What Norwegians mean when making the "hhh" (sharp inhale) - the affirmative 'h'

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  • Опубліковано 16 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 74

  • @ericcsuf
    @ericcsuf 2 роки тому +37

    That was the funniest short video I've seen in a long time. My Norwegian great grandmother died when I was very young, but I remember conversations between her (in Norwegian) and my mom (always in English) that included that sound. Until this video, almost 75 years later, I never realized what was happening, but I instantly recognized the sound when I heard you.

  • @sivanmisgav9468
    @sivanmisgav9468 5 років тому +139

    i thought the lady i was talking to had a breathing problem so i tried to ignore it xD

  • @seankelly819
    @seankelly819 Рік тому +8

    Common in Ireland. I heard a linguist expert suggest it came from Scandinavia. Interesting

  • @GuruishMike
    @GuruishMike 5 років тому +53

    I'm from Nova Scotia, we (at least in my county) have a similar inhaled yes. I didn't think twice about it until I was in university and someone pointed it out. Gaelic also has an inhaled affirmative, and my county is very Scottish, so I think it carried over into English.

    • @mattthwaites6539
      @mattthwaites6539 3 роки тому +2

      this is why I looked for this. I am from Halifax, moved there at age 7 and noticed it within 5 minutes of setting foot in Nova Scotia. I was aware that there was only really one other example of it and wanted to confirm where it was from. interesting that it is also for an affirmative response. I don't have a thick accent, except for my Rs, but I can sure do one if I want to, and the Yeh Yeh Yeh on the inhale always makes it in.

    • @jaycee330
      @jaycee330 3 роки тому +2

      Newfoundland english does it too, got it from the Scots and Irish.

    • @jacktravers5049
      @jacktravers5049 2 роки тому +1

      Scotland and ireland also had large nordic influence unlike england who were occupied by danes. The newfoundland accent sounds remarkebly like the a country/dublin accent, not very scottish... Dublin was of course a viking town and our accent is probably influenced by the scandinavians who came here. Both people don't pronounce th's, its dese, dose dat and de udders for thesee those that and the others

  • @helpsavethehumans
    @helpsavethehumans 3 роки тому +26

    This makes me think of the weird things we have in English that you can't really explain without hearing. Like, this little tune/cadence we hum that means "I don't know," but nothing is spoken. It's more like three notes hummed. Starts down, then goes up, then back down. It's kind of like saying "I don't know" under your breath, or with your mouth closed or mostly closed. Who could ever guess that means "I don't know" if they did not know?

    • @AMcDub0708
      @AMcDub0708 2 роки тому +6

      Too funny, I just commented under someone else’s comment about exactly this! I studied in Spain in college and it never occurred to me that the song song “I don’t know” isn’t universally understood. So I said it while in Spain with a shoulder shrug and everyone looked at me like I had a stroke 😆

    • @yngvilvatnguttu8683
      @yngvilvatnguttu8683 2 роки тому +1

      Haha, yes i know exactly what you mean - you could actually notate that hum in musical notation , and it would almost be like a little bugle call ... great little observation - :)

    • @ceairamgivens1052
      @ceairamgivens1052 2 роки тому

      I never noticed this but I totally just made the sound while reading this 😂

    • @dianejohnson1750
      @dianejohnson1750 Рік тому +1

      Perhaps this 3 note phrase originated with the Scooby Doo cartoon. The dog Scooby Doo sort of speaks to his human friends.

    • @JoshuaTanzer
      @JoshuaTanzer 8 місяців тому +1

      Yes! I was teaching English at one time and my students wanted to know some real-life expressions so I taught them the "mm-mm-mm" that is "I don't know." One of my favorite lessons ever.

  • @andrewgrayot9701
    @andrewgrayot9701 3 роки тому +18

    First heard the similar gasp of agreement in northern Sweden and I thought they were just either surprised or impressed with nearly everything another person said.

  • @kerry3710
    @kerry3710 4 роки тому +21

    I'm a New Zealander. I was just recalling today how my mother always did this little sharp intake of breath while she was following along with a conversation. So I just googled it and it's a thing! Maybe passed on by her Irish grandfather. It's pretty quirky. I almost feel like I should take it up😉.

    • @conanburke4065
      @conanburke4065 3 роки тому +5

      Most people in Ireland do this instead of saying yes and just when following along a conversation especially over the phone. It comes from the Scandinavians( like this Norwegian lady ) who once upon a time were vikings and brought it to Ireland while they invaded.

  • @dessertstorm7476
    @dessertstorm7476 4 роки тому +9

    i thought ppl were hiccupping or something when I first heard this, but it happened so often I searched for it and found this.

  • @werdlederdle
    @werdlederdle 3 роки тому +6

    I have heard Swedes do this too. I thought they had a breathing problem.

  • @Jack-mm4cb
    @Jack-mm4cb 2 роки тому +7

    Very common in Ireland actually, probably a leftover from the norsemen. Never gets as intense as 2:00 though lol

  • @veganmocha
    @veganmocha 5 років тому +23

    i’d have to get used to this 😂 i’ll freak out a little for the first couple of times if i hear this. really interesting!

  • @AMcDub0708
    @AMcDub0708 2 роки тому +6

    In the US we make that sound too but it means Shock and Awe, or proverbial pearl clutching lol 😂

    • @sarahfara1539
      @sarahfara1539 2 роки тому

      @@awissink08 Same in Germany. That’s the sound I make when I think I lost my keys 😂

  • @shotime369
    @shotime369 2 роки тому +2

    Shut the front door - we do this in North East Scotland!! It's a Viking thing?

  • @ikkirr
    @ikkirr 3 роки тому +5

    1:01 Omg I laughed so hard!!! 😂😂 Jeg lærer norsk, så dette er nyttig å forstå. Du er veldig morsom!! (I hope that's the right word)

  • @MrJkosta
    @MrJkosta 3 роки тому +2

    I live in Schleswig Holstein Germany and they do that here too. My mother in law does it all the time. It´s very strange to me.

  • @lorihalverson-wente7714
    @lorihalverson-wente7714 4 роки тому +9

    THANK YOU for this video! I was laughing so hard with this and envisioning how each Scandinavian culture seems to do this. I am personally 50/50 Finnish-Swedish American and my spouse is 50/50 Norwegian/German-American so we had a great time chatting about how true this is from our travels!!!! Keep the videos coming! I shared this with my Intercultural Communication class. My Swedish relatives have so many versions of ya-huh! Do you see this in Norway!?

    • @lorihalverson-wente7714
      @lorihalverson-wente7714 3 роки тому +1

      OMG, I am using this again for my class. Never take it away. My students LOVE you!

  • @sandymiller870
    @sandymiller870 3 роки тому +3

    I'm Scottish and I use that sound for agreement as does my husband who is German (both Canadian born) It is also a common Canadian trait,

  • @parya.b
    @parya.b 2 роки тому +2

    I just loveddd this video. Used to live in Norway for three years and made me miss lovely norwegians 😍😍

  • @adammcdonald3385
    @adammcdonald3385 4 роки тому +5

    I enjoyed watching your video! I found you adorable. ☺

  • @kurjachina
    @kurjachina 7 років тому +3

    Very good explanation, with a wonderful dose of humor!

  • @nandari6260
    @nandari6260 Рік тому

    I found the perfect video about the Norwegian' breathing thing. Tusen takk for denne videoen! 😊😢

  • @vegetablearian_
    @vegetablearian_ 4 роки тому +4

    This is a great explanation and very funny. Thank you!

  • @Ultrajamz
    @Ultrajamz 2 роки тому +2

    Lol just seeing this made me feel short of breath

  • @dsrlenechase774
    @dsrlenechase774 Рік тому

    Also Nova Scotia, Canada. Thought to have been brought in by the Vikings

  • @danieldunn6329
    @danieldunn6329 Рік тому

    For the longest time I thought one of my Norwegian friends had a breathing problem or a speech impediment....now I know better 😂

  • @Hasanofy
    @Hasanofy 2 роки тому +1

    I heard an Ethiopian do that too, I though I said something wrong! Amazing

  • @Liusila
    @Liusila 3 роки тому +1

    What a cool video! I’ve heard people make this noise but only to express surprise.

  • @aidi4886
    @aidi4886 4 роки тому +3

    Love this :) I wonder where can I study this kind of thing :)

  • @TheAlaskaMom
    @TheAlaskaMom 9 місяців тому

    My Danish Grandma did this. Since I was exposed to it so much as a child, I do it too.

  • @TourAbsurd
    @TourAbsurd 5 років тому +3

    I love this. Level three is the BEST! lol

  • @i.i.iiii.i.i
    @i.i.iiii.i.i 4 роки тому +6

    Do males also do it in Norwegian?
    Because in German only older laides do this sound but pretty much only the version with the "yeah" (or "ja" = yes in German).
    But this sound seem to die out because I don't hear younger than maybe 50 year-olds do it...
    Or females automatically acquire this sound when they get older, I don't know :P

    • @YngvilVG
      @YngvilVG 3 роки тому

      Yep, males also inhale ! :-)

  • @torontoMMVI
    @torontoMMVI Рік тому

    I hear the 'affirmative h' in Iceland and even in Ireland.

  • @JoshuaTanzer
    @JoshuaTanzer 8 місяців тому

    This is so good. Thank you!

  • @cannibalholocaust3015
    @cannibalholocaust3015 Рік тому

    Old men in Ireland do this, often if a sorrowful / sad topic is in discussion. They will say “aye” but almost produce the “h” sound whilst drawing in breath. Young fella’s who are wannabe old men do it too.
    At least in the northern part of the country.

    • @cannibalholocaust3015
      @cannibalholocaust3015 Рік тому

      This lady’s anecdote about the two old ladies is spot on. Typically one person is doing all the talking with the other saying “aye” momentarily to acknowledge they’re following the story.

  • @mete8384
    @mete8384 4 роки тому +5

    The whole idea of ingressive sounds sounds unfamiliar to me. The ingressive yeah sounds like when you reverse songs and hear the singer who originally sang ‘hey’ say ‘yeah’ 😂

  • @rachelvillarim3279
    @rachelvillarim3279 3 роки тому +2

    Imagine how strange (not in a bad way!!) it sounds for a brazilian like me 😄

  • @dianejohnson1750
    @dianejohnson1750 Рік тому

    The Danes in Denmark make this sound too when they are agreeing with what someone just said.

  • @molecatcher3383
    @molecatcher3383 3 роки тому

    This is also done in some parts of Scotland and it means the same thing.

  • @Gilhus1985
    @Gilhus1985 5 років тому +3

    I've never thought about this, and I'm norwegian xD

  • @christaverduren690
    @christaverduren690 3 роки тому +1

    I lived in Tonsberg for a year as an exchange student in 88-89, I picked this up very quickly in my speech pattern as I learned the language. I've always been good at hearing a language for only a few minutes and picking up the accent. Irish for example, I listen to it for 15 minutes and you'd never know I wasn't Irish.
    So I came back to the US and not even thinking of it, as the inhale was now something I didn't even think about. I was very confused at the looks I got as I was trying to transition back to English. I'd left speaking only Norwegian all the time, I'd stopped using English except to make the final call to tell family when I'd be arriving home.
    To be asked, if I was alright and trying to figure out what the meant. "You keep gasping!" LOL After I get off the phone with one of my sisters or my Mamma, I am right back to Norwegian in the brain again!

  • @KT7217-w5u
    @KT7217-w5u Рік тому

    I'm canadian with Scottish and Norwegian heritage. I just realized we do this affirmative gasp all the time with babies and small children but not with adults. Must be a carryover from those cultures.

  • @LeelooMinai
    @LeelooMinai 4 місяці тому

    That's funny... I would make that sound maybe if I dropped my phone on a concrete pavement :)

  • @Blublod
    @Blublod 3 роки тому +2

    This video cracked me up so hard I can't stop laughing for some reason lol

  • @homosapien.a6364
    @homosapien.a6364 3 роки тому +2

    In Saudi Arabia we have a myth that say
    If you did the hhh sound without mentioning god's name the devil would get into your body
    So whenever you do the hhh sound i say unintentionally bissm allah
    The name of god
    Even though im atheist😅😅

  • @albertomcaballero6635
    @albertomcaballero6635 3 роки тому

    I lived in Sunnmøre for 2 years and there was an old woman at the reception of my working place, I head that maaany many times I never knew what was it. I thought she had asma or something so I thought it would be rude to ask why does she make that sound 😂

  • @susi2502
    @susi2502 6 років тому +2

    Hahahaha thanks god I never heard it, I will panic so bad!

  • @bloodycrazygamer6880
    @bloodycrazygamer6880 3 місяці тому

    This has to be in a small special region of Norway, cause it's def not all Norwegians that do this.

  • @baanchiau
    @baanchiau 5 років тому

    This and the random "Mana"

  • @who-arewe
    @who-arewe 2 роки тому

    How does it not make you cough to breathe in sharply like that repeatedly in a convo?

  • @JohnFRambo
    @JohnFRambo 3 роки тому +2

    I am confused if a norwegian is having a heart attack or its just an yes!

  • @napoleao3409
    @napoleao3409 3 роки тому

    In France we do it to!!!!!! lol

  • @eisvogel.1481
    @eisvogel.1481 5 років тому +3

    Hahaha, that's very funny. :)

  • @5Gburn
    @5Gburn 6 місяців тому

    [bad joke incoming] How do you know if a Norwegian's had a pulmonary embolism? They stop saying "yes."

  • @wellingtonaraujo5418
    @wellingtonaraujo5418 3 роки тому

    haha ty for video =)

  • @guntugakgun1924
    @guntugakgun1924 3 роки тому +1

    hahahah

  • @nezzaltarek3970
    @nezzaltarek3970 2 роки тому

    you forgot about lvl 4 "when you have sexe"