When you're just starting out with Norwegian, one of the most useful phrases you'll learn is i dag. This simple adverb means 'today' or 'on this present day'.
It's incredibly versatile and you'll use it constantly in everyday conversations. Think about how often you say 'today' in English – i dag is used in much the same way.
You can use it to talk about plans, events, or simply to state what day it is. Mastering this phrase early on will significantly boost your ability to communicate in Norwegian.
When we talk about 'i dag', we're specifically referring to today – the current day you are experiencing. It's a very common adverbial phrase in Norwegian. Think of it like saying 'on this day' or 'this day' in English. It's straightforward and used whenever you need to indicate that something is happening on the current calendar day.
§ Common Mistakes with 'i dag'
When learning Norwegian, some words might seem straightforward, but they can hide little traps for English speakers. 'I dag' is one of those. While its meaning, 'today,' is simple, how you use it can sometimes lead to small errors. Let's look at a few common mistakes and how to avoid them.
§ Mistake 1: Not using the preposition 'i'
In English, you just say 'today.' In Norwegian, you almost always need the preposition 'i' before 'dag.' Forgetting 'i' is a very common mistake.
Incorrect:
Jeg jobber dag.
Correct:
Jeg jobber i dag. (I work today.)
This applies to most sentences where you're talking about something happening on the current day.
§ Mistake 2: Confusing 'i dag' with 'denne dagen'
While both relate to 'this day,' they are used differently. 'I dag' specifically means 'today.' 'Denne dagen' (this day) is more general and often used when emphasizing a particular day in a story or a specific, non-current day.
- DEFINITION
- i dag: on this present day
- DEFINITION
- denne dagen: this particular day (not necessarily today)
Example with 'denne dagen':
Denne dagen
You wouldn't usually say 'I dag var vanskelig' unless you specifically mean 'Today was difficult.' If you are talking about a past day you are remembering, you use 'denne dagen.'
§ Mistake 3: Overusing 'i dag' for future plans
While 'i dag' can refer to plans for the current day, sometimes English speakers might use it too broadly. For example, if you're talking about 'this afternoon' or 'tonight,' you have more specific Norwegian words.
- For 'this afternoon': 'i ettermiddag'
- For 'tonight': 'i kveld'
Vi skal spise middag i ettermiddag. (We are having dinner this afternoon.)
Hva gjør du i kveld? (What are you doing tonight?)
While 'i dag' isn't wrong in these contexts, using the more precise phrases sounds more natural. 'I dag' generally refers to the whole day, while 'i ettermiddag' and 'i kveld' narrow it down.
§ Mistake 4: Word Order
Norwegian has a stricter word order than English. When 'i dag' starts a sentence, the verb often comes next.
Incorrect:
I dag jeg går på jobb. (Today I go to work.)
Correct:
I dag går jeg på jobb. (Today I go to work.)
This is a fundamental rule in Norwegian sentence structure, so it's good to get used to it early on.
§ Summary for 'i dag'
'I dag' is a simple but vital word. Keep these points in mind:
- Always include 'i'.
- Use it for the *current* day, not generally 'this day.'
- Be aware of more specific time expressions like 'i ettermiddag' and 'i kveld'.
- Pay attention to word order, especially when 'i dag' starts a sentence.
With a little practice, using 'i dag' correctly will become second nature.
How Formal Is It?
"Vi avholder møtet idag. (We are holding the meeting today.)"
"Hva skal du gjøre i dag? (What are you going to do today?)"
"Skal vi finne på noe i dag? (Shall we do something today?)"
"Mamma og pappa er hjemme i dag. (Mom and Dad are home today.)"
"Hva skjer idag, a? (What's up today, huh?)"
Beispiele nach Niveau
Jeg skal på kino i dag.
I am going to the cinema today.
Hva skal du gjøre i dag?
What are you going to do today?
Det er solskinn i dag.
It is sunny today.
Vi spiser middag ute i dag.
We are eating dinner out today.
Har du tid til å snakke i dag?
Do you have time to talk today?
Jeg er veldig trøtt i dag.
I am very tired today.
Bussen er forsinket i dag.
The bus is delayed today.
Skal vi treffes i dag eller i morgen?
Shall we meet today or tomorrow?
Jeg har mye å gjøre i dag, så jeg må jobbe sent.
I have a lot to do today, so I have to work late.
Været er fint i dag, perfekt for en tur i parken.
The weather is nice today, perfect for a walk in the park.
Har du noen planer for i dag, eller er du ledig?
Do you have any plans for today, or are you free?
Vi skulle egentlig reise i morgen, men vi bestemte oss for å dra i dag istedenfor.
We were supposed to leave tomorrow, but we decided to go today instead.
Hun føler seg litt uvel i dag, så hun blir hjemme fra jobben.
She feels a bit unwell today, so she's staying home from work.
Det er en viktig presentasjon i dag, så jeg må være godt forberedt.
There's an important presentation today, so I need to be well prepared.
Hva er dagens meny? Jeg er sulten i dag.
What's on the menu today? I'm hungry today.
Til tross for regnet, var det en god dag i dag.
Despite the rain, it was a good day today.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
Refers to a general, indefinite day, not specifically 'today'.
Less common for 'today' in spoken Norwegian, 'i dag' is preferred.
Can be confused with 'forrige uke'. 'Siste' can imply the final week of a series, or the very latest week, while 'forrige' explicitly means the previous week.
Grammatikmuster
Leicht verwechselbar
'I dag' means 'today' in Norwegian. Learners often confuse it with 'en dag' (a day) or 'denne dag' (this day), but 'i dag' is a set adverbial phrase.
'I dag' specifically means 'today,' referring to the current day. Other phrases like 'en dag' refer to 'a day' in a general sense, and 'denne dag' is less common for 'today' in contemporary speech.
Hva skal du gjøre *i dag*? (What are you going to do *today*?)
Similar to 'i dag', learners might try to construct 'yesterday' with 'en går' or 'denne går'. 'I går' is the fixed phrase.
'I går' means 'yesterday,' referring to the day before today. It's a specific adverbial phrase.
Jeg så deg *i går*. (I saw you *yesterday*.)
Again, the 'i' preposition for time can be tricky. 'I morgen' is a set phrase for 'tomorrow'.
'I morgen' means 'tomorrow,' referring to the day after today. It's a specific adverbial phrase and not to be confused with 'en morgen' (a morning) or 'denne morgen' (this morning).
Vi kan møtes *i morgen*. (We can meet *tomorrow*.)
Learners often try to use 'siste uke' or 'den siste uke' for 'last week'. While 'siste' can sometimes mean 'last', 'forrige' is more commonly used for 'last' in the sense of the previous one in a sequence.
'Forrige uke' means 'last week' (the week immediately before this one). 'Siste uke' can also mean 'last week', but it can also imply the final week of something, or the very latest week.
Jeg var syk *forrige uke*. (I was sick *last week*.)
Similar to 'forrige uke', learners might guess 'etter uke' or 'den neste uke'. 'Neste uke' is the standard way to say 'next week'.
'Neste uke' means 'next week' (the week immediately following this one). It's a straightforward phrase.
Vi skal reise *neste uke*. (We are going to travel *next week*.)
Satzmuster
Jeg er opptatt {i dag}.
Jeg er opptatt i dag. (I am busy today.)
Hva skal du gjøre {i dag}?
Hva skal du gjøre i dag? (What are you going to do today?)
Vi drar til butikken {i dag}.
Vi drar til butikken i dag. (We are going to the store today.)
Har du tid {i dag}?
Har du tid i dag? (Do you have time today?)
Jeg jobber ikke {i dag}.
Jeg jobber ikke i dag. (I am not working today.)
{I dag} er en god dag.
I dag er en god dag. (Today is a good day.)
{I dag} spiser vi middag kl. 18.00.
I dag spiser vi middag kl. 18.00. (Today we eat dinner at 6 PM.)
Skal vi møtes {i dag}?
Skal vi møtes i dag? (Shall we meet today?)
Wortfamilie
Substantive
Adjektive
So verwendest du es
i dag literally translates to "in day". It's always written as two separate words. It refers to the current day, meaning "today". You'll hear it constantly in everyday Norwegian speech.
A common mistake is to write idag as one word. This is incorrect. Always keep it as two separate words: i dag. Another mistake for English speakers is to directly translate "on this present day" or "at the present day." While i dag means today, you don't need additional prepositions like "på" (on) before it. For example, don't say på i dag. Just use i dag.
Tipps
Basic use of 'i dag'
Remember that 'i dag' means today. It's a fundamental word for talking about the present day. For example, 'Jeg skal jobbe i dag' means 'I will work today.'
Using 'i dag' in sentences
'I dag' can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence. Both 'I dag er det fint vær' and 'Det er fint vær i dag' are correct ways to say 'It's nice weather today.'
Don't confuse 'i dag' with 'dagen'
'I dag' specifically means today. 'Dagen' means the day in general. For example, 'Dagen er lang' means 'The day is long', not specifically 'Today is long'.
Pronunciation practice
The 'g' in 'i dag' is often silent or very soft, almost like a 'y' sound. Practice saying 'ee-dahg' or 'ee-dahy' to get it right. It's not a hard 'g' like in go.
Common phrases with 'i dag'
Learn common phrases: 'Hva skal du gjøre i dag?' (What are you going to do today?), 'Jeg er trøtt i dag' (I am tired today.).
Avoid literal translation from English
Do not translate 'in today' or 'on today' directly. 'I dag' already includes the idea of on this day. Just use 'i dag'.
Daily Norwegian conversation
'I dag' is used very frequently in daily Norwegian conversation. You'll hear it in greetings like 'God dag!' (Good day!) and when discussing plans for today.
Time expressions: 'i dag', 'i går', 'i morgen'
Group 'i dag' with other common time expressions like 'i går' (yesterday) and 'i morgen' (tomorrow) to solidify your understanding of time in Norwegian.
Using 'i dag' with tenses
'I dag' is typically used with present or future tenses, as it refers to the current day. 'Jeg har spist middag i dag' (I have eaten dinner today - present perfect). 'Jeg skal spise middag i dag' (I will eat dinner today - future).
Practice with a calendar
Look at a calendar and verbally express what you are doing or what is happening 'i dag' (today). This helps reinforce the meaning.
Im Alltag üben
Kontexte aus dem Alltag
Talking about current plans or activities.
- Hva skal du gjøre i dag?
- Jeg skal jobbe i dag.
- Vi skal spise middag ute i dag.
Referring to the current date.
- I dag er det mandag.
- Hvilken dato er det i dag?
- I dag er en spesiell dag.
Discussing how you feel on the current day.
- Jeg er sliten i dag.
- Jeg føler meg bra i dag.
- Er du glad i dag?
Making observations about the weather on the current day.
- Det regner i dag.
- Solen skinner i dag.
- Det er kaldt i dag.
Comparing something to another day.
- I dag er bedre enn i går.
- I dag er verre enn i går.
- Det er annerledes i dag.
Gesprächseinstiege
"Hva er planene dine i dag?"
"Hvordan er været der du er i dag?"
"Har du noe spennende å gjøre i dag?"
"Føler du deg energisk i dag?"
"Hva er det beste som har skjedd i dag?"
Tagebuch-Impulse
Skriv ned tre ting du er takknemlig for i dag.
Beskriv en utfordring du møtte i dag, og hvordan du håndterte den.
Hva lærte du i dag som du ikke visste før?
Hvis du kunne gjøre én ting annerledes i dag, hva ville det vært?
Hvilke mål har du for resten av dagen, og hvordan vil du nå dem?
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 Fragen'I dag' means 'today' or 'on this present day'. It's an adverbial phrase. 'Dag' simply means 'day'. You use 'i dag' to specify 'today'.
Yes, absolutely! It's very flexible. You can say:
- 'I dag skal jeg på kino.' (Today I am going to the cinema.)
- 'Jeg skal på kino i dag.' (I am going to the cinema today.)
It's pronounced roughly like 'ee dahg'. The 'g' at the end is often very soft, almost like a 'k' sound for some speakers, or even silent in some dialects. Think of it as a soft 'g' like in 'bag'.
'I dag' specifically refers to the current day, the one you are living right now. If you want to talk about 'a day' in general, you would use 'en dag' or 'dag'.
Yes, there are similar phrases!
- For 'tomorrow,' you use 'i morgen'.
- For 'yesterday,' you use 'i går'.
No, that's not what 'i dag' means. If you want to say 'during the day' or 'in the daytime' (as opposed to night), you would typically use phrases like 'om dagen'.
The 'i' functions as a preposition here, meaning 'in' or 'on'. So, literally, 'i dag' means 'on day' or 'in day' when referring to the current day. It's just how the phrase is formed in Norwegian.
Absolutely! You can use it in questions just like in statements.
- 'Hva skal du gjøre i dag?' (What are you going to do today?)
- 'Skal vi møtes i dag?' (Shall we meet today?)
'I dag' is neutral. You can use it in any context, whether you're speaking formally or informally.
A common mistake is to translate 'today' too literally and forget the 'i'. You might hear learners just say 'dag' when they mean 'today'. Remember to always include the 'i': 'i dag'.
Teste dich selbst 54 Fragen
This sentence means 'I am going to work today.' The Norwegian word order is subject-verb-adverbial phrase.
This sentence means 'She is not coming today.' In Norwegian, 'ikke' (not) usually comes after the verb.
This means 'What are you going to do today?' The question word 'hva' (what) starts the sentence, followed by the verb.
Write three sentences about what you plan to do today. Use 'i dag' in each sentence.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I dag skal jeg lese en bok. I dag skal jeg spise middag med venner. Jeg skal også se en film i dag.
Imagine you are writing a short diary entry for today. Describe your feelings or an important event that happened 'i dag'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Kjære dagbok, i dag var en lang dag. Jeg føler meg litt trøtt. Jeg så en god venn i dag.
Your friend asks you what you usually do on this particular day of the week. Write two sentences using 'i dag' to explain what you're doing, and then one sentence about what you usually do.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I dag jobber jeg. Etter jobb skal jeg trene. Vanligvis leser jeg en bok på denne dagen.
Hva skal personen gjøre etter møtet i Oslo i dag?
Read this passage:
Hei! Hvordan går det? Jeg er i Oslo i dag for et møte. Møtet starter klokken ti. Etter møtet skal jeg spise lunsj med en kollega. Jeg håper jeg rekker å se litt av byen også i dag.
Hva skal personen gjøre etter møtet i Oslo i dag?
Teksten sier 'Etter møtet skal jeg spise lunsj med en kollega'.
Teksten sier 'Etter møtet skal jeg spise lunsj med en kollega'.
Hva er været i dag ifølge teksten?
Read this passage:
Værmeldingen for i dag er sol og varmt. Perfekt vær for en tur i parken! Men i morgen blir det regn, så det er best å nyte solen mens den er her.
Hva er været i dag ifølge teksten?
Teksten sier 'Værmeldingen for i dag er sol og varmt'.
Teksten sier 'Værmeldingen for i dag er sol og varmt'.
Hva er det siste personen planlegger å gjøre i dag, hvis tiden strekker til?
Read this passage:
Jeg har mye å gjøre i dag. Først må jeg rydde leiligheten, så skal jeg handle mat. Etterpå har jeg en avtale med tannlegen. Kvelden skal brukes til å slappe av med en god bok, hvis jeg rekker.
Hva er det siste personen planlegger å gjøre i dag, hvis tiden strekker til?
Teksten avslutter med 'Kvelden skal brukes til å slappe av med en god bok, hvis jeg rekker'.
Teksten avslutter med 'Kvelden skal brukes til å slappe av med en god bok, hvis jeg rekker'.
This sentence means 'I am going to work today.' The common structure is Subject + Verb + Prepositional Phrase + 'i dag'.
This sentence means 'The weather is nice today.' The structure is Subject + Verb + Adjective + 'i dag'.
This sentence means 'What are we having for dinner today?' It's a question using 'Hva' (What) at the beginning.
Værmeldingen sa at det skulle snø ___.
The weather forecast said it would snow today. 'i dag' means 'today'.
Jeg har så mye å gjøre ___ at jeg knapt rekker å spise.
I have so much to do today that I barely have time to eat. 'i dag' means 'today'.
Mange bedrifter tillater fjernarbeid, men ___ må jeg være på kontoret.
Many companies allow remote work, but today I have to be at the office. 'i dag' means 'today'.
Har du sett nyhetene ___? Det har skjedd en stor ulykke.
Have you seen the news today? A big accident has happened. 'i dag' means 'today'.
Det er en spesiell anledning ___, så vi skal ut og spise.
It's a special occasion today, so we're going out to eat. 'i dag' means 'today'.
Jeg føler meg ikke så bra ___. Jeg tror jeg blir hjemme fra jobb.
I don't feel so good today. I think I'll stay home from work. 'i dag' means 'today'.
Choose the best translation: 'Jeg har mye å gjøre i dag.'
'I dag' directly translates to 'today', and 'har' is the present tense of 'have'.
Which sentence correctly uses 'i dag'?
'I dag kveld' is the common way to say 'tonight'.
Complete the sentence: 'Været er bedre ___ enn i går.'
The sentence compares the weather 'today' to 'yesterday'.
'I dag' can only be placed at the beginning of a sentence.
'I dag' can be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, depending on emphasis and flow.
The phrase 'i dag' is an adverb.
'I dag' functions as an adverb of time, modifying the verb or the entire sentence.
If someone asks 'Hva gjør du i dag?', a correct response could be 'Jeg jobber'.
This is a direct and appropriate answer to the question 'What are you doing today?'.
Does it sound like a good idea to go for a hike today, given the weather forecast?
Have you planned anything special today, or are you taking it as it comes?
It's important to remember that what we do today affects tomorrow.
Read this aloud:
Jeg har så mye å gjøre i dag at jeg knapt vet hvor jeg skal begynne.
Focus: knapt, begynne
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Kan vi avtale å møtes en annen dag, for i dag er jeg dessverre opptatt?
Focus: avtale, dessverre
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
Tenk at det allerede er fredag i dag! Hvor ble uken av?
Focus: allerede, hvor ble av
Du hast gesagt:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means, 'We must decide this today to avoid further problems.' The word order places 'i dag' to specify the time of the action.
The sentence translates to, 'It is important that we prioritize the most important tasks today.' 'i dag' clarifies when the prioritization should happen.
This means, 'She has decided to present her proposal today.' 'i dag' indicates the timing of the presentation.
Hva er planene dine ___?
'I dag' means 'today' or 'on this present day', fitting the context of asking about plans for the current day.
Jeg føler meg ikke så bra ___.
'I dag' translates to 'today', which is appropriate for expressing how one feels on the present day.
Har du mye å gjøre ___?
To ask about tasks for the current day, 'i dag' (today) is the correct adverb.
Været er fint ___.
'I dag' means 'today', making it suitable for describing the weather on the current day.
Vi skal spise middag ute ___.
If the plan is to eat out on the present day, 'i dag' (today) is the correct adverb.
Hvilken dato er det ___?
To ask about the current date, 'i dag' (today) is the appropriate adverb.
The correct order forms the sentence 'I am working from home today.'
The correct order forms the sentence 'We decided not to travel today.'
The correct order forms the sentence 'The weather is perfect for a mountain hike today.'
/ 54 correct
Perfect score!
Basic use of 'i dag'
Remember that 'i dag' means today. It's a fundamental word for talking about the present day. For example, 'Jeg skal jobbe i dag' means 'I will work today.'
Using 'i dag' in sentences
'I dag' can appear at the beginning or end of a sentence. Both 'I dag er det fint vær' and 'Det er fint vær i dag' are correct ways to say 'It's nice weather today.'
Don't confuse 'i dag' with 'dagen'
'I dag' specifically means today. 'Dagen' means the day in general. For example, 'Dagen er lang' means 'The day is long', not specifically 'Today is long'.
Pronunciation practice
The 'g' in 'i dag' is often silent or very soft, almost like a 'y' sound. Practice saying 'ee-dahg' or 'ee-dahy' to get it right. It's not a hard 'g' like in go.
