god dag

See also: goddag

Danish

Interjection

god dag

1. alternative form of goddag

Norwegian Bokmål

Norwegian Bokmål phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

Etymology

Fixed greeting formed from god (“good”) + dag (“day”), literally “good day”.

God (“good”) is from Old Norse góðr (“good”), from Proto-Germanic *gōdaz (“good”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʰedʰ- (“to join, unite, suit”). Dag (“day”) is from Old Norse dagr (“day”), from Proto-Germanic *dagaz (“day”). The further origin of the latter is uncertain.

Compare the parallel formations Norwegian Nynorsk god dag, Danish god dag, Swedish god dag, Faroese góðan dag and Icelandic góðan dag (“good day”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡuː ˈdɑːɡ/, [ɡuː ˈdɑːɡ]
• Rhymes: -ɑːɡ
• Hyphenation: god dag

Interjection

god dag

1. good day; a greeting used when meeting someone during the day

   God dag, god dag, alle sammen! ― Good day, good day, everyone!

   • 1852, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Jørgen Moe, Norske Folkeeventyr, page 329:

     «God dag,» sagde troldet; «er Smørbuk hjemme idag?»

     “Good day,” said the troll; “is Smørbuk at home today?”

   • 1871, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, Norske Folke-Eventyr, page 2:

     god dag, godt folk

     Good day, good people.

Usage notes

• God dag (“good day”) is a somewhat formal daytime greeting, traditionally used especially when greeting strangers or people with whom one is less familiar. In ordinary contemporary conversation, hei (“hello, hi”) is generally more neutral.

Coordinate terms

• god morgen (“good morning”)
• god formiddag (“late-morning greeting”)
• god ettermiddag (“good afternoon”)
• god aften (“good evening”)
• god kveld (“good evening”)
• god natt (“good night”)

Derived terms

• goddag (“the greeting “good day””)
• goddagen (“good day”) (dialectal greeting)

References

• “god dag” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “dag” in Norwegian Academy Dictionary (NAOB).

Norwegian Nynorsk

Interjection

god dag

1. good day

Related terms

• god morgon
• god formiddag
• god ettermiddag
• god kveld
• god natt

Swedish

Alternative forms

• goddag

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Interjection

god dag

1. good day

Related terms

• god morgon
• god middag
• god kväll
• god afton
• god natt

Swedish phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness. For other Swedish entries on this topic, see Greetings.