Norwegian-English Dictionary: A Pronouncing and Translating Dictionary of Modern Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk) with a Historical and Grammatical Introduction

This is a great dictionary for academic use. I am a beginner in Norwegian language study and have tried several different dictionaries and language study approaches. First, for those who are giving negative reviews, never expect a dictionary to teach you a language. The dictionary should be used in conjunction with lessons of some kind. Also, don't skip reading the front section of the dictionary, which makes it much easier to use. We are planning a trip to Norway and wanted to be at least somewhat familiar with the language. I am also a classical singer who loves Grieg's music. Translations of his German pieces are easy to find, but translations of the Norwegian songs are rare. I have found this dictionary to be the most useful resource in translating the late 19th century poetry Grieg used for his songs. This dictionary has both the Bokmal and Nynorsk definitions, as well as cross references to other root words. I have other dictionaries that are strictly contemporary word usage, but this one has it all. This is the most comprehensive Norwegian/English dictionary that I am aware of. Unlike most foreign translation tools, it doesn't divide the dictionary into two sections so you can look up a word in either language. This would make it harder to use of you need to translate from English to Norwegian. But if your goal is to translate from Norwegian to English, this dictionary has more entries and more information in each entry. It has been a lifesaver in my academic pursuits. The only thing I find a little lacking is the IPA pronunciation index in the front of the dictionary. I know they needed to conserve space, but it is a little lacking. That said, there are plenty of other resources to learn correct pronunciation. This dictionary is a treasury of definitions.

I knew when I bought this that it was one way (Norwegian to English only). As a dictionary of this type, it is certainly good. The problem is that the print is relatively difficult to read because it is small, light, and somewhat uneven. Because of its size, it's not a good travel dictionary (there are others that are much smaller, easier to read, and sufficient for travel), but it doesn't appear that the dictionary was meant to be used that way.

I realize that that's what it says on the cover and that I knew just what I was getting into when I placed my order, but in case it's not clear to you for whatever reason (it wasn't for me): this dictionary can only be used to find the English meanings of Norwegian words. If you're looking for the right Norwegian word for an English term, I'm afraid you're still stuck with Google Translate. You can fumble your way around this dictionary and hope you find the word for the thing you're trying to say, but don't expect to use it much as a reference if you're trying to learn to speak Norwegian.

If you want comprehensive coverage and expansive info; this is the essential choice. Norwegian to English only. I use and rely on it for my genealogic work..

Good points: This is a very thorough dictionary. I can usually find whatever I'm looking for. All the parts of speech are included, andall the different meanings of a word and idioms and phrases with the word in it. It's helpful to have irregular past tense and past participles listed, since the parts of the verbs often change spelling.Bad points: However, it's not easy to use. The print is so small that I almost need a magnifying glass. Also, I don't know Norwegian enough to made the distinction between Bokmål and Nynorsk. Often I can't find the definition of a word right away. Instead, I'm directed to look up a different word in the other dialect. So it takes a long time to find the definition.

So far, I am finding this to be an excellent dictionary with everything that I need. My only complaint is that the print is so very tiny. I strain to find the definition that I'm looking for, because it is so small and cramped. Still, it is very comprehensive, and I think it is a good resource for beginners, despite what some other reviewers have said. They may want to have other dictionaries on hand too, however.

I got this book because of all the positive reviews. For those who are just starting with the language, I would say get another dictionary (or online service) with English to Norwegian translations so that you can cross reference and move about more easily in this book. This will get you deeper into the specifics of the words you need as you plow through this Norwegian to English book. This book is well done and a great reference, but for me, it would be a much better reference tool to be English to Norwegian, to be a physically bigger book - the font size will make you search for your glasses, a magnifying glass and a really strong light after longer periods of use, and to lay out the definitions and phrase variations a little more cleanly. It's easy to get lost in the long lists of some of the common derivations of a word. If you need Norwegian language reference tools, this is the one to get, but be prepared to dig and scrape and to cross reference with another source so you can be sure you actually have the word you intended.

I should never have bought it. Gave up on the language shortly after I received it. Just not for me.

What a pity this dictionary does not contain a English-Norwegian section as well. It cannot be beyond the wit of a publisher to add this.

I have found this dictionary very useful. I often watch Norwegian TV with subtitles and use this dictionary to learn new words. It has been great! The only drawback is that it could do with updating with modern terms. Otherwise, a great choice!

This dictionary cover every word you will ever need, both for travelling as well as more intensive use

A comprehensive dictionary with a history of the language and useful grammar notes. The only criticism is the print format is quite small for the volume of the content meaning the font size is very small and so using the dictionary feels unnecessarily difficult.

This is an excellent dictionary. It is about the only way of coping with the numerous changes that have taken place in Norwegian spelling over the last 150 years or so. My only criticism is that the binding of my copy was so bad that pages started to fall out after less than one week of very careful use.