What are table manners like in Norway?
Thanking for the meal, when Norwegians eat dinner, packed lunches and tipping.
Short answer
A set custom at Norwegian tables is to say 'takk for maten' (thanks for the food), and Bokmålsordboka gives 'vel bekomme' as the polite reply. Middag, the main hot meal of the day, is usually eaten late in the afternoon or a little into the evening, after school and work, according to Store norske leksikon.
Why
- Bokmålsordboka lists 'takk for maten' among everyday expressions of thanks and describes 'vel bekomme' as a polite phrase used especially in reply to it.
- Store norske leksikon describes middag as the main meal of the day, eaten late in the afternoon or a little into the evening, while dinner at a restaurant usually takes place in the evening.
- Visit Norway says tipping is entirely up to you and that there will be no hard feelings either way.
Details
At lunch, many Norwegians eat a matpakke, a packed lunch brought from home. Visit Norway describes it as slices of bread, often as open-faced sandwiches, with favourite toppings such as brunost and thin sheets of mellomleggspapir between them, and says adults bring it to work and on trips into nature.
Tip
When you get up from the table in a Norwegian home, say 'takk for maten' to your host; the usual reply is 'vel bekomme'.
People also ask
- Is it rude to start eating before the host in Norway?
Sources
- Bokmålsordboka: takkChecked at:
- Bokmålsordboka: bekommeChecked at:
- Store norske leksikon: Middag (dinner)Checked at:
- Visit Norway: Matpakke, the Norwegian lunch boxChecked at:
- Visit Norway: Currency and pricesChecked at:
Information checked on 20 October 2026.
Table manners in NorwayRelated questions
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Can you take photos of people in Norway without asking?
Norwegian rules focus on sharing: if a person is the main subject, you need their consent before sharing the photo, while crowds, such as a 17 May parade, are exceptions.
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What unwritten rules should you follow in Norwegian nature?
Visit Norway sums up the main rules as being considerate and thoughtful: leave no rubbish or other traces, close gates behind you and respect domestic and wild animals.
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How do you queue in Norway, and what is a queue ticket (kølapp)?
You wait your turn in line or take a kølapp, a slip that Bokmålsordboka describes as showing your number in a queue in a shop or similar place.
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Is it rude to ask Norwegians about their salary, religion or politics?
Oslo kommune's guide for newcomers says religion is considered a private matter in Norway and that dwelling on your own success or wealth is generally not well received.