this girl in the picture?
- NoraDet er niesen min, hun er veldig pen.That is my niece, she is very pretty.
- AndreasJa, hun ligner veldig på deg.Yes, she looks a lot like you.
- NoraTakk, det var snilt sagt!Thank you, that was kind of you to say!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pretty” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pen, vakker, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
