hvordan

§ What "hvordan" means

Norwegian Word

hvordan

Word Type

Adverb

CEFR Level

A1

Definition

how

The Norwegian word "hvordan" translates directly to "how" in English. It's a fundamental word you'll use constantly to ask about manner, condition, or degree. Think of it as your go-to word for inquiring about procedures, states, or feelings.

§ Basic Questions with "hvordan"

You'll often hear "hvordan" at the beginning of a question. It works just like "how" does in English.

This is perhaps the most common phrase you'll learn. It means "How are you?" or "How's it going?"

Meaning: "How was your day?" (Literally: How was the day yours?)

Meaning: "How can I help you?" (Literally: How can I help you?)

§ Using "hvordan" in statements

You can also use "hvordan" in statements, especially when you're describing how something is done or how something feels. In these cases, it acts as a conjunction connecting two parts of a sentence.

Meaning: "I don't know how to do it." (Literally: I know not how one does it.)

Meaning: "He explained how the system works." (Literally: He explained how the system functions.)

§ "Hvordan" with Prepositions

Unlike English, where you might say "How do you go to...?" or "How do you feel about...?", Norwegian often integrates the idea of "how" with other words, rather than using separate prepositions in the same way. However, you'll still use prepositions in the sentence, just not directly tied to "hvordan" in a phrase like "how by" or "how with".

Consider this:

• Hvordan

  Meaning: "How do you travel to work?" (Literally: How travel you to work?) Here, "til" (to) is used for direction, not directly with "hvordan" itself.

• Hvordan

  Meaning: "How does it feel to be here?" (Literally: How feels it to be here?) "Å være" (to be) is part of the infinitive phrase.

The key is to understand that "hvordan" asks about the manner or method, and any prepositions in the sentence will serve their usual grammatical function related to other words, not specifically to "hvordan" in a fixed phrase.

§ Common Phrases with "hvordan"

Here are a few more common phrases using "hvordan" to help you get started:

• Hvordan

  Meaning: "How do you say this in Norwegian?" (Literally: How says one this in Norwegian?)

• Jeg lurer på hvordan de gjør det.

  Meaning: "I wonder how they do it." (Literally: I wonder on how they do it.)

Keep practicing these phrases. The more you hear and use "hvordan", the more natural it will become for you.

§ Understanding 'hvordan' in Norwegian

The word 'hvordan' is very useful in Norwegian. It means 'how'. You will hear it a lot. It's an adverb, which means it describes an action or tells you 'how' something is done. Let's look at how it works.

Norwegian Word

hvordan

Part of Speech

adverb

Definition

how

CEFR Level

A1

§ Asking 'how' in daily life

You will often hear 'hvordan' when people ask about well-being or method. It's one of the first words you learn because it's so common. Think of it as your go-to word for asking 'how'.

Translation hint: How is it going?

Translation hint: How are you?

§ 'Hvordan' at work and school

In work and school settings, 'hvordan' helps you ask about processes, methods, or progress. It's crucial for understanding tasks and instructions.

• Asking about a task:

  Hvordan

  Translation hint: How do we do this?

• Asking about a solution:

  Kan du vise meg hvordan jeg løser problemet?

  Translation hint: Can you show me how I solve the problem?

• Asking about progress:

  Hvordan

  Translation hint: How is the project going?

§ 'Hvordan' in the news

When listening to Norwegian news, you'll hear 'hvordan' used to inquire about situations, events, or explanations. It helps to get more details about a story.

• Asking about an event:

  Hvordan

  Translation hint: How did the accident happen?

• Asking for an explanation:

  Eksperter diskuterer hvordan

  Translation hint: Experts discuss how one can prevent this.

§ Key takeaway for 'hvordan'

Remember, 'hvordan' is your key to asking 'how' in Norwegian. Practice these simple phrases, and you'll quickly become comfortable using it in many different situations. It's a fundamental word for daily communication.