heks
feminine, masculine
The English phrase "witch" is heks in Norwegian. Wiktionary also lists trollkjerring.
Meaning: person who uses magic (noun)
Ways to say it
| Norwegian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| heks | feminine, masculine | |
| trollkjerring | /tɾɔʎːçærːɪŋ/ | feminine |
A heks is a person who uses magic.
Which one should you use?
While heks is the standard term for a witch, trollkjerring is a more derogatory or colloquial term often used to describe an unpleasant or old woman, literally translating to "troll-woman/hag". Additionally, Trollkvinne means "Sorceress".
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of heks is hekser, which is also used in Norwegian folklore to refer to witches. To refer to a specific witch, use the definite form heksa in Bokmål. The definite plural form is heksene.
Did you know?
- In Norwegian folklore, a heks was often feared not just for magic, but for the ability to transform into other animals, a common theme in Scandinavian 'shape-shifting' stories.
- In many Norwegian dialects, the word kjerring is still used informally to mean 'wife' or 'partner', which can lead to confusion when using the term trollkjerring.
- The word heks is a cognate of the German word Hexe, showing that the term for a witch spread across Northern Europe through Low German trade languages.
Examples in context
- Ho er ei heks.She's a witch.This sentence is useful for saying "She's a witch." using heks.Tatoeba #12486862 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #5643829 by narnar
- Mary er ei heks.Mary is a witch.This sentence is useful for saying "Mary is a witch." using heks.Tatoeba #12486865 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #7367395 by Hybrid
- Ho er ei fæl heks.She's a nasty witch.Tatoeba #12486874 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #1445801 by human600
- Anna ser ut som en ekte heks med kostyme og alt.Anna looks like a real witch with her costume and all.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jakob and Ingrid are discussing a costume party.
- JakobHva skal du være på festen?What are you going to be at the party?
- IngridJeg skal kle meg ut som en heks.I am going to dress up as a witch.
- JakobHar du en hatt til heksen?Do you have a hat for the witch?
- IngridJa, jeg kjøpte en i går.Yes, I bought one yesterday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “witch” translations and entries heks, trollkjerring, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries heks, trollkjerring, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
