Norsk 101: På isen (On the ice)

Language practice with Christie Ericson

Photo: Lars Kastilan / Colourbox
Norwegians may be born with skis on their feet, but many also enjoy ice skating.

Det sies gjerne at (It is often said that) nordmenn er født med ski på beina (Norwegians are born with skis on their feet). Nordmenn er også veldig flinke i (Norwegians also very good at) andre vinteraktiviteter (other winter activities) som skøyteidrett (such as ice skating). Hurtigløp (Speed skating), kortbaneløp (short-track racing) og kunstløp (figure skating) er populære idretter i Norge (are popular sports in Norway).

Hvis isen er trygg (If the ice is safe), går mange nordmenn på skøyter (many Norwegians go skating) på innsjøer og elver (on lakes and rivers). Det finnes også mange skøytebaner (There are also many ice skating rinks) rundt om i landet (around the country), både innendørs og utendørs (both indoors and outdoors). 

En populær skøytebane (A popular ice skating rink) i Oslo sentrum er (in central Oslo is) «Spikersuppa». Spikersuppa er en gratis skøytebane (is a free ice skating rink) på Eidsvolls plass (at Eidsvoll Square) mellom Stortinget (between the parliament) og Nationaltheatret (and the National Theater). I 1950-årene (In the 1950s) ble et speilbasseng anlagt (a reflecting pool was built) på Eidsvolls plass (at Eidsvoll Square). 

Bassenget ble bekostet av (The pool was funded by) Christiania Spigerverk (Christiania Nail Factory) og det fikk tilnavnet (and it was nicknamed) «Spikersuppa» (nail soup), etter et folkeeventyr (after a folk tale). I dette eventyret (In this fairy tale), skal en fant lære (a vagabond will teach) en gjerrig kjerring (a miserly old woman) å koke suppe på en spiker (to make “nail soup”), men han narrer henne (but he tricks her) til å finne frem gode ting å ha oppi (into finding good things to put in it). Uttrykket (The expression) «å koke suppe på en spiker» (to make nail soup) betyr (means) “to make something out of nothing” på engelsk (in English). 

I 1994, under OL på Lillehammer (In 1994, during the Olympics in Lillehammer), ble det anlagt en isbane i bassenget (an ice rink was built in the pool). Det var en stor suksess (It was a great success), og hver vinter (and every winter) blir bassenget islagt til skøytebane (the pool is frozen over for an ice skating rink). Å gå på skøyter (Skating) er en morsom vinteraktivitet (is a fun winter activity) for hele familien (for the whole family). Du kan ta med dine egne skøyter (You can bring your own skates), eller leie skøyter (or rent skates). Med musikk og lys (With music and lights), tilbyr Spikersuppa skøytebane en koselig stemning (Spikersuppa ice skating rink offers a cozy atmosphere) for store og små (for young and old).

This article originally appeared in the January 2023 issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.

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Christie Ericson

Christie Ericson is an academic librarian living in Anchorage, Alaska. She has a background in languages and linguistics and has been fulfilling her lifelong dream of learning the Norwegian language. She also serves as the cultural director and librarian at her local Sons of Norway lodge and is completely addicted to Selbu mitten knitting.

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