Norwegian 101: Slik blir regnvær gøy! (In this way, the rainy weather becomes fun!)
Photo: Heidi Håvan Grosch
Rain boots for everyone!
Language practice with Heidi Håvan Grosch
When those fall storms come (høststormer kommer) and you start climbing the walls (du begunner å gå på veggene) it is time to get outside (komme seg ut). Fortunately (heldigvis), Norwegians really do believe (tror virkelig) there is no bad weather only bad clothes (det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær). Good rain clothes (godt regntøy) are a staple in every Norwegian closet (er en nødvendighet i alle norske klesskap). Adults (voksen) have rain pants (regnbukser), rain coats (regnjakker) and every small child has a one-piece rainsuit (regndress) as they play outside (de leker ute) every day (hver dag) no matter what (uansett). And it goes without saying (tar det som en selvfølge) that to be a true Norwegian (ekte norsk), you have to own (du må eie) at least (ikke minst) one pair (et par) of rubber boots (gummistøvler).
A poem for a rainy day (et dikt for et regnful dag):
Regn (Rain)
by Sigbjørn Obstfelder (1866-1900)
En er en, og to er to-
vi hopper i vann,
vi triller i sand.
Sikk, sakk,
vi drypper på tak,
tikk, takk,
det regner i dag.
Regn, regn, regn, regn,
øsende regn,
pøsende regn,
regn, regn, regn, regn,
deilig og vått,
deilig og rått!
En er en, og to er to-
vi hopper i vann,
vi triller i sand.
Sikke, sakk,
vi drypper på tak,
tikk, takk,
det regner i dag.
One is one, and two is two-
We hop in the water
We roll in the sand
Sikk, sakk (zig zag)
We drip on the ceiling
Tick tock
It’s raining today
Rain, rain, rain, rain
pouring rain,
dumping rain,
rain, rain, rain, rain,
delicious and wet,
delicious and raw!
One is one, and two is two-
We hop in the water
We roll in the sand
Sikk, sakk (zig zag)
We drip on the ceiling.
Tick tock
It’s raining today.
This article originally appeared in the Sept. 26, 2014 issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (800) 305-0271.
