sølv
neuter
In Norwegian, the word for silver is sølv. Wiktionary also lists sylv.
Meaning: metal (noun)
Ways to say it
| Norwegian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| sølv | neuter | |
| sylv | /sʏlv/ /sʏɽv/ |
neuter |
The word refers to the metal. If you wish to describe an object that has a color like silver, use the adjective sølvfarget instead of the noun.
Which one should you use?
sølv refers specifically to the metal itself, while sølvfarget is used to describe the color of an object.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The form sølv is used in the Bokmål written standard, while the form sylv is used in the Nynorsk written standard.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both sølv and sylv are neuter nouns. In Nynorsk, the word for silverware is written as sylvtøy.
Did you know?
- In Norwegian folklore, sølv was believed to protect people and livestock from trolls and evil spirits, which is why silver charms were common.
- Norway has a long tradition of sølje, which are elaborate, ornate silver brooches used in traditional folk costumes called bunad.
- The word sølv is closely related to the English word 'silver', as both descend from the same Proto-Germanic root *silubrą.
Examples in context
- Det er ikkje sylv.That's not silver.The first sentence shows how to use sylv in a negative statement.Tatoeba #12494694 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #10013884 by shekitten
- Er dette ekte sylv?Is this real silver?The second sentence is a way to ask if an item is made of real sylv.Tatoeba #12494693 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #5078443 by Lindoula
- Dette er ikkje sylv.This isn't silver.The third sentence uses sylv to state that something is not silver.Tatoeba #12494692 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #1946303 by CM
- Jeg kjøpte en boks i sølv.I bought a box made of silver.
- Hun kjøpte seg en sølvfarget bil.She bought herself a silver-colored car.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nora and Andreas are looking at jewelry in a shop.
- NoraEr dette ekte sølv?Is this real silver?
- AndreasJa, det er rent sølv.Yes, it is pure silver.
- NoraDet er et vakkert smykke.It is a beautiful piece of jewelry.
- AndreasDet passer deg veldig godt.It suits you very well.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “silver” translations and entries sølv, sylv, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sølv, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
