Tag: idioms

Berries are a big thing in Nordic countries, and you can hear that in their languages as well! So I have collected a few sayings and idioms involving them in Swedish, Norwegian Finnish and Danish.

Swedish

• Smultronstället – Place of wild strawberries – a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress or sadness
• Blott Sverige svenska krusbär har – Only Sweden has Swedish gooseberries – There’s no place like home… Originally a quote by writer Carl Jonas Love Almqvist (1793-1866)
• Hej hopp i blåbärsskogen! / Hej svejs i lingonskogen tjosan hoppsan hej! – hey hey in the blueberry/lingonberry wood hey hey: a funny surprised expression Swedes may use in a joking way

Norwegian

• Det er bare blåbær – It’s just blueberries: it’s not a big deal/it’s a piece of cake
• Være på bærtur – To be picking berries: being completely lost/wrong.

Finnish

• Oma maa mansikka, muu maa mustikka – our land strawberry, other land blueberry: No place like home, here too 🙂
• he ovat kuin kaksi marjaa – they are like two berries: they look very much alike
• se maksaa mansikoita – it costs strawberries: very expensive
• and last but not least paskanmarjat – sh*t berries: bullsh*t

Danish

• stikkelsbærben – gooseberry legs: pale, skinny, and hairy legs
• et surt ribs – a sour redcurrant: a grumpy person
• at give (eller få) en på bærret: to give (or get) one on the berry: to hit or get hit on the face

sources: Københavns sprogcentret

Feel free to comment if you know more!