Daily life
Fødselsnummer
FURD-sels-noo-mer
Your eleven-digit national identity number, issued when you register a move to Norway for six months or more. The permanent version of the D-number.
D-nummer
DEE-noo-mer
A temporary identity number for people staying under six months. Usable for tax and pay, but many services treat it as second class.
BankID
bank-ee-DEE
Norway's electronic ID, issued by your bank. Required for tax, health services, public portals and most private accounts.
Fastlege
FAST-leh-geh
Your assigned regular GP. Every resident has one, and they are the gate to specialists, sick notes and referrals.
Budrunde
BOOD-roon-deh
The open bidding round for a property. Bids are legally binding once accepted and the whole thing often finishes in a single day.
Borettslag
BOR-etts-lahg
A housing cooperative. You own a share with an exclusive right to a flat, plus a proportion of the building's joint debt — check that debt before you bid.
Vinmonopolet
VEEN-moh-noh-poh-leh
The state alcohol monopoly. Anything above 4.7% is sold only here, at limited hours, and never on Sundays.
Emergency
Legevakt
LEH-geh-vakt
The out-of-hours emergency clinic. Call 116 117 first — it reaches the legevakt covering wherever you are.
110 / 112 / 113
—
Norway splits its emergency numbers: 110 fire, 112 police, 113 ambulance. 112 also works as the EU number but the direct lines are faster.
Social
Dugnad
DOOG-nahd
Communal voluntary work — your building's spring clean, the sports club's maintenance day. Turning up is socially expected, not optional.
Culture
Allemannsretten
AL-eh-mans-retten
The right to roam. You may walk, ski and camp on uncultivated land almost anywhere, including private property, subject to distance and courtesy rules.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.