When talking about the first part of the day, Norwegians say morgen. It's a masculine noun, so you'll often see it with the indefinite article en: en morgen (a morning).
You can use it in common phrases like god morgen (good morning), or to talk about things happening in the morning, for example: i morgen (tomorrow, literally 'in morning').
Remember, it's used for the time between sunrise and noon, similar to how 'morning' is used in English.
§ Understanding 'Morgen' in Norwegian
When you're learning Norwegian, one of the first words you'll encounter for time is 'morgen'. It's a fundamental word, so understanding it well will help you in many situations.
- DEFINITION
- The first part of the day, typically from sunrise to noon.
Think of 'morgen' as 'morning' in English. It's used in very similar ways. This word is super common and you'll hear it every single day.
§ Using 'Morgen' at Work
At work in Norway, 'morgen' comes up constantly. Whether it's greetings, planning, or discussing schedules, you'll hear it.
God morgen! (Good morning!)
This is the most common way to greet colleagues in the morning. You'll hear it in offices, construction sites, and shops.
Vi har et møte i morgen. (We have a meeting tomorrow morning.)
Here, 'i morgen' means 'tomorrow'. It’s a fixed phrase. Don't confuse 'morgen' (morning) with 'i morgen' (tomorrow). Context helps here.
§ 'Morgen' in School Settings
In schools, 'morgen' is just as crucial. Students and teachers use it to talk about daily routines and schedules.
Skolen starter klokken åtte hver morgen. (School starts at eight every morning.)
This shows a regular, repeated event. 'Hver morgen' means 'every morning'.
Hva skal vi gjøre denne morgenen? (What are we going to do this morning?)
Here, 'denne morgenen' refers to the current morning. This is direct and to the point.
§ Hearing 'Morgen' in the News
News broadcasters frequently use 'morgen' when reporting on events, weather, and schedules. It helps them set the time frame for their stories.
Weather reports:
Det blir solskinn i morgen. (It will be sunny tomorrow morning.)
Traffic updates:
Forvent kø på veiene i morgenrushet. (Expect traffic jams on the roads during tomorrow's rush hour.)
Notice 'morgenrushet' which means 'morning rush hour'. Many time-related words combine with 'morgen'.
§ Common Phrases with 'Morgen'
Beyond direct translations, 'morgen' is part of several common Norwegian phrases. Learning these will make you sound more natural.
God morgen: Good morning. (Most common greeting in the morning.)
God morgen, alle sammen! (Good morning, everyone!)
I morgen: Tomorrow. (The day after today.)
Vi kan møtes i morgen. (We can meet tomorrow.)
Morgenen etter: The morning after.
Han våknet morgenen etter. (He woke up the morning after.)
Tidlig på morgenen: Early in the morning.
Jeg liker å stå opp tidlig på morgenen. (I like to get up early in the morning.)
How Formal Is It?
"En morgenstund har gull i munn. (A morning hour has gold in its mouth. / The early bird gets the worm.)"
"God morgen! (Good morning!)"
"Vi sees i morran. (See you tomorrow morning.)"
"Solen står opp om morgenen. (The sun rises in the morning.)"
"Vi starter i første lys. (We'll start at first light.)"
Guía de pronunciación
- pronouncing the 'g' as a hard 'g' like in 'go' (it's often softer, almost like a 'y' or silent in some dialects, but for learners, a soft 'g' is good)
- not rolling the 'r' slightly
Nivel de dificultad
short
short
short
short
Qué aprender después
Aprende después
Avanzado
Se confunde a menudo con
Often confused with 'morgen' as both refer to periods before noon, but 'formiddag' is specifically the late morning/forenoon.
Can mean both 'day' (24 hours) and 'daytime', which might be confusing for learners expecting a distinct word for each.
Sometimes overlaps with what English speakers might consider 'night', especially in greetings.
Fácil de confundir
'Morgen' can be confusing because it refers to the early part of the day, specifically before noon. English speakers might confuse it with 'morning' which has a similar meaning, but the Norwegian usage can sometimes extend to include the entire forenoon, and it's also part of the greeting 'God morgen'.
In Norwegian, 'morgen' is a noun referring to the morning time. It's used in greetings like 'God morgen' (Good morning) and to describe events happening in the morning. It does not directly translate to the specific time of day in the same way 'morning' does in English when referring to the period right after waking up.
Vi spiser frokost om morgenen. (We eat breakfast in the morning.)
'Formiddag' is often confused with 'morgen' because both refer to a period before noon. However, 'formiddag' specifically means 'forenoon' or 'late morning', after 'morgen' but before 'middag' (noon/midday).
'Formiddag' refers to the period between morning and midday, typically from around 9 or 10 AM until noon. 'Morgen' is earlier, from waking up until roughly 9 or 10 AM.
Møtet er i formiddag. (The meeting is this forenoon/late morning.)
'Dag' can be confusing because it means both 'day' as in a 24-hour period, and 'day' as in the daytime (opposite of night).
When referring to the 24-hour period, 'dag' is used generally (e.g., 'en dag' - one day). When contrasting with night, it means daytime (e.g., 'på dagtid' - during the day).
Jeg jobber hele dagen. (I work all day.)
'Kveld' is generally 'evening', but its usage can sometimes extend to what English speakers might consider 'night', especially in greetings.
'Kveld' is typically the period from late afternoon until bedtime. 'Natt' (night) is specifically the sleeping period. However, 'God kveld' is used as a greeting even when it's dark outside.
Vi ser på TV om kvelden. (We watch TV in the evening.)
'Natt' means 'night', but learners might confuse its usage in specific phrases or with the broader 'kveld'.
'Natt' refers to the period of darkness and sleep. 'Kveld' is the evening. You say 'God natt' before sleeping, but 'God kveld' earlier in the evening.
Jeg sover om natten. (I sleep at night.)
Consejos
Start with 'God morgen'
Learn the common greeting 'God morgen!' (Good morning!). It's one of the first phrases you'll use daily.
Morning Routine
Think about your morning routine. What do you do? 'Jeg spiser frokost om morgenen.' (I eat breakfast in the morning.)
Using 'om morgenen'
To say 'in the morning,' Norwegians often use 'om morgenen'. 'Jeg drikker kaffe om morgenen.' (I drink coffee in the morning.)
Plural Form
The plural of 'morgen' is 'morgener'. 'Hver morgen' (every morning) or 'mange morgener' (many mornings).
Don't confuse 'i morgen'
Be careful not to confuse 'morgen' (morning) with 'i morgen' (tomorrow). The 'i' makes a big difference!
Early Bird Culture
Norwegians often start their day early. Early morning activities are common, so you'll hear 'morgen' frequently.
Word Associations
Associate 'morgen' with sunshine, coffee, or breakfast to help you remember it.
Time Expressions
Learn other time expressions alongside 'morgen': 'dag' (day), 'ettermiddag' (afternoon), 'kveld' (evening), 'natt' (night).
Derivatives: 'morgentåke'
As you advance, you'll see words like 'morgentåke' (morning fog) or 'morgenkaffe' (morning coffee), combining 'morgen' with other nouns.
Practice in Sentences
Create simple sentences using 'morgen'. For example, 'Jeg liker morgen.' (I like morning.) or 'Det er en fin morgen.' (It is a nice morning.)
Ponte a prueba 12 preguntas
Which of these phrases correctly uses 'morgen' to greet someone in the morning?
'God morgen!' is the standard greeting for 'Good morning!' in Norwegian.
If someone asks 'Hva skal du gjøre i morgen tidlig?' what are they asking about?
'I morgen tidlig' means 'early tomorrow morning'.
Which sentence correctly describes an activity that happens in the morning?
Frokost (breakfast) is typically eaten in the morning. Middag (dinner) is in the evening, and while one might sleep in the morning, 'Jeg sover' (I sleep) doesn't specify it as an morning activity.
You would say 'God morgen' to someone at 3 PM.
'God morgen' is used in the morning. At 3 PM, you would typically say 'God ettermiddag' (Good afternoon) or 'God dag' (Good day).
The phrase 'i morgen' means 'in the morning'.
'I morgen' means 'tomorrow'. If you want to say 'in the morning', you would use 'om morgenen' or 'på morgenen'.
If you have a meeting 'i morgen tidlig', it means the meeting is in the first part of the next day.
'I morgen tidlig' translates to 'tomorrow early' or 'early tomorrow morning', referring to the initial hours of the next day.
Imagine you are planning a typical morning in Norway. Describe what you would do, starting from when you wake up. Include at least three activities and mention what you would eat or drink.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Om morgenen står jeg opp klokka sju. Jeg spiser en god frokost med brød og ost, og drikker kaffe. Etter frokosten gjør jeg meg klar for å dra på jobb.
Write a short email to a Norwegian friend describing your morning routine on a weekend. How is it different from a weekday morning? What do you usually do for leisure?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hei Petter, På en helgemorgen liker jeg å sove litt lenger. Jeg står gjerne opp rundt ni, spiser en rolig frokost og leser avisen. Etterpå tar jeg ofte en tur i parken. Hva gjør du på helgemorgenene dine? Hilsen [Your Name]
You are writing a short blog post about the importance of a good morning routine. Explain why it is important to start the day well and suggest one or two simple habits people can adopt.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
En god morgenrutine er viktig for å starte dagen på en positiv og produktiv måte. Det kan hjelpe deg å føle deg mer energisk og fokusert. En enkel vane er å spise en næringsrik frokost og ta deg tid til å planlegge dagen foran deg.
Hvilken drikke er nevnt som en vanlig del av en norsk morgen?
Read this passage:
En typisk norsk morgen starter ofte med en kopp kaffe eller te og en skive brød med pålegg. Mange nordmenn foretrekker en stille start på dagen, kanskje med radioen på i bakgrunnen mens de leser avisen. For familier med barn er morgenen ofte mer hektisk, med forberedelser til skole og barnehage.
Hvilken drikke er nevnt som en vanlig del av en norsk morgen?
Teksten sier klart at en norsk morgen ofte starter med 'en kopp kaffe eller te'.
Teksten sier klart at en norsk morgen ofte starter med 'en kopp kaffe eller te'.
Hvorfor foretrekker noen å trene om morgenen?
Read this passage:
For mange er morgenen den beste tiden for trening. En løpetur før frokost kan gi masse energi for resten av dagen. Andre foretrekker å trene på kvelden, men argumenterer for at morgenøkter hjelper med å etablere en fast rutine.
Hvorfor foretrekker noen å trene om morgenen?
Passasjen nevner at 'En løpetur før frokost kan gi masse energi for resten av dagen'.
Passasjen nevner at 'En løpetur før frokost kan gi masse energi for resten av dagen'.
Hva er en vanlig forskjell på en helgemorgen sammenlignet med en ukedagsmorgen?
Read this passage:
I helgene er morgenene ofte annerledes enn i ukedagene. Mange sover lenger og spiser en mer utvidet frokost, kanskje med egg og bacon. Det er også en populær tid for å planlegge dagsutflukter eller andre fritidsaktiviteter.
Hva er en vanlig forskjell på en helgemorgen sammenlignet med en ukedagsmorgen?
Teksten sier: 'Mange sover lenger og spiser en mer utvidet frokost, kanskje med egg og bacon.'
Teksten sier: 'Mange sover lenger og spiser en mer utvidet frokost, kanskje med egg og bacon.'
/ 12 correct
Perfect score!
Start with 'God morgen'
Learn the common greeting 'God morgen!' (Good morning!). It's one of the first phrases you'll use daily.
Morning Routine
Think about your morning routine. What do you do? 'Jeg spiser frokost om morgenen.' (I eat breakfast in the morning.)
Using 'om morgenen'
To say 'in the morning,' Norwegians often use 'om morgenen'. 'Jeg drikker kaffe om morgenen.' (I drink coffee in the morning.)
Plural Form
The plural of 'morgen' is 'morgener'. 'Hver morgen' (every morning) or 'mange morgener' (many mornings).
