Brooklyn-Norwegian

Some time ago, my mom's cousin began researching our family history. While we knew we were of Norwegian, Swedish, Danish and Finnish descent on that side of the family, turns out we are also a little bit German.

My cousin has been able to trace the Danes and Germans back to the mid-1800s and it is all very fascinating. Our family tree is really coming together. Additionally, we know many of their birth dates, when they were married, their occupations and when they came over to America. Just the names themselves are so interesting. Hermine Friedericke Catharine Mansen was my great-great-great grandmother (I think that was the correct number of 'greats'). Hermine's son, Robert Thoede, my great-great grandfather, later helped build the stairs in the Statue of Liberty.

We even know what boats some of them came over on. Some of the members of the Thoede side of our family came over on the Wieland ship, which left Hamburg, Germany in 1882 arriving in New York some weeks later. When my other great-grandfather's family came from Norway to the US on the ship Furnessia in 1911, those checking them in at Ellis Island changed the spelling of their last name from Henriksen to Hendricksen.

Now that we have gone over a little of my family background on my mother's side, I also have to share with you what my family affectionately calls 'Brooklyn-Norwegian.' Many of you know that my Nana, my mother's mom, coined many, many great terms and sayings during her life (cement underwear, anyone?). She was truly one of the funniest people I have ever known. But the true originator of crazy terms was actually her mother, who was Norwegian and Danish. I'm beginning to realize I come from a long line of pushy broads. My great-grandmother passed away before I was born so I never got to meet her, but her legacy lives on because we all still use her vocabulary.

My great-grandmother coined these words that sounded like they were Norwegian and they all have their own distinct meanings. My grandmother and her siblings grew up using these words and most of us in the family still use them to this day. The best part is that when my mom married my dad - who is born and raised in Norway - she told him: "Oh, I know some words in Norwegian!" My father looked at her incredulously and let her know he had no idea what she was talking about. Those weren't Norwegian words. Turned out, my great-grandmother just made them up. Which is when the realization occurred...they are Brooklyn-Norwegian.

So, because I think they are hilarious and I use them quite often - so much so that many of them are now part of Ralph's vocabulary - I have decided to share them with you. Feel free to use them. Spread them around. My great-grandmother would be so proud! Please note that I'm not exactly sure how to spell them. And they should be pronounced with a Norwegian accent. I can teach you that at a later time. Likely over drinks. Please also keep in mind some are a bit vulgar. We don't hold anything back in my family.

Fnugg - a piece of lint or fuzz
Kliss - useless knick-knacks that simply take up space around your house, f.ex a shell you bought in the islands that someone wrote 'Bahamas' on with a Sharpie
Smat (or smatting) - chewing with your mouth open and making a noise while doing it
Smattehase - someone who continuously chews with their mouth open
Knasing - chewing something crunchy with your mouth open (my family cannot stand knasing. When I was a kid, they used to make me eat ice cream cones outside or in a separate room because they couldn't stand the knasing. God forbid you try to eat chips with one of them in the car while on a road trip. Also, Funions make the worst knasig. It's like nails on a chalkboard)
Kroka (I really don't know how to spell this one, I'll have to pronounce it for you in person) - female parts aka va-jay-jay
Dingsen - male part, the 'twig' of the 'twig and berries'
Musta - the female monthly curse, i.e. 'I have my musta'

I expect these to be used next time I see one of you. There will be a quiz! And I hope you got a good laugh!