OriginUnknown, but some believe it to be a shortening of the word godbonde (“good farmer, husband”), also thought to be borrowed directly from Swedish gubbe. Probably akin to the Nynorsk verb guve (“to stand crouching”), which is from Old Norse gaupn (“something bent”).
- masculineAn old man, geezer, husband, man of the house (lovingly or derogatory)
“En hvithåret gubbe gikk forbi.” — A white-haired old man walked by.
“Jeg skal spørre gubben.” — I'll ask the man of the house.
“Hva er det den gamle gubben vil nå, da?” — What does the old geezer want now?
- masculineA stick of dynamite
“Noen kasta gubber mot butikken min!” — Someone threw dynamite sticks at my store!
- colloquial, definite, masculinefather, old man
“Er gubben hjemme?” — Is the old man (your father) home?
Formsgubben(definite, singular) · gubber(indefinite, plural) · gubbene(definite, plural)