Learn Bokmål or Nynorsk? Norway’s Language Question

Two official written Norwegians, no spoken standard

Legally, Norway has two equivalent written forms of the language: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Both standards are regulated by the Language Council of Norway (Språkrådet) and have equal status in official use, as stated in the 2021 Act relating to Language (Språkloven). However, Norway has no single official spoken language. There is no standard spoken accent that is considered "proper" or used in all circumstances.

Instead, Norwegians speak their own dialects, which are linguistically recognized throughout the country. Østnorsk (Eastern Norwegian) is spoken in and around Oslo, while Vestnorsk (Western Norwegian), Trøndersk (Trøndelag), and Nordnorsk (Northern) dominate their respective regions. These dialects, rather than Bokmål or Nynorsk, shape both everyday speech and the public discourse expressed by Norwegian politicians, journalists, and digital marketers. The educational system teaches reading and writing using written Norwegian, but students are encouraged to use their local dialects when speaking.

How Bokmål and Nynorsk came to be

Bokmål, meaning "book language," emerged from centuries of Norwegian–Danish union, during which Dano-Norwegian was the dominant written standard. Over the late 19th and 20th centuries, Bokmål underwent a gradual "Norwegianization" process to make it sound more Norwegian, although it is still based partly on Danish.

Fundamentally Norwegian language, Nynorsk ("new Norwegian") is a written standard based on the rural dialects originally spoken in Norway, especially the conservative western dialects. The linguist Ivar Aasen synthesized these dialect forms into a new, more Norwegian-influenced written language beginning in the 1850s. Although originally called "Landsmål" (pet-form of "landsmaal"--"language of the land"), it was later renamed "Nynorsk" in 1929.

Where each standard is used and who it serves

Bokmål predominates in urban Norway and is used by around 85–90% of Norwegian writers and in most institutions and media outlets. Nynorsk, on the other hand, is used by about 10–15% of the population, primarily in western rural areas, including regions of Rogaland, Hordaland (Bergen is the exception), Sogn og Fjordane, and Møre og Romsdal. However, Norway's language policy mandates that both Bokmål and Nynorsk be provided in parallel where possible, ensuring equal access in education, law, and government services in Norwegian.

What actually differs: grammar, spelling, vocabulary

While Bokmål and Nynorsk have enough in common that users can easily communicate in writing, there are a number of inherent differences. Educated learners should be aware of the sometimes subtle, sometimes pronounced differences between the two—again, Balkmål and Nynorsk are the official written standards, not spoken accents. The differences include:

• Phrases such as eg snakkar daarleg (Bokmål) ‘I speak poorly’ vs. jeg snakker dårlig (Nynorsk)
• jeg skal (Bokmål) ‘I will’ or ‘am going to’ vs. eg skal (Nynorsk)
• beskytte (Bokmål) ‘protext’ vs. verna (Nynorsk)
• boken (Bokmål) ‘the book’ vs. boka (Nynorsk) [utilizing the –en suffix and –a ending, respectively in forming definite singular forms]
• Bokmål elsker (love) vs. Nynorsk elskar (love)
• Bokmål katter/kattene vs. Nynorsk kattar/kattane (cats/the cats).

Dialects: the Norwegian you actually hear

While Bokmål and Nynorsk may dominate the written space, the spoken word in Norway is dominated by its dialect. Norwegian utilizes variations such as Østnorsk (Eastern Norwegian), Vestnorsk (Western Norwegian), Trøndersk (Trøndelag), and Nordnorsk (Northern). In fact, "no one speaks Bokmål or Nynorsk"—this is a mistake made even by Norwegian students in learning Norwegian, who wrongly believe they are writing in a spoken language.

For foreign learners, this awareness is crucial. While Bokmål and Nynorsk provide a standardized framework for written communication, the reality is that everyday speech in Norway aligns more closely with regional dialects. Even in formal contexts such as media and politics, the language used often reflects these dialectical variations rather than strictly adhering to the written standards.

Decision rules for learners: why most start with Bokmål

Despite Bokmål and Nynorsk's equal status, Bokmål is the go-to option for most learners. The primary reason is its widespread use in urban areas, particularly in Oslo, and its prevalence in national media and official communications. Beginner-level guides and resources frequently recommend starting with Bokmål, as it provides the most extensive exposure to Norwegian in its written form.

However, it's important for learners to understand that getting fluency in Bokmål does not imply fluency in everyday Norwegian. While Bokmål offers a solid foundation for understanding the written language, it does not guarantee ease of communication with Norwegians, all of whom speak in one dialect or another. Nynorsk, while less common, may appeal to those with an interest in the non-Danish-based side of Norwegian and in western Norway, its influence in various fields, like literature and rural life.

In summary, the choice between Bokmål and Nynorsk depends on individual learning goals and exposure. Bokmål serves as a practical starting point given its dominance in written Norwegian.