Business Norwegian Vocabulary You Must Know

Navigating the Norwegian professional landscape requires more than just conversational Norwegian; it demands a nuanced understanding of business-specific terminology. This article provides a comprehensive overview of essential business Norwegian vocabulary, structured to facilitate effective communication in a professional context.

Understanding the core lexicon of Norwegian business is paramount for effective communication. This section delves into essential terms that form the bedrock of professional interactions. Start your 1-to-1 private Norwegian class today.

A. Core Company Structure and Roles

Becoming familiar with how Norwegian companies are typically structured and the titles associated with key positions is crucial.

Selskap / Firma (Company / Firm): The overarching term for a business entity. Selskap is generally more formal than firma.
Aksjeselskap (AS) (Limited Company / PLC): The most common form of company in Norway, comparable to a Ltd. in the UK. Understanding its legal implications, such as limited liability for shareholders, is often assumed in business discussions.
Enkeltpersonforetak (ENK) (Sole Proprietorship): A business owned and run by one individual. This structure has different tax and liability implications compared to an AS.
Styre (Board of Directors): The governing body of a company. Discussions about styrets ansvar (the board’s responsibility) or styrevedtak (board decisions) are common.
Daglig leder (Managing Director / CEO): The head of daily operations, responsible for executing the board’s strategy. Often referred to simply as leder (leader/manager) in less formal contexts.
Avdelingsleder (Department Head): Manages a specific department or division within a company.
Ansatt (Employee): A person working for a company. Medarbeider (co-worker/collaborator) is often used interchangeably, sometimes with a slightly more positive or collaborative connotation.
Arbeidsgiver (Employer): The individual or organisation that employs people.
Konsulent (Consultant): An external expert brought in for specific projects or advice. Its widespread use in Norway reflects a flexible approach to specialised expertise.
Underleverandør (Subcontractor): A company or individual hired by a primary contractor to perform a specific part of a project.

B. Business Operations and Processes

A solid grasp of the terminology related to day-to-day business operations will enable you to follow and contribute to discussions about how a business functions.

Drift (Operations): Refers to the ongoing activities of a business. Driftskostnader (operating costs) and driftsinntekter (operating income) are key financial terms.
Prosjekt (Project): A specific undertaking with a defined start, end, and objectives. Project management is a highly valued skill, and you will encounter terms like prosjektleder (project manager) and prosjektplan (project plan).
Strategi (Strategy): The long-term plan formulated to achieve business objectives. Discussions often revolve around forretningsstrategi (business strategy) or markedsstrategi (market strategy).
Mål (Goal / Objective): Specific, measurable targets a company or individual aims to achieve. Måloppnåelse (achievement of goals) is a common performance metric.
Frist (Deadline): The specified time by which something must be completed. Adherence to frister is highly valued in Norwegian business culture.
Forhandling (Negotiation): The process of discussion to reach an agreement. Phrases like å forhandle om en avtale (to negotiate an agreement) are fundamental.
Møte (Meeting): A formal gathering of people to discuss matters. Understanding the purpose of a møte (e.g., styremøte – board meeting, statusmøte – status meeting) is important.
Agenda (Agenda): The list of items to be discussed at a meeting. Sette opp en agenda (to set up an agenda) is a common pre-meeting task.
Referat (Minutes): A written record of what was discussed and decided at a meeting. It is often circulated after the meeting for review and approval.
Rapport (Report): A document that presents information in an organised format for a specific audience and purpose. Å skrive en rapport (to write a report) is a frequent task.

II. Financial and Economic Vocabulary

Financial literacy in Norwegian extends beyond personal finance. This section covers terms crucial for understanding company performance, budgets, and the broader economic landscape.

A. Company Finance and Accounting

Discussions about a company’s financial health and performance are central to business.

Budsjett (Budget): A financial plan for a defined period, detailing anticipated income and expenditure. Å overholde budsjettet (to adhere to the budget) is a key performance indicator.
Regnskap (Accounts / Accounting): The systematic recording, analysing, and summarising of financial transactions. Regnskapstall (accounting figures) are regularly scrutinised.
Resultat (Result / Profit): The financial outcome of a period, specifically the difference between income and expenses. Positivt resultat (profit) and negativt resultat (loss) are critical terms.
Omsetning (Revenue / Turnover): The total amount of money generated by a company’s sales of goods or services during a given period. It is distinct from profitt (profit).
Kostnad (Cost / Expense): The money spent or required for something. Faste kostnader (fixed costs) and variable kostnader (variable costs) are important differentiations.
Inntekt (Income / Revenue): Money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments.
Utgift (Expenditure / Expense): The action of spending funds. Often used interchangeably with kostnad.
Investering (Investment): An asset or item acquired with the goal of generating income or appreciation. Kapitalinvestering (capital investment) is a specific type.
Likviditet (Liquidity): The availability of cash to a market or company. A company with god likviditet (good liquidity) can meet its short-term obligations.
Gjeld (Debt): Money owed by one party to another. Langvarig gjeld (long-term debt) and kortsiktig gjeld (short-term debt) have different implications.
Skatt (Tax): A compulsory contribution to state revenue, levied by the government on workers’ income and business profits. Bedriftsskatt (corporate tax) is a major consideration.
MVA (Merverdiavgift) (VAT – Value Added Tax): A consumption tax added to the price of most goods and services. Understanding its application is vital for billing and pricing.

B. Broader Economic Indicators

Understanding macroeconomic terms allows for a broader perspective on the business environment within Norway.

Økonomi (Economy): The system by which goods and services are produced, distributed, and consumed within a particular country. Norsk økonomi (Norwegian economy).
Vekst (Growth): An increase in size or amount, particularly in an economic context. Økonomisk vekst (economic growth) is a key indicator of prosperity.
Inflasjon (Inflation): A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.
Arbeidsledighet (Unemployment): The state of being jobless. Arbeidsledighetstall (unemployment figures) are closely watched.
Rente (Interest Rate): The proportion of a loan that is charged as interest to the borrower, typically expressed as an annual percentage. Styringsrenten (the policy interest rate set by Norges Bank) significantly impacts business financing.
Olje (Oil): A crucial element of the Norwegian economy. Discussions about oljepris (oil price) and oljeinntekter (oil revenues) are frequent and significant.
Norges Bank (Central Bank of Norway): The central bank responsible for monetary policy and financial stability. Its decisions on rente have broad economic ramifications.

III. Sales, Marketing, and Customer Relations

These areas are critical for any business’s success, and proficiency in the associated vocabulary is essential for professionals in these fields.

A. Sales and Business Development

Familiarity with sales-specific language is paramount for those involved in revenue generation.

Salg (Sales): The activity or business of selling products or services. Salgstall (sales figures) are a common metric.
Kunde (Customer / Client): A person or organisation that buys goods or services from a business. Kundefokus (customer focus) is a common business principle.
Marked (Market): The area or arena in which commercial dealings are conducted. Norsk marked (Norwegian market).
Konkurrent (Competitor): A person or company striving for the same objective or for superiority in the same field as another. Konkurranse (competition).
Produkt (Product): An article or substance that is manufactured or refined for sale.
Tjeneste (Service): The action of helping or doing work for someone. Many Norwegian companies operate in the service sector.
Tilbud (Offer / Quote): A proposal or tender for a contract. Also, et godt tilbud (a good deal).
Avtale (Agreement / Contract): A formal decision or understanding between two or more parties. Signing an avtale is a significant step.
Leveranse (Delivery / Handover): The action of delivering something. Leveringstid (delivery time) is a key factor in logistics.
Forretningsutvikling (Business Development): The creation of long-term value for an organisation from customers, markets, and relationships.

B. Marketing and Branding

Understanding how businesses promote themselves and build their identity is vital.

Markedsføring (Marketing): The action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.
Reklame (Advertising / Ad): A notice or announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service, or event.
Merkevare (Brand): A type of product manufactured by a particular company under a particular name. Merkebygging (brand building).
Målgruppe (Target Group / Audience): The particular group of people at whom a product or message is aimed.
Kampanje (Campaign): A planned series of activities intended to achieve a particular result, often in marketing.
Sosiale medier (Social Media): Websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. Crucial for modern marketing.
Innhold (Content): The material contained within a website or other medium, particularly relevant in innholdsmarkedsføring (content marketing).
Omdømme (Reputation): The beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something. Godt omdømme (good reputation) is a valuable asset.

IV. Legal and Administrative Contexts

The Norwegian legal and administrative framework is highly structured. Understanding related vocabulary is crucial for compliance and smooth operations.

A. Legal Framework

Navigating contracts, regulations, and legal advice requires specific terminology.

Lov (Law / Act): A rule established by a governing authority to regulate behaviour. Arbeidsmiljøloven (the Working Environment Act) is fundamental for employers and employees.
Forskrifter (Regulations): Rules or orders issued by an authority, implementing a law.
Kontrakt (Contract): A written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.
Avtale (Agreement): While similar to kontrakt, avtale can be less formal, though still legally binding.
Søknad (Application): A formal request for something, such as a job or a permit. Å sende inn en søknad (to submit an application).
Tillatelse / Konsesjon (Permit / License): Official permission to do something. Many industries require specific tillatelser.
Personvern (Data Privacy / GDPR): The protection of personal data. Norway implements GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), so understanding personvernforordningen (GDPR regulation) is critical.
Ansvar (Responsibility / Liability): The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone. Juridisk ansvar (legal liability).
Rettigheter (Rights): Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement. Arbeidsrettigheter (employee rights).
Plikter (Duties / Obligations): A moral or legal obligation; a responsibility. Arbeidsgivers plikter (employer’s duties).
Registrering (Registration): The action or process of registering or being registered. Businesses must undergo foretaksregistrering (company registration).

B. Administrative Processes and Bureaucracy

Dealing with official bodies and internal administrative tasks requires specific language.

Offentlig sektor (Public Sector): The part of the economy concerned with providing basic government services. Distinct from privat sektor (private sector).
Stat (State / Government): The organised political community under one government.
Kommune (Municipality): A local government unit in Norway. Many permits and local regulations fall under kommunen.
Blankett / Skjema (Form): A document with blank spaces for information to be inserted. Filling out skjemaer is a common administrative task.
Saksbehandler (Case Officer / Administrator): An official responsible for processing a case or application.
Fakturering (Invoicing / Billing): The process of preparing and issuing invoices. Faktura (invoice).
Leverandør (Supplier): A person or company that supplies goods or services.
Innlevering (Submission): The act of presenting something for approval or consideration. Innleveringsfrist (submission deadline).
Godkjenning (Approval): The action of sanctioning something. Få godkjenning (to get approval).

V. Workplace Communication and Culture

Norwegian Term	English Translation	Category	Usage Example
Avtale	Agreement	Contracts	Vi har inngått en avtale med leverandøren.
Faktura	Invoice	Finance	Fakturaen må betales innen 30 dager.
Markedsføring	Marketing	Business Operations	Markedsføring er viktig for å øke salget.
Resultatregnskap	Income Statement	Accounting	Resultatregnskapet viser selskapets overskudd.
Leverandør	Supplier	Supply Chain	Vi har en pålitelig leverandør av råvarer.
Investering	Investment	Finance	Investering i teknologi øker effektiviteten.
Ansatt	Employee	Human Resources	Vi har 50 ansatte i selskapet.
Forretningsplan	Business Plan	Strategy	En god forretningsplan er nøkkelen til suksess.
Omsetning	Turnover	Finance	Omsetningen økte med 10% i fjor.
Kontrakt	Contract	Legal	Kontrakten må signeres før prosjektstart.

Norwegian workplace culture values direct, yet polite, communication, consensus-building, and transparency. Mastering the vocabulary in this section will help you navigate professional interactions effectively.

A. Professional Interaction and Etiquette

While specific phrases may vary, understanding the underlying principles of communication is key.

Kollegialt (Collegial): Characterised by or having authority vested equally in each of a number of colleagues. Emphasises peer collaboration.
Samarbeid (Collaboration / Cooperation): The action of working with someone to produce something. Godt samarbeid (good collaboration) is highly valued.
Tillit (Trust): Firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. Bygge tillit (to build trust).
Tilbakemelding (Feedback): Information about reactions to a product, a person’s performance of a task, etc., used as a basis for improvement. Giving and receiving konstruktiv tilbakemelding (constructive feedback) is common.
Konsensus (Consensus): General agreement. Norwegian decision-making often aims for konsensus.
Effektivitet (Efficiency): The state or quality of being efficient. Øke effektiviteten (to increase efficiency).
Profesjonell (Professional): Relating to or belonging to a profession. Exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace.
Respekt (Respect): A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. Showing respekt is fundamental.
Åpenhet (Openness / Transparency): The quality of being open, honest, and direct. Norwegian business culture highly values åpenhet.
Ansvarlig (Responsible): Having an obligation to do something, or having control over or care for someone, as part of one’s job or role.

B. Internal Communication and Development

Conversations around internal processes, training, and personal growth are typical.

Faglig utvikling (Professional Development): The process of improving and increasing capabilities through access to education and training opportunities.
Kurs (Course / Training): A series of lessons or lectures on a particular subject. Many companies offer interne kurs (internal courses).
Opplæring (Training / Instruction): The action of teaching a person a particular skill or type of behaviour.
Kompetanse (Competence / Expertise): The ability to do something successfully or efficiently. Øke kompetansen (to increase competence).
Karrierevei (Career Path): A sequence of jobs that constitute a person’s career.
Medarbeidersamtale (Performance Review / Appraisal): A formal discussion between an employee and their manager, typically held annually, to review performance and objectives.
Personalpolitikk (HR Policy / Personnel Policy): The rules and regulations governing employees within an organisation.
HMS (Helse, Miljø og Sikkerhet) (HSE – Health, Safety, and Environment): A critical area in Norwegian workplaces. Understanding HMS-tiltak (HSE measures) is often mandatory.
Permisjon (Leave of Absence): Official permission to be away from work. Includes foreldrepermisjon (parental leave) and sykefravær (sick leave), which are important aspects of Norwegian labour law.
Pensjon (Pension): A regular payment made during a person’s retirement from an investment fund to which that person or their employer has contributed.

To truly master this comprehensive vocabulary and confidently apply it in a professional Norwegian context, continuous practice and tailored instruction are invaluable. The NLS Norwegian Language School in Oslo offers private 1-to-1 courses that are exceptionally well-suited for individuals preparing for job applications in Norway. These customised courses provide an intense and focused learning experience, allowing you to concentrate specifically on business Norwegian terminology, interview preparation, and the nuances of professional communication. With a dedicated instructor, you can rapidly enhance your linguistic proficiency and strategic communication skills, turning potentially unfamiliar corporate jargon into second nature. This direct, personalised approach acts as a linguistic compass, guiding you through the intricacies of Norwegian business language and significantly strengthening your candidacy for employment in the Norwegian professional sphere.

Need help fast? Try our 1-to-1 Private Classes