annen

§ Annen: What it means

Norwegian Word

annen

Part of Speech

Adjective

CEFR Level

A1

Definition

other, another, second

The Norwegian word annen is an adjective that means "other," "another," or "second." It's a fundamental word you'll use often when you need to refer to something different or additional. Like many adjectives in Norwegian, its form changes depending on the gender and number of the noun it modifies.

§ Forms of "Annen"

Because annen is an adjective, it has different forms. This is important for correct grammar. Here's a quick breakdown:

• annen: Used for masculine singular nouns.
• anna: Used for feminine singular nouns (common in spoken Norwegian, less so in formal written text, where 'annen' is often used for feminine too).
• annet: Used for neuter singular nouns.
• andre: Used for plural nouns (all genders).

§ How to use it in a sentence

Let's look at some examples to see how annen works in sentences. Pay attention to the noun it describes and which form of annen is used.

Masculine Singular (annen):

Here, "kopp" (cup) is a masculine noun, so we use annen.

Feminine Singular (anna/annen):

"Bok" (book) and "løsning" (solution) are feminine nouns. While anna is common for feminine, annen is also correct and often preferred in formal writing.

Neuter Singular (annet):

"Hus" (house) is a neuter noun, so we use annet.

Plural (andre):

For plural nouns like "planer" (plans) and "bøkene" (the books), we use andre.

§ Using "annen" with definite forms

When the noun is in its definite form (e.g., "the other car"), annen always takes the plural form, andre, regardless of whether the noun itself is singular or plural. This is a common rule for adjectives used with definite nouns.

Notice how "bilen" (the car, singular) still uses andre.

§ "Annen" meaning "second"

Annen can also mean "second" (as in ordinal number). In this context, it usually follows the same grammatical rules as when it means "other."

Again, "etasjen" (the floor) is definite, so we use andre.

§ Common Phrases with "Annen"

Here are a few common phrases where you'll encounter annen:

• hver annen dag: every other day
• på den andre siden: on the other side
• ikke noe annet: nothing else

Understanding these variations will greatly improve your ability to read and speak Norwegian naturally. Keep practicing, and you'll master annen in no time!

Alright, let's talk about the word annen. It's a fundamental word in Norwegian, and you'll hear it constantly. It means 'other', and like many adjectives, it changes form depending on what it's describing. Don't worry too much about the grammatical rules right now; focus on recognizing it in different situations. We'll cover the forms annen, annet, and andre later. For now, let's look at where you'll actually encounter this word in a practical sense, specifically in work, school, and news.

§ Annen in a Work Context

In a work environment, 'annen' comes up all the time. Think about scheduling, delegating tasks, or discussing different options. You'll hear it when people are talking about colleagues, projects, or meetings.

Here, 'annen' is used with 'dag' (day). It means 'another day' or 'a different day'.

Translation hint

We must find another day for the meeting.

Translation hint

Can you ask another colleague?

This is a common way to ask if someone else can help, especially if the first person is busy. You might also hear it in phrases like:

• Har du annen informasjon? (Do you have other information?)

• Vi må vurdere andre alternativer. (We must consider other options.)

§ Annen at School

In a school setting, 'annen' is just as useful. Students and teachers use it to talk about different subjects, books, or assignments.

Translation hint

We have homework in another book.

This would be heard if a class is using multiple textbooks for a subject. Or, if you need to ask a question not directly related to the current topic:

Translation hint

Do you have another question?

§ Annen in the News

The news uses 'annen' frequently to refer to other countries, other statements, or other events. It's a versatile word for distinguishing between different things being reported.

Translation hint

The Prime Minister met leaders from other countries.

This sentence uses 'andre' because 'land' is plural (countries). You'll often see 'andre' when discussing multiple entities.

Translation hint

There was no other solution.

Here, 'annen' is used with 'løsning' (solution), which is a feminine noun. Even though 'annen' is the masculine/feminine singular form, it's often used as the default for singular 'other' when you're not emphasizing gender too much, especially in fixed expressions. However, be aware that strictly speaking, 'annen' is masculine, 'anna' is feminine, and 'annet' is neuter for singular 'other'. You'll learn these nuances over time. For now, just listen for 'annen' in these contexts.

So, whether you're at work, school, or just reading the news, keep an ear out for annen, annet, and andre. You'll quickly get used to how Norwegians use it to refer to 'other' things, people, or ideas.

§ Understanding 'Annen' in Norwegian

The Norwegian word annen is an adjective that means 'other' or 'another'. It's a fundamental word you'll use constantly in everyday conversation. Like many Norwegian adjectives, it changes its form depending on the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Don't worry, it's not as complicated as it sounds, and we'll break it down clearly.

§ Forms of 'Annen'

Unlike some adjectives, annen has a few specific forms you need to learn. These depend on whether the noun is masculine, feminine, neuter, or plural.

• Annen: Used for masculine nouns.
• Annen/Annet: Used for feminine nouns. (Often annen for both masculine and feminine, but annet is also correct for feminine).
• Annet: Used for neuter nouns.
• Andre: Used for plural nouns.

§ Examples of 'Annen' in Use

Let's look at some practical examples to see how annen changes and how it's used in sentences.

DEFINITION

other

Here it modifies a masculine noun:

Here it modifies a feminine noun (using 'annen'):

And with 'annet' for a neuter noun:

For plural nouns, it's always 'andre':

§ 'Annen' vs. 'Andre'

The main distinction is singular vs. plural:

• Use annen (or annet) for singular nouns.
• Use andre for plural nouns.

It's that simple. Just make sure you know the gender of your singular noun to pick between annen and annet.

§ Similar Words and When to Use 'Annen' vs. Alternatives

While annen is the most common way to say 'other' or 'another', there are a few related words or phrases that can sometimes be confused. Let's clear those up.

§ 'Annen' vs. 'En annen'

Often, 'en annen' (or 'et annet' for neuter) translates directly to 'another'. This emphasizes the 'one more' aspect.

Here, 'en annen' implies you want a different, additional cake. If you just said 'Jeg vil ha annen kake', it would sound a bit less natural and more like 'I want *other* cake' in a general sense.

DEFINITION

another

§ 'Annen' in Phrases like 'Hver annen'

You'll also hear annen in fixed expressions, such as 'hver annen dag' (every other day).

In this case, annen isn't changing based on the noun 'dag' (day), but is part of the set phrase. This is good to simply learn by heart.

§ 'Resten' (The Rest)

Sometimes, if you're talking about the remaining part of something, you might use 'resten' instead of andre.

While you could say 'de andre kakene' (the other cakes), 'resten' is more natural when referring to what is left over from a specific group.

DEFINITION

the rest

§ 'Forskjellig' (Different)

If you want to emphasize that something is *different* in nature, not just 'another' one, you might use 'forskjellig'.

Here, 'andre meninger' (other opinions) would imply additional opinions, whereas 'forskjellige meninger' emphasizes that the opinions are not the same.

DEFINITION

different

Stick to annen (or its forms) when you simply mean 'other' or 'another' in a straightforward sense. It's the most versatile and common choice for this meaning.