Nynorsk
Learn Nynorsk — Western Norway's written standard
What is Nynorsk?
Norway has two official written standards: Bokmal and Nynorsk. You are learning Bokmal, which is used by about 90% of Norwegians. Nynorsk is used by the remaining 10%, primarily in Western Norway.
Nynorsk was created by linguist Ivar Aasen in the 1850s. He traveled across Norway collecting dialects and built a written standard that reflects spoken Norwegian more closely than Bokmal, which evolved from Danish.
If you live in Bergen, Stavanger, or rural Western Norway, you will encounter Nynorsk in official documents, school materials, road signs, and local media. Understanding Nynorsk gives you a significant advantage in these areas.
~10%
of Norwegians write Nynorsk
25%
of NRK content must be Nynorsk
100%
of students learn both standards
Where is Nynorsk used?
*Vestland county (Bergen and surroundings) — many municipalities use Nynorsk officially
*Rogaland (Stavanger region) — mixed Bokmal/Nynorsk area
*More og Romsdal — strong Nynorsk tradition
*Sogn og Fjordane (now part of Vestland) — the most Nynorsk-dense area
*NRK and government — at least 25% of national broadcasting must be in Nynorsk
Why learn Nynorsk?
1.Work in Western Norway — government offices, schools, and many businesses use Nynorsk
2.Understand dialects — Nynorsk is closer to spoken Norwegian dialects
3.Read official documents — municipalities can reply in Nynorsk if they choose
4.Cultural appreciation — understanding both standards shows deep respect for Norwegian culture
5.Unique advantage — no other app teaches Nynorsk to language learners