Norwegian Body Metaphors

Introduction

Idiomatic expressions using body parts are a fascinating aspect of the Norwegian language. They express various emotions, qualities, and situations through bodily metaphors. These expressions make the language richer and more vivid, creating strong visual images that are easily understood by others. For example, when someone says they “hear with half an ear,” you can easily imagine the situation and associate it with a lack of attention or indifference to what another person is saying.
In this article, we’ll look at several idiomatic expressions that include body parts and compare them with similar expressions in English. Let’s learn about body parts together and use them in the language!

The Head

The “head” is often associated with how smart or clever a person is:

But “head” can also be used to describe emotions like panic and nervousness:

The Eyes

There are many expressions with the word “eye” or “eyes” in the plural. They often deal with how we perceive something:

The Nose

“The nose” is used in various expressions and can mean different things:

Mouth and Tongue

Expressions containing the words “mouth” and “tongue” often relate to how we speak:

Fingers and Hands

Finally, “Fingers” and “hands” are often associated with ways of doing or creating something:

But these expressions can also describe what we can do with our fingers or hands literally:

To summarize

Metaphorical expressions are an important part of every language. Some expressions exist in many languages, while others are unique to one. If you want to learn more idiomatic expressions and use them actively in conversations with Norwegians, try our Norwegian courses.

They are designed to help you master the Norwegian language, whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your existing skills. In our conversation courses, you’ll have the opportunity to practice Norwegian in a relaxed and interactive setting, ideal for building confidence in everyday speech. For those preparing for the Norwegian language exam, we offer exam preparation courses. Whatever course you choose, you can expect a fun, engaging, and effective learning experience with us.

Written by Elena Povalikhina, Norwegian teacher at Alfaskolen.