When you're learning Norwegian, you'll encounter a few words for 'to talk' or 'to speak.' One common word is prate. This verb is often used when you're talking in a friendly, casual, and informal way. Think of it like 'chatting' in English.
For example, you might prate with a friend over coffee, or prate with your family about your day. It implies a relaxed and easy conversation, not a formal discussion or speech. So, if you want to sound natural when talking about casual conversations, prate is a good word to use.
When you learn Norwegian, you'll find there are several verbs that mean 'to talk' or 'to speak.' One common verb is prate. This word is often used to describe talking in a friendly, informal way. Think of it as 'chatting' or 'having a friendly conversation.'
For example, if you say 'Jeg liker å prate med vennene mine,' you mean 'I like to chat with my friends.' It suggests a relaxed and pleasant exchange. While you might also use 'snakke' for general speaking, prate carries that nuance of friendliness and informality, making it a good choice for casual conversations.
When you're at the B2 level in Norwegian, it's helpful to understand the nuances between similar verbs. While 'snakke' is a general verb for 'to speak' or 'to talk,' 'prate' specifically implies talking in a friendly, often informal, and relaxed manner.
You would use 'prate' when chatting with friends, having a casual conversation, or just generally making small talk. It carries a connotation of a pleasant and often extended exchange of words, distinguishing it from more formal or functional 'speaking' situations where 'snakke' might be more appropriate.
When we refer to CEFR levels, we're talking about the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This framework helps describe different levels of language proficiency. For instance, A2 is considered a basic user, meaning someone at this level can understand and use frequently used expressions and simple sentences related to immediate needs.
On the other hand, C1, or "Effective Operational Proficiency," signifies a much higher level of mastery. A C1 user can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. They can express themselves fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions, using language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes.
When you learn Norwegian, you'll find there are often several ways to say the same thing. 'Å prate' is a great example of this. It means 'to talk' or 'to chat,' but it specifically implies a friendly, informal conversation.
You wouldn't typically 'prate' in a formal meeting, for instance. Instead, you'd use it when you're catching up with a friend or having a casual conversation with a colleague. It's about the relaxed exchange of words, often without a specific agenda beyond connecting with another person.
Think of it as the Norwegian equivalent of 'to have a chinwag' or 'to shoot the breeze.' It’s a very common and natural word to use in everyday situations. Using 'å prate' correctly will make your Norwegian sound much more natural and fluent, as it shows an understanding of the nuances in Norwegian communication. It’s a key word for expressing social interaction comfortably.
prate en 30 segundos
- prate = to talk, chat
- Used for friendly, informal conversations
- Less formal than 'snakke'
§ Understanding 'prate'
- Norwegian Word
- prate
- Part of Speech
- Verb
- CEFR Level
- A2
- Definition
- To talk in a friendly way; to chat, to converse casually.
The verb 'prate' is very common in Norwegian. It means to talk, but specifically in a relaxed, friendly, and often informal manner. Think of it as 'to chat' or 'to converse.' It's not about giving a speech or having a formal discussion. It's about easy, comfortable conversation.
You'll hear 'prate' used often in everyday situations, from talking with colleagues to catching up with friends. It's a fundamental word for describing social interaction in Norwegian.
§ 'Prate' at work
In a Norwegian workplace, 'prate' is frequently used to describe informal conversations among colleagues. It shows a friendly, open work environment. You might hear someone say they are going to 'prate litt' with a colleague, meaning they are going to have a quick, informal chat.
Vi pleier å prate
Skal vi ta en kaffepause og prate
§ 'Prate' in school settings
In schools, 'prate' is common when students are talking among themselves during breaks or in group work. It can also be used by teachers to encourage students to discuss topics informally.
Studentene liker å prate
Læreren ba oss om å prate
§ 'Prate' in news and media
While news reports themselves are often formal, 'prate' can appear when describing interviews or informal segments. For example, a journalist might 'prate' with someone in the street, implying a more casual interaction than a formal interview.
Journalisten fikk tid til å prate
De skal prate
§ Key takeaway for 'prate'
When you hear or use 'prate,' remember it's all about friendly, casual conversation. It's the kind of talking you do when you're relaxed and comfortable. It's a great word to use to sound more natural in Norwegian.
- Use 'prate' for informal chats.
- It implies a friendly atmosphere.
- It's very common in daily life, work, and school.
Many English speakers learning Norwegian make some common mistakes when using the verb 'prate'. It's important to understand these to use the word correctly and sound more natural. Let's look at the main issues.
§ Don't confuse 'prate' with 'snakke' or 'tale'
'Prate' means to talk in a friendly, often informal way. It implies a casual conversation. This is different from 'snakke' and 'tale'.
- DEFINITION
- Snakke: A more general verb for 'to speak' or 'to talk'. It can be informal or formal.
Jeg må snakke med sjefen min. (I need to talk with my boss.)
Vi skal prate om ferien. (We are going to chat about the holiday.)
- DEFINITION
- Tale: This is more formal. It often means 'to give a speech' or to speak in a very official context.
Kongen skal tale til nasjonen. (The King will address the nation.)
§ Using 'prate' when a more serious 'talk' is needed
Because 'prate' is friendly and casual, it's not the right word for serious discussions or arguments. Using 'prate' in such situations can sound dismissive or inappropriate.
- Incorrect: Jeg må prate med deg om det alvorlige problemet. (I need to chat with you about the serious problem.)
- Correct: Jeg må snakke med deg om det alvorlige problemet. (I need to talk with you about the serious problem.)
§ Incorrect prepositions with 'prate'
Like many verbs, 'prate' often pairs with specific prepositions. A common mistake is using the wrong one. The most common prepositions used with 'prate' are 'med' (with) and 'om' (about).
Vi pratet med hverandre i timevis. (We chatted with each other for hours.)
De pratet om været. (They chatted about the weather.)
§ Overusing 'prate'
While 'prate' is useful, it's not the only way to express talking. Vary your vocabulary to sound more natural. Sometimes, simply 'si' (to say) or 'spørre' (to ask) might be more appropriate, or even 'snakke' for general speaking.
Han spurte om veien. (He asked about the way.)
By being mindful of these common pitfalls, you can use 'prate' effectively and appropriately in your Norwegian conversations.
Ejemplos por nivel
De liker å prate sammen på kafeen.
They like to talk together at the cafe.
Vi kan prate om det senere.
We can talk about that later.
Hun prater mye i timen.
She talks a lot in class.
Vil du prate litt nå?
Do you want to chat a bit now?
Han pratet med meg om ferien sin.
He talked with me about his holiday.
Ikke prate så høyt!
Don't talk so loudly!
De prater ofte i telefonen.
They often talk on the phone.
Jeg liker å prate med nye mennesker.
I like to talk with new people.
De satt lenge og pratet om alt og ingenting, og nøt hverandres selskap.
They sat for a long time and talked about everything and nothing, enjoying each other's company.
Hun er en sånn person som alltid er lett å prate med, uansett tema.
She is such a person who is always easy to talk to, no matter the topic.
Etter middagen pleier vi å prate litt før vi rydder av bordet.
After dinner, we usually talk a bit before clearing the table.
Det var hyggelig å prate med deg i går, vi må gjøre det igjen snart.
It was nice talking to you yesterday, we must do it again soon.
Selv om de ikke hadde sett hverandre på år, begynte de å prate som om ingen tid hadde gått.
Even though they hadn't seen each other in years, they started talking as if no time had passed.
Han er ofte litt sjenert i starten, men når han først kommer i gang, kan han prate i vei.
He is often a bit shy at first, but once he gets started, he can talk away.
Vi brukte hele kvelden på å prate om gamle minner og le av felles opplevelser.
We spent the entire evening talking about old memories and laughing at shared experiences.
Det er viktig å prate åpent om problemene for å finne en løsning.
It is important to talk openly about the problems to find a solution.
Familia de palabras
Sustantivos
Adjetivos
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of someone *prattling* on in English – it sounds similar to *prate* and means to talk a lot.
Asociación visual
Imagine a friendly, talkative parrot on your shoulder, constantly *prating* away. The parrot is your 'prate-buddy'.
Word Web
Desafío
Describe three different situations where you would 'prate' with someone. For example: 'Jeg liker å prate med vennene mine på en kafé.' (I like to chat with my friends at a cafe.)
Ponte a prueba 66 preguntas
Listen for 'prate'.
Listen for 'prater'.
Listen for 'prate'.
Read this aloud:
Jeg vil prate norsk.
Focus: prate (praw-teh)
Dijiste:
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Read this aloud:
Vi prater hver dag.
Focus: prater (praw-ter)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Skal vi prate nå?
Focus: prate (praw-teh)
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a short sentence about two friends talking. Use 'prate'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
To venner prater sammen på kafé. (Two friends are talking together at a cafe.)
Complete the sentence: Jeg liker å _______ med deg. (I like to _______ with you.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg liker å prate med deg. (I like to talk with you.)
Imagine you are meeting a new person. Write a sentence asking if they want to talk.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Vil du prate litt? (Do you want to talk a little?)
Hva liker Lise og Per å gjøre sammen? (What do Lise and Per like to do together?)
Read this passage:
Lise og Per er gode venner. De prater ofte sammen om dagene sine. De liker å prate om filmer og bøker. De har det alltid hyggelig når de prater.
Hva liker Lise og Per å gjøre sammen? (What do Lise and Per like to do together?)
The passage says 'De prater ofte sammen' and 'De liker å prate om filmer og bøker'.
The passage says 'De prater ofte sammen' and 'De liker å prate om filmer og bøker'.
Hva gjør jeg med vennen min på festen? (What do I do with my friend at the party?)
Read this passage:
Jeg er på en fest. Mange mennesker er her. Noen spiser, andre danser. Jeg ser en venn og vi begynner å prate om været. Det er hyggelig.
Hva gjør jeg med vennen min på festen? (What do I do with my friend at the party?)
The passage states 'Jeg ser en venn og vi begynner å prate om været.'
The passage states 'Jeg ser en venn og vi begynner å prate om været.'
Hva liker barn å gjøre med foreldrene sine? (What do children like to do with their parents?)
Read this passage:
Barn liker å leke. De liker også å prate med foreldrene sine. Det er viktig å snakke sammen i familien.
Hva liker barn å gjøre med foreldrene sine? (What do children like to do with their parents?)
The passage says 'De liker også å prate med foreldrene sine.'
The passage says 'De liker også å prate med foreldrene sine.'
Hva er den beste oversettelsen av 'prate' i denne setningen: 'Vi prater ofte om ferieplaner.'?
'Prate' betyr å snakke uformelt og vennlig, som 'to chat'.
Velg det riktige ordet: 'Jeg liker å ___ med vennene mine på kafeen.'
I denne sammenhengen passer 'prate' best fordi man gjerne snakker med venner på en kafé.
Hvilken setning bruker 'prate' riktig?
'Prate' brukes om å snakke, ofte uformelt. De andre alternativene gir ikke mening.
Man kan 'prate' i telefonen.
Ja, 'prate i telefonen' betyr å snakke i telefonen, som er en vanlig bruk av ordet.
Ordet 'prate' brukes vanligvis når man holder en formell tale.
Nei, 'prate' er mer uformelt. For en formell tale ville man brukt 'holde tale' eller 'snakke'.
Hvis noen 'prater mye', betyr det at de er veldig stille.
Nei, hvis noen 'prater mye', betyr det at de snakker mye.
They like to talk together in the evenings.
Do you have time to chat a bit now?
We can talk about it later.
Read this aloud:
Jeg liker å prate med nye folk.
Focus: prate
Dijiste:
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Read this aloud:
Skal vi prate litt mer om dette?
Focus: Skal, prate
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hun prater alltid så hyggelig.
Focus: prater, hyggelig
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a short paragraph about a casual conversation you had recently. Include at least one instance of 'prate'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I går pratet jeg med en venn på kafé. Vi pratet om helgen og våre planer for neste uke. Det var hyggelig å prate sammen.
Imagine you are meeting a new acquaintance. What would you 'prate' about to get to know them better? Write 2-3 sentences.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg ville nok prate om deres interesser og hva de liker å gjøre på fritiden. Kanskje vi kunne prate om hvor de kommer fra også.
Describe a situation where someone was 'prating' too much. What was the topic and how did it make you feel? (2-3 sentences)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg var på en fest, og en person pratet veldig mye om seg selv. Det var litt kjedelig å bare høre på. Jeg ville heller prate om andre ting.
What were Lise and Per doing at the bus stop?
Read this passage:
Lise og Per møttes på busstoppet. De begynte å prate om været, og deretter om planene sine for sommeren. De lo mye og det virket som de koste seg.
What were Lise and Per doing at the bus stop?
The passage says 'De begynte å prate', meaning they started to talk, and the context implies a friendly, casual conversation.
The passage says 'De begynte å prate', meaning they started to talk, and the context implies a friendly, casual conversation.
What is the main topic of the family's conversation after dinner?
Read this passage:
Etter middagen satt familien lenge og pratet. De delte historier fra dagen og diskuterte en kommende ferie. Det var en koselig avslutning på kvelden.
What is the main topic of the family's conversation after dinner?
The passage states 'De delte historier fra dagen og diskuterte en kommende ferie', which directly answers the question.
The passage states 'De delte historier fra dagen og diskuterte en kommende ferie', which directly answers the question.
Why does the narrator like to 'prate' with new people while traveling?
Read this passage:
Jeg liker å prate med nye folk når jeg reiser. Det er en fin måte å lære om kulturen og få nye perspektiver på. I går pratet jeg med en lokal om byens historie.
Why does the narrator like to 'prate' with new people while traveling?
The narrator states: 'Det er en fin måte å lære om kulturen og få nye perspektiver på'.
The narrator states: 'Det er en fin måte å lære om kulturen og få nye perspektiver på'.
The sentence describes people talking and laughing about old times.
The speaker wants to discuss the project after the meeting.
She enjoys talking with new people she meets while traveling.
Read this aloud:
Det er hyggelig å prate med deg om dette emnet.
Focus: hyggelig, prate, emnet
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Jeg skal prate med sjefen om min arbeidstid i morgen.
Focus: sjefen, arbeidstid
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Vi pratet hele kvelden om fremtidsplaner og drømmer.
Focus: pratet, kvelden, fremtidsplaner
Dijiste:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence structure (Subject + Verb + Adverb + Infinitive marker + Infinitive Verb + Prepositional Phrase) is common in Norwegian.
The order of elements (Subject + Verb + Prepositional Phrase for topic + Possessive + Prepositional Phrase for location) is typical.
This sentence uses the impersonal 'Det er' construction, followed by 'viktig å + infinitive' and then an adverb modifying the verb.
Imagine you are meeting a new acquaintance at a café. Write a short dialogue where you use 'prate' to describe a friendly conversation about a recent trip. Focus on natural, everyday language.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hei! Hyggelig å se deg. Vi kan sitte her. Så, har du gjort noe spennende i det siste? Jeg var nettopp i Bergen, og jeg har så mye å prate om fra turen!
Describe a situation where you would typically 'prate' with someone for a long time. What kind of topics would you discuss? Who would you be prating with?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg ville nok pratet lenge med en god venn over en kopp kaffe på en søndag. Vi kunne pratet om alt fra filmer vi har sett, bøker vi har lest, eller kanskje fremtidsplaner. Det er deilig å bare sitte og prate i flere timer uten stress.
You are at a family gathering. Write a short paragraph describing how different family members might 'prate' with each other.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
På familiebursdager samles vi alltid rundt bordet og prater. Besteforeldre prater ofte om gamle dager, mens fettere og kusiner prater om skolen og fritidsaktiviteter. Det er alltid mye latter og hyggelig prat rundt maten.
Hva gjorde de etter middagen?
Read this passage:
Etter middagen samlet de seg i stuen for å prate om dagens hendelser. Stemningen var avslappet, og alle bidro med sine tanker og meninger. Det var en fin måte å avslutte dagen på, med god prat og latter.
Hva gjorde de etter middagen?
Teksten sier klart at 'Etter middagen samlet de seg i stuen for å prate om dagens hendelser.'
Teksten sier klart at 'Etter middagen samlet de seg i stuen for å prate om dagens hendelser.'
Hvorfor ble de stående og prate så lenge?
Read this passage:
Jeg traff en gammel bekjent på gaten i dag, og vi ble stående og prate i en halvtime. Det var hyggelig å ta igjen gamle dager og høre hva hun hadde drevet med siden sist. Tiden fløy av sted.
Hvorfor ble de stående og prate så lenge?
Teksten sier 'Det var hyggelig å ta igjen gamle dager og høre hva hun hadde drevet med siden sist.'
Teksten sier 'Det var hyggelig å ta igjen gamle dager og høre hva hun hadde drevet med siden sist.'
Hva pratet barna om?
Read this passage:
Det var en varm sommerdag, og barna satt på gresset og pratet om planene sine for ferien. De drømte om is, bading og lange dager uten skole. Lyden av latter og ivrig prat fylte luften.
Hva pratet barna om?
Teksten nevner at 'barna satt på gresset og pratet om planene sine for ferien.'
Teksten nevner at 'barna satt på gresset og pratet om planene sine for ferien.'
This is a basic sentence structure in Norwegian: Subject + Verb + Prepositional Phrase. 'De' (They) is the subject, 'pratet' (talked) is the verb, and 'om været' (about the weather) is the prepositional phrase.
This sentence means 'We can talk about it over a coffee'. The structure is: Subject + Modal Verb + Main Verb + Prepositional Phrase + Prepositional Phrase.
This sentence means 'She talked about the trip all evening'. The structure is: Subject + Verb + Prepositional Phrase + Time Expression.
Etter middagen satt vi lenge og ___ om alt og ingenting.
'Pratet' (talked) fits the context of friendly conversation after dinner.
Hun elsker å ___ med naboene sine over en kopp kaffe.
'Prate' (talk) implies a friendly and informal conversation, suitable for talking with neighbors over coffee.
De brukte hele kvelden på å ___ om barndomsminner.
'Prate' (talk) is the most natural fit for recalling and sharing childhood memories in a friendly manner.
Læreren oppfordret elevene til å ___ med hverandre for å forbedre norsken.
To improve language skills, 'prate' (talk) with each other is the most relevant activity.
Selv om de ikke hadde sett hverandre på lenge, begynte de å ___ som om ingen tid hadde gått.
'Prate' (talk) naturally describes reconnecting and conversing as if no time had passed.
Han liker å ___ med fremmede på bussen; han sier han lærer mye av det.
'Prate' (talk) is appropriate for making friendly conversation with strangers to learn from them.
Which of these situations best describes someone using the word 'prate'?
'Prate' implies a friendly, informal conversation, making the friends catching up the best fit.
Which of the following Norwegian verbs is most similar in nuance to 'prate'?
'Snakke' is a broader term for talking, and 'prate' is a more specific, informal, and friendly way of 'snakke'. 'Konversere' is more formal, while 'diskutere' and 'forklare' imply specific communicative functions.
In which sentence would 'prate' be the most natural and appropriate verb?
The context of 'common interests over a cup of tea' strongly suggests an informal, friendly chat, which is precisely what 'prate' conveys. The other options imply more formal speaking roles or stages of language acquisition.
If someone says 'De pratet i timevis om været', it implies a deep, philosophical discussion.
'Prate' suggests a friendly, often light conversation. Talking 'om været' (about the weather) is a classic example of casual, not deep or philosophical, conversation.
Using 'prate' instead of 'snakke' always makes a conversation sound more formal.
On the contrary, 'prate' is generally more informal and implies a friendly chat, whereas 'snakke' can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
It would be appropriate to use 'prate' to describe a diplomat negotiating a treaty.
Diplomatic negotiations are typically formal and strategic, not a 'friendly chat'. More formal verbs like 'diskutere' (discuss) or 'forhandle' (negotiate) would be suitable.
/ 66 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Prate is a common and friendly way to say 'to talk' or 'to chat' in Norwegian.
- prate = to talk, chat
- Used for friendly, informal conversations
- Less formal than 'snakke'
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