8 May 2025

False friends – how to avoid common language traps in Norwegian and Danish

A person is sitting in front of a computer. On the computer screen is the Språkbolaget logo. On the desk are small flags of Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

Have you heard of the concept of ”false friends” in the context of language?
It is not about people, but about words that seem familiar between different languages but actually mean completely different things. Knowing these words is crucial to avoid misunderstandings. Sometimes ”false friends” lead to comical situations, but in the worst case they can also entail serious consequences, especially in business communication and in official contexts.

In this post, we explain the concept of ”false friends” and give you some concrete examples of words you should be extra mindful of.

What are false friends in languages?

A false friend is a word that looks the same or sounds the same in two different languages, but has completely different meanings. Despite the superficial similarity, the words therefore lack a common meaning, which can create confusion for someone learning a new language or communicating across language borders. These words can be spelled the same way (homographs), sound the same (homophones) or be a combination of both (homonyms) – but must definitely not be confused with each other. 

The phenomenon is particularly common between closely related languages, such as between the Nordic languages, English and German. These languages share a historical origin and have many common linguistic features, which makes it easy to assume that similar words also carry similar meanings. But this very linguistic closeness can create a false sense of security. One thinks one understands – but misinterpretation lurks just beneath the surface. It is precisely for this reason that false friends often lead to misunderstandings, incorrect translations and comical or embarrassing situations in conversation.

Desk with a woman writing in a notepad. A laptop is on the desk and a pair of glasses are lying on a notepad nearby.
When two words look the same or are pronounced similarly in different languages but do not mean the same thing, they are called ”false friends”

Common false friends between Swedish and Danish/Norwegian

It is not unusual for a word to have the same meaning in Danish and Norwegian while meaning something completely different in Swedish. An example that most people probably know is the word funny. In Swedish, it means entertaining, whereas in Danish and Norwegian it means calm. A ”fun evening” is therefore something completely different in Swedish compared to our Nordic neighbours.

Perhaps less known is that a "kjole" in Denmark and Norway is what is called a "klänning" in Sweden, or that in Denmark people keep their dogs on a "snor" (meaning a leash). In Danish, "snor" (just like in Norwegian) also means string, but it is not what you have in your nose when you have a cold.

More examples of false friends between Swedish and Danish are:

  • Collar which means crow in Danish.
    And if you know the Danish expression ”krage søger mage”, you realise that we Swedes have got it a bit backwards with our ”kaka söker maka”. It should of course be ”kråka söker maka” (but that doesn't rhyme)!
  • Breakfast don't people eat in the morning in Denmark because it means lunch. What we in Sweden call breakfast is called instead breakfast.
  • Room in Danish it means space (but it can also be part of a building, just like in Swedish).
  • What we in Swedish call rum usually called room in Danish and should not be confused with Swedish creature.

Norwegian also has many tricky words that can cause misunderstandings. An example is the word artisan, which in Norwegian means nice hands funny, while the Swedish word artisan means being polite hands well-mannered. Of course, there are more examples of false friends between Swedish and Norwegian.

  • Mulled wine in Norwegian is not only a drink that is drunk at Christmas but can also mean quick hands smart.
  • One offer in Norwegian (or Danish) is not at all something terrible, but means offer in Swedish.
  • And if a Norwegian (or Dane) does not have occasion helping you, you shouldn't get cross – it just means that they haven't opportunity doing what you asked.
  • A Norwegian word that is very confusing for a Swede is cousin, because it means cousin. So it is the child of your parents' sibling. Completely logical!

Are there false friends in English or German?

Yes, of course English and German also have their linguistic pitfalls that can cause problems for us.

  • Term means term in both English and German, not leave like in Swedish.
  • To create even greater confusion, it means Appointment in German (and also Danish and Norwegian) a set time (due date). This can be used, for example, regarding a pregnancy. ”Barnet kom på termin” (The baby arrived at term) thus means that the baby was born on the due date.
  • To continue on the theme, it means barn in English barn and has nothing to do with babies.

Why do false friends arise?

False friends often arise for historical and cultural reasons, where languages share common roots but have developed in different directions. The fact that certain words are similar or almost identical in spelling and pronunciation, yet mean something completely different, is often due to the languages having a common ancestor language or a word being borrowed from a third language at different times and acquiring new meanings along the way. As in term , term stove.
Word term comes from Latin and means a six-month period. In 18th-century Sweden, it designated the right of officers to take an extended period of leave and thus came to acquire the meaning leave. And the word term means a specific time or period. In Swedish, this is interpreted more as time period whereas in Danish, Norwegian and German it is seen as a time. Both are clear examples of how the same word can develop in different directions and create linguistic confusion.

Tips for avoiding pitfalls with false friends

Being aware of false friends is a good first step to avoid linguistic misunderstandings. Here are some simple and effective tips:

  • Look up strange words. The Nordic equivalents of the SOED can be found at ordnet.dk , ordbokene.no.
  • If you often work with our Nordic neighbours, it can be a smart idea to create a list of common false friends that you come across.
  • Ask once more if you are unsure about the meaning of a certain word or expression.
Group photo showing the gesturing hands of two people. A third person's hand is holding a cup.
Being aware of why false friends arise can help you to better understand and avoid the most common mistakes in communication and translation.

Do you need help with translations into Danish and Norwegian?

At Språkbolaget, our translators are experts in handling the Nordic languages and are well acquainted with linguistic nuances, including false friends. We help your company ensure accurate, clear and effective translations every time.

Please feel free to contact us for advice or to get help with your next project to ensure that your message gets across without any misunderstandings.