Souvenirs & Gifts
These practical phrases will help you ask for recommendations, check prices, and get items wrapped when shopping for Norwegian souvenirs.
Key Phrases
Jeg vil gjerne kjøpe noe lokalt. Har du en typisk norsk suvenir å anbefale?
neutralI would like to buy something local. Do you have a typical Norwegian souvenir to recommend?
A polite and clear way to ask staff for their input.
Hva pleier turistene oftest å kjøpe når de er innom her?
casualWhat do tourists most often buy when they stop by here?
A natural way to ask what is popular without being too formal.
Jeg leter etter en gave til en venn, men jeg er litt usikker på hva jeg skal velge.
politeI am looking for a gift for a friend, but I am a bit unsure of what to choose.
Uses a subordinate clause perfectly suited for explaining your situation.
Jeg trenger noe til sønnen min på ti år. Har dere noen fine småting?
neutralI need something for my ten-year-old son. Do you have any nice little things?
'Småting' refers to knick-knacks, souvenirs or inexpensive gifts.
Vet du om disse ullgenserne faktisk er laget her i Norge?
neutralDo you know if these wool sweaters are actually made here in Norway?
Uses the passive voice ('er laget') to ask where it was manufactured.
Hvor er denne figuren produsert? Jeg vil gjerne ha noe som er lokalt håndverk.
politeWhere is this figure produced? I would like something that is local craft.
A respectful way to check if an item is authentic.
Kan du sjekke hva denne koster? Det står ingen pris på lappen.
neutralCan you check what this costs? There is no price on the tag.
A very common phrase when a price tag is missing or unclear.
Hvor mye skal du ha for det reinsdyrskinnet som henger der borte?
casualHow much do you want for that reindeer skin hanging over there?
A slightly informal but very natural way to ask for the price.
Den ble litt for dyr for meg, så jeg tror jeg dropper det.
casualIt was a bit too expensive for me, so I think I'll pass.
'Dropper det' is a common casual expression for deciding not to do or buy something.
Jeg har bestemt meg. Jeg tar denne genseren og det lille trollet.
neutralI have decided. I'll take this sweater and the little troll.
Uses the present perfect ('har bestemt meg') to announce a final choice.
Går det an å få dette pakket inn, siden det er en gave?
casualIs it possible to get this wrapped, since it is a gift?
A very common everyday phrase using the passive 'pakket inn'.
Kan du være så snill å pakke inn disse som gaver for meg?
politeCan you please wrap these as gifts for me?
A slightly more formal request, useful in high-end shops.
Kan jeg få med et tax-free-skjema? Jeg bor ikke i Skandinavia.
neutralCan I get a tax-free form? I don't live in Scandinavia.
Essential if you want to claim a VAT refund at the airport.
Takk for hjelpen, men jeg tror at jeg bare skal kikke litt til.
neutralThanks for the help, but I think that I'll just look around a bit more.
A polite and standard way to decline immediate help from shop staff.