Sample Glossary entries from Flavors of the Fjords
bacon og egg – Bacon and eggs
badstue – Small building or room for hot steam baths (sauna)
bær – Wild berries
bakebrett – Baking sheet
bakefjel – Bread or pastry board
bakepulver – Baking powder
bakeri – Bakery or bakeshop
bakerovn – Baking oven; “Varmt som i en bakerovn,” warm as a baking oven, hot as blazes
bakstehelle – Griddle for flatbrød or lefse
banan – Banana
bankebiff – Tenderized beef. Served similar to Swiss steak
barnemeny – Children’s menu
benløs – Boned or boneless
benmel – Bone meal
berberiss – Barberry
berlinerkrans – Berlin crowns or rings, a type of butter cookie
besk – Bitter, sharp tasting
best Good
bestefar – Grandfather
besteforeldre – Grandparents
bestemor – Grandmother
“bestrøes med Sukker og bakes brune” – Sprinkle with sugar and bake until brown
bestestue – The “best room,” the parlor
betasuppe – Meat, marrow, and vegetable soup
bie – Wait. “Denne maten er ikke mye å bie på,” this food won’t hold you long
biffstek – Beaf steak
bismak – Off taste, a taste that’s not supposed to be present
bisp – Hot drink made with claret and sugar
bit – Bite, or a mouthful
bjørnbær – Blackberry
blåbær – Blueberry, huckleberry, bilberry. Lit. blue berry. Det er bare blåbær for ham; It’s as easy as pie for him
bladselleri – Celery
blande – Mix or mixture; “Olje og vann lar seg ikke blande,” oil and water don’t mix
bland i en – Blend in a
blande – Mix or mixture; “Olje og vann lar seg ikke blande,” oil and water don’t blend
blandebolle – Mixing bowl
bland sammen i en kjele – Blend together in a sauce pan
blanding av oppskårne epler, rosiner – Mincemeat; Lit; a blending or mixture of cut, chopped, sliced apples, raisins
blings – A thick slice or chunk of bread
blomkål – Cauliflower
blomkålsuppe – Cauliflower soup
blomsterkrans – Flower wreath
bløt – Wet or soft
bløtekake – Wet cake or soaked layer cake; Milk is spooned over the layers, then covered with whipped cream
bløtkoke – Soft-boil
bløtkokte egg – Soft-boiled egg
bløtelegge – Soak. “Legge i bløt,” put to soak
bokk – Strong, dark beer
bokseåpner – Can opener
bolle – A sweet bun, roll, or (fish or meat) ball
bønner – Beans
bord – Table; “Dekke bordet,” set the table; “Ta av bordet,” clear the table
bordbønn – Grace, blessing
bordduk – Table cloth
bordet – The table
bordkniv – Table knife
bøsse – A small container, e.g. for salt. A cellarette
botsam – Useful, wholesome, or invigorating
brann – Fire
brett – Board, as in for rolling out dough; Baking sheet, tray
bringebær – Raspberry
brød – Bread
brød med smør på – Bread and butter
Broderi – Embroidery; Also prydsøm
brødleiv – A piece of sliced bread
brødskive – Slice of bread
brordatter – Niece; Lit; brother’s daughter
brorsønn – Nephew; Lit; brother’s son
bryllupskake – Wedding cake
bunad – Norwegian national costume
bunnskrape – Scrape the bottom or empty
butterdeig – Flaky pastry; Lit; butter dough
bygg – Barley
bygning – Farm house, residence; Also, hus or gård