Signification
Asking for current time
Contexte culturel
Punctuality is a core value. If you are 5 minutes late to a social gathering, it is polite to send a text. If you are 5 minutes late to a business meeting, it is seen as unprofessional. Traditional Sami culture had a more fluid relationship with time, based on the movement of reindeer and the seasons. However, modern Sami people follow the same clock-based system as the rest of Norway. In cities like Oslo, people are very attached to their schedules. Asking for the time is a common way to check if the 'T-bane' (metro) is on schedule. Younger Norwegians almost exclusively use their smartphones to check the time, but the phrase 'Hva er klokka?' remains the standard way to ask a friend, even if they are just going to look at their phone for you.
Use 'Klokka' for a local feel
If you want to sound more like a local in Oslo or Bergen, use 'Hva er klokka?'. It's slightly more informal and very common.
Don't say 'Hva er tiden'
Even though it makes sense to an English speaker, it sounds very 'foreign' to a Norwegian ear.
Signification
Asking for current time
Use 'Klokka' for a local feel
If you want to sound more like a local in Oslo or Bergen, use 'Hva er klokka?'. It's slightly more informal and very common.
Don't say 'Hva er tiden'
Even though it makes sense to an English speaker, it sounds very 'foreign' to a Norwegian ear.
The 'Halv' Rule
Remember that 'halv ti' is 9:30. If someone answers your question with 'halv', subtract 30 minutes from the number they say!
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to ask for the time.
Hva ___ klokken nå?
The verb 'å være' (to be) is used to ask for the time. 'Hva er klokken?'
Which of these is the most common way to ask a stranger for the time politely?
Choose the best option:
'Unnskyld' makes it polite, and 'vet du hva klokken er' is a standard indirect question.
Match the Norwegian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
All pairs are correctly matched in the options provided.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Unnskyld, ___? B: Den er halv tre.
The response 'Den er halv tre' (It is half past two) indicates the question was about the time.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesHva ___ klokken nå?
The verb 'å være' (to be) is used to ask for the time. 'Hva er klokken?'
Choose the best option:
'Unnskyld' makes it polite, and 'vet du hva klokken er' is a standard indirect question.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
All pairs are correctly matched in the options provided.
A: Unnskyld, ___? B: Den er halv tre.
The response 'Den er halv tre' (It is half past two) indicates the question was about the time.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
4 questionsNot really. They are used interchangeably, though 'Hva er' is slightly more common in textbooks.
No, 'Hva er klokken?' is perfectly fine on its own. 'Nå' just adds a bit of emphasis on 'right now'.
You start with 'Den er...' (It is...). For example, 'Den er fem.'
Because you are asking about 'the' clock (the specific time), so you need the definite form.
Expressions liées
Hvor mye er klokken?
synonymWhat time is it?
Klokken slår
builds onThe clock strikes
I tide
similarIn time
Døgnet rundt
relatedAround the clock
