hverdagsprat

Hverdagsprat is a Norwegian term describing informal, everyday conversation that occurs in ordinary social interaction. It covers casual exchanges among friends, family members, colleagues and neighbors, and includes topics such as daily activities, weather, plans, and light opinions. The purpose is mainly social: to establish and maintain relationships, negotiate social proximity, and coordinate everyday activities. It is characterized by a relaxed register, use of everyday vocabulary, humor, and a high degree of topic management and turn-taking. Nonverbal cues and backchannel responses (such as "mhm" and "ja") often accompany it, and interruptions are common.

The content tends to be non-professional and non-urgent; conversations may shift topics quickly, with topics ending and new ones initiated as social needs dictate. In sociolinguistic studies, hverdagsprat is analyzed to understand how language functions in non-institutional settings, including how speakers navigate politeness, display affiliation, and manage face. Variation occurs with factors such as age, gender, region or dialect, social status, and the relationship between participants. Digital forms, such as text messages and social media chats, are increasingly considered aspects of hverdagsprat, preserving some informal features while adapting to online norms.

The term hverdagsprat derives from hverdags (everyday) and prat (talk). Related concepts include small talk, everyday discourse, and casual conversation. There are no rigid rules; it is a flexible, context-driven mode of communication in everyday life.