Grine

Meaning: Actually means 'to cry' or to pull a sour face. In Danish, grine means 'to laugh' — the exact opposite mood.

Language: Norwegian

Literally: grin

Category: Feelings

Origin: A Danish crowd described as grinende is laughing; read by a Norwegian, the same sentence has everyone in tears.

More false friends — Feelings

• Intelligentny (Интеллигентный) — Actually means 'cultured' and 'well-mannered'. For clever, say умный (umny).
• Simpatichny (Симпатичный) — Actually means 'good-looking' or 'likeable'. For sympathetic, say сочувствующий (sochuvst…
• Embarazada — Actually means 'pregnant'. For embarrassed, say avergonzado/a.
• Sensible — Actually means 'sensitive'. For sensible/level-headed, say raisonnable.
• Bravo — Actually means 'good, skilled, well-behaved'. For brave, say coraggioso.
• Molestar — Actually means 'to bother' or 'to annoy'. ¿Te molesta el ruido? = Does the noise bother y…

More Norwegian false friends

• Frokost — Actually means 'breakfast'. In Danish the same word means 'lunch' — so a cross-border inv…
• Full — Actually means 'drunk'. Jeg er full = I'm drunk — not full after a meal.
• Rolig — Actually means 'calm' or 'quiet'. (Confusingly, in Swedish rolig means 'funny' — a false…
• Time — Actually means 'hour'. En halv time = half an hour. Time in the general sense is tid.
• Sky — Actually means 'cloud'. The sky overhead is himmelen.

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