Jævlig
What does Jævlig mean? Jævlig is a Norwegian strong that translates to “fucking / terrible / amazingly” in English.
Literal Translation
devilish / devil-like
Meaning & Usage
"fucking / terrible / amazingly"
Functions as both a negative descriptor ('that was terrible') and a positive intensifier ('that was fucking great'). Derived from 'jævel' (the devil).
Examples in the Wild
Det er jævlig bra! (That's fucking great!) | Jævlig kjedelig. (Terribly boring.)
When to Use It
Context
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- Expressing strong frustration or emphasis
- As a spontaneous exclamation
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Around elders or authority figures
- Around religious or conservative communities
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
Like the English word 'fucking', 'jævlig' works in both positive and negative contexts depending entirely on intonation and context. Very common in informal speech.
More in Norwegian 🇳🇴
View all →Jævel
“bastard / son of a bitch”
The noun form. Used to call someone a 'devil', 'bastard', or unpleasant person. Can also express admiration at recklessness.
Ræva
“shitty / terrible”
Used as an adjective to describe something terrible, low-quality, or worthless. Derived from 'ræv' (butt).
Faen meg
“fucking / I swear to God”
Used for emphasis or to stress the absurdity of a situation. Difficult to translate directly but acts as an intensifier expressing exasperation or disbelief.
Helvete
“hell / fucking hell”
Used as a standalone exclamation of extreme frustration, or in phrases meaning 'go to hell'. Carries slightly more weight than its English counterpart.
Faen ta deg
“fuck you”
A direct verbal attack on another person. Rooted in the old curse of wishing the Devil would claim someone's soul.
Det var som faen
“well I'll be damned / holy shit”
An expression of astonishment or impressed disbelief at something surprising.
Drit og dra
“fuck off / get lost”
Used to aggressively dismiss someone and tell them to go away.
Søren
“darn / shoot”
A very mild softened substitute for stronger curses like 'faen' or 'satan'. Expresses mild frustration without offending anyone.