You might already know the word for evening, which is kveld. Aften means the same thing, but it’s a bit more formal. You'll often hear aften in set phrases or more formal greetings. Think of it as a slightly fancier way to say evening in Norwegian. It's good to recognize both!
When learning Norwegian, you'll encounter different ways to say similar things. Aften is one of those words that means 'evening,' just like 'kveld.' The key difference is that 'aften' carries a slightly more formal or traditional tone.
You'll often hear 'aften' in set phrases or more elevated contexts, such as 'god aften' (good evening), which is a polite greeting. While 'kveld' is perfectly common and used in everyday conversation, knowing 'aften' will help you understand a broader range of Norwegian and appreciate its nuances.
When talking about the time of day, you'll most often hear and use kveld in everyday Norwegian. However, aften is also used, particularly in slightly more formal contexts or in fixed expressions.
Think of it like the difference between saying "evening" and "eve" in English. While both refer to the same time period, "eve" has a more traditional or formal feel.
You'll frequently encounter aften in greetings such as God aften (Good evening), which is a more formal alternative to God kveld. It also appears in compound words like julaften (Christmas Eve) or nyttårsaften (New Year's Eve), where it's the standard term.
Understanding the nuance between kveld and aften allows you to speak and comprehend Norwegian with greater precision, recognizing when a more formal or traditional register is being employed.
When talking about the time of day, Norwegians primarily use «kveld» for "evening." However, you'll sometimes encounter "aften," which also means evening. It's a slightly more formal or traditional term. You might see it in fixed expressions or more formal greetings. Think of it as similar to how English might use "eventide" in certain contexts – understandable, but not everyday.
It's good to recognize "aften" so you don't get confused, but for general conversation, "kveld" is your go-to word for evening. Knowing "aften" helps you understand a broader range of Norwegian texts and conversations, especially those with a slightly more formal or poetic flavor.
When learning Norwegian, you'll encounter different ways to say 'evening'. While kveld is the most common and versatile term, aften is also used. It's a more formal or literary word, often found in fixed expressions or when referring to a specific, significant evening like 'julaften' (Christmas Eve) or 'nyttårsaften' (New Year's Eve).
Understanding the subtle difference between kveld and aften at the B1 level helps you appreciate the nuances of the language. You wouldn't typically use aften in casual conversation to simply say 'good evening' (you'd use 'god kveld'). Instead, it adds a touch of formality or solemnity to the context.
Le savais-tu ?
Aften is a cognate of the English word 'even' or 'eve', as in 'Christmas Eve'. Both share a common Germanic root.
Guide de prononciation
- pronouncing the 'f' as a 'v'
Grammaire à connaître
Nouns in Norwegian have grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter). 'Aften' is a masculine noun.
en aften (an evening), aftenen (the evening)
Definite forms of nouns are created by adding a suffix to the noun. For masculine nouns like 'aften', the definite singular suffix is '-en'.
aften (evening) -> aftenen (the evening)
Plural forms of nouns also follow gender rules. For masculine nouns ending in a consonant, the indefinite plural suffix is often '-er'.
en aften (an evening) -> flere aftener (several evenings)
'Aften' can be used in set phrases, similar to English, such as 'God aften' (Good evening), which is a slightly more formal greeting than 'God kveld'.
God aften, mine damer og herrer! (Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!)
When referring to a specific evening or the evening of a specific day, 'aften' can be used with a demonstrative pronoun or in a compound word.
Denne aftenen (This evening); juleaften (Christmas Eve)
Exemples par niveau
God aften!
Good evening!
En vakker aften.
A beautiful evening.
På aftenen skal vi spise middag.
In the evening we will eat dinner.
Vi møtes i aften.
We meet this evening.
Det blir en hyggelig aften.
It will be a pleasant evening.
Hver aften leser jeg en bok.
Every evening I read a book.
Fra morgen til aften.
From morning to evening.
Vi danset hele aftenen.
We danced the whole evening.
God aften, mine damer og herrer.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Vi møtes på aftenen for en konsert.
We meet in the evening for a concert.
Det var en strålende aften.
It was a splendid evening.
Hvilken aften var det de snakket om?
Which evening were they talking about?
Hun foretrekker å lese en bok på aftenen.
She prefers to read a book in the evening.
På aftenen var det alltid en spesiell ro over stedet.
In the evening, there was always a special calm over the place.
Vi tilbrakte hele aftenen med å diskutere filosofi.
We spent the entire evening discussing philosophy.
Dette er en aften vi sent vil glemme.
This is an evening we will not soon forget.
Ved aftenstid møttes de ofte i den gamle hagen, omgitt av taushet og duften av syriner.
At evening time they often met in the old garden, surrounded by silence and the scent of lilacs.
Hennes aftenkjole, sydd av den fineste silke, glitret diskret i skumringen.
Her evening gown, sewn from the finest silk, shimmered discreetly in the twilight.
En kald aftenbris strøk gjennom byen, varslende om den forestående vinteren.
A cold evening breeze swept through the city, heralding the impending winter.
De utvekslet løfter under månens bleke skinn denne uforglemmelige aftenen.
They exchanged vows under the moon's pale glow this unforgettable evening.
Tradisjonen tro samles familien til en festlig aften hver julaften.
As is tradition, the family gathers for a festive evening every Christmas Eve.
Hvem hadde vel trodd at en så beskjeden aften skulle utvikle seg til en slik uforglemmelig opplevelse?
Who would have thought that such a modest evening would develop into such an unforgettable experience?
Med dyp respekt hilste han på den eldre mannen med ordene: «God aften, min herre.»
With deep respect, he greeted the older man with the words: 'Good evening, my sir.'
Han tilbrakte hele aftenen i biblioteket, fordypet i gamle manuskripter.
He spent the entire evening in the library, engrossed in old manuscripts.
Origine du mot
Old Norse
Sens originel : evening
North GermanicContexte culturel
In Norwegian, 'aften' is often used in more formal contexts or fixed expressions like 'god aften' (good evening), similar to how one might say 'good eve' in English. While 'kveld' is the common, everyday word for 'evening', 'aften' adds a touch of politeness or tradition. You'll also see it in compound words, like 'aftensmat' (evening meal).
Teste-toi 72 questions
God ___! Vi ses i morgen. (Good ___! See you tomorrow.)
God aften is a polite and slightly more formal way to say 'Good evening.'
Vi spiste middag i går ____. (We ate dinner last ____.)
'I går aften' means 'last evening'.
Han kommer hjem sent i ____. (He comes home late in the ____.)
'Sent i aften' means 'late in the evening'.
Hva gjør du denne ____? (What are you doing this ____?)
'Denne aften' means 'this evening'.
De gikk ut på byen en lørdags____. (They went out on the town one Saturday____.)
'En lørdagsaften' means 'a Saturday evening'.
Jeg har en avtale i ____. (I have an appointment in the ____.)
'I aften' means 'this evening'.
Write a short sentence saying 'Good evening!' in Norwegian, using 'aften'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
God aften!
Complete the sentence: 'Vi sees i ___!' (We'll see each other in the evening!) using 'aften'.
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Sample answer
Vi sees i aften!
Translate this phrase into Norwegian: 'The evening is beautiful.' Use 'aften'.
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Sample answer
Aftenen er vakker.
What time of day is it?
Read this passage:
Det er en fin aften. Familien spiser middag sammen. Etter middagen ser de på TV.
What time of day is it?
The passage uses 'aften' which means evening.
The passage uses 'aften' which means evening.
When does the person like to walk?
Read this passage:
Jeg liker å gå tur i aftenen. Luften er frisk og det er rolig. Det er en perfekt tid for en spasertur.
When does the person like to walk?
The sentence 'Jeg liker å gå tur i aftenen' states that the person likes to walk in the evening.
The sentence 'Jeg liker å gå tur i aftenen' states that the person likes to walk in the evening.
When is the appointment?
Read this passage:
Vi har en avtale i aften. Vi skal møtes klokken syv. Det blir hyggelig.
When is the appointment?
The passage clearly states 'Vi har en avtale i aften', meaning the appointment is this evening.
The passage clearly states 'Vi har en avtale i aften', meaning the appointment is this evening.
Vi spiste middag i går ___.
Aften is a slightly more formal word for evening. In this context, it fits perfectly for 'yesterday evening'.
God ___! Sov godt.
'God aften' is a polite and slightly formal way to say 'good evening' when parting ways for the night.
The show starts at eight in the ___.
To say 'eight in the evening' in a slightly more formal way, 'åtte på aftenen' or simply 'åtte aften' can be used.
Vi skal ha en fest denne ___.
'Denne aften' means 'this evening'.
Han kommer hjem sent på ___.
'Sent på aften' means 'late in the evening'.
Hver ___ ser vi på TV.
'Hver aften' means 'every evening'.
Listen for a common greeting.
Listen for when someone is going out.
Listen for a question about evening plans.
Read this aloud:
God aften!
Focus: aften
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Det er en fin aften.
Focus: fin aften
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Vi ses i aften.
Focus: ses i aften
Tu as dit :
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Think about a formal greeting.
When will the meeting take place?
A question about plans.
Read this aloud:
Jeg skal ut i aften.
Focus: aften
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Han kommer hjem i aften.
Focus: kommer hjem i aften
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Ha en god aften videre!
Focus: god aften videre
Tu as dit :
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Vi skal ha middagsselskap i _______. (We are having a dinner party in the evening.)
'Aften' is the correct and slightly more formal term for 'evening' in this context, fitting the B2 level.
God ________! Håper du får en fin kveld. (Good evening! Hope you have a nice evening.)
'God aften' is a common and polite greeting for 'good evening', appropriate for a B2 learner.
Konserten begynner klokken syv i _________. (The concert starts at seven in the evening.)
When referring to a specific time for an event in the evening, 'aften' can be used, especially in a more formal tone.
Det ble en lang _________ med mye diskusjon. (It became a long evening with a lot of discussion.)
'Aften' is suitable here to describe the duration of an evening event, showing a higher level of vocabulary use.
Hun foretrakk å lese bøker i ro og fred på ________. (She preferred to read books in peace and quiet in the evening.)
In some contexts, especially when referring to 'the evening' as a specific time of day for an activity, the definite form 'aftenen' is correct.
På selveste jule________ samles familien for å feire. (On Christmas Eve itself, the family gathers to celebrate.)
Terms like 'julaften' (Christmas Eve) are fixed expressions using 'aften', demonstrating idiomatic usage at B2 level.
This is a formal way to wish someone a pleasant evening.
The evening was spent in intense discussions.
They arrived late in the evening. 'På aftenen' is a common phrase.
Which sentence uses 'aften' most appropriately in a formal context?
In Norwegian, 'aften' is often used in more formal greetings or settings. 'Vi ønsker Dem en god aften' (We wish you a good evening) is a classic example of this formal usage.
Choose the best synonym for 'aften' in a casual conversation.
'Kveld' is the common, everyday word for 'evening' in Norwegian, whereas 'aften' is more formal or literary.
In which situation would 'aften' typically be preferred over 'kveld'?
'Aften' adds a touch of formality, making it suitable for invitations to formal events like dinner parties, whereas 'kveld' would be used in more casual scenarios.
Using 'God aften' is generally considered more formal than 'God kveld'.
'Aften' carries a more formal or somewhat archaic connotation compared to 'kveld', which is the standard, everyday term.
It is incorrect to use 'aften' when referring to the period of time between sunset and bedtime.
While 'kveld' is more common, 'aften' can still refer to the evening period. Its usage simply implies a more formal or literary tone.
'Aften' can be used interchangeably with 'natt' (night).
'Aften' refers to the evening, which is distinct from 'natt' (night). The evening is typically the earlier part of darkness after sunset, while night is the later, darker period.
Listen for 'evening' and 'fjord'.
Listen for 'what' and 'this evening'.
Listen for 'they arrived' and 'late in the evening'.
Read this aloud:
Jeg foretrekker en rolig aften hjemme.
Focus: foretrekker, rolig, aften
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Vi hadde en minneverdig aften sammen.
Focus: minneverdig, aften, sammen
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
God aften, mine herrer og fruer.
Focus: aften, herrer, fruer
Tu as dit :
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Vedkommende ønsket oss en god ___ da hun forlot festen.
«Aften» er det mest passende og formelle ordet for «kveld» i denne konteksten, spesielt når man ønsker noen vel.
Deres majesteter ankom gallamiddagen sent på ___.
«Aften» passer best i formelle sammenhenger, som en gallamiddag, for å beskrive 'kveldstid'.
Under den høytidelige seremonien ble det sunget salmer utover ___.
«Aftenen» er en mer formell og litterær måte å referere til 'kvelden' i en høytidelig setting.
Presidenten holdt sin årlige tale til nasjonen om ___.
Offentlige taler av denne typen finner ofte sted på 'aftenen' (kvelden), og «aftenen» gir en mer formell tone.
Den litterære salongen åpnet dørene for sine gjester tidlig på ___.
I en kulturell og litt formell kontekst som en litterær salong, er «aften» et passende ord for 'kveld'.
Til minne om de falne, ble det tent lys utover hele ___.
«Aftenen» gir en mer høytidelig og verdig tone, passende for en minnemarkering om 'kvelden'.
Listen for the context of 'aftenens festligheter'.
What is the topic for 'i aften'?
What is difficult about the 'aftenstimene' in this context?
Read this aloud:
Kunne De vennligst bekrefte Deres tilstedeværelse ved aftenens gallaarrangement før klokken atten?
Focus: bekrefte, tilstedeværelse, gallaarrangement
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Jeg har den ære å presentere årets hovedtaler, hvis bidrag til vår organisasjon har vært uvurderlig gjennom et kvart århundre, og som i aften vil dele sin visdom med oss.
Focus: ære, uvurderlig, kvart århundre
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
De uttalte restriksjonene for byens sosiale sammenkomster gjelder kun frem til aftenens midnatt, hvoretter en ny forordning trer i kraft.
Focus: uttalte, restriksjonene, forordning
Tu as dit :
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Reflect on the nuances of 'aften' versus 'kveld' in contemporary Norwegian. Compose a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) discussing situations where 'aften' might still be preferred or convey a particular tone, perhaps in formal settings, literature, or specific idiomatic expressions. Provide an example.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Selv om 'kveld' er mer vanlig i daglig tale, beholder 'aften' en viss formalitet og eleganse. Man kan finne det i eldre litteratur, ved høytidelige anledninger, eller i faste uttrykk som 'God aften' ved en formell hilsen. Bruken av 'aften' kan signalisere respekt eller en mer tradisjonell tone, for eksempel i invitasjoner til en gallamiddag.
Imagine you are writing a formal invitation to a prestigious event in Norway. Draft a short, polite opening paragraph using 'aften' appropriately to convey the event's gravitas and time. Consider the target audience and the overall tone of the invitation.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Det er med stor ære vi inviterer Dem til vår årlige gallamiddag som finner sted kommende torsdag aften. Vi ser frem til en uforglemmelig begivenhet fylt med inspirerende foredrag og utsøkt underholdning, og håper Deres nærvær vil berike denne spesielle anledningen.
Compose a short analytical text (approx. 50 words) comparing the usage of 'aften' in Norwegian proverbs or established phrases with its modern-day usage. Discuss how its meaning or connotation might have evolved or remained static within these specific contexts.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
I gamle ordtak som 'Morgenstund har gull i munn' finnes ikke 'aften' ofte, men i faste uttrykk som 'God aften' bevarer det en tradisjonell, formell konnotasjon. Moderne bruk av 'aften' er sjeldnere i uformell tale, men beholdes for å signalisere en viss høytidelighet, i motsetning til den mer nøytrale 'kveld'. Konnotasjonen av 'aften' som 'finere' eller mer 'offisiell' har i stor grad vedvart.
Hvilken påstand stemmer best overens med passasjen angående Ibsens bruk av 'aften'?
Read this passage:
Ibsen, en mester i norsk dramatikk, brukte ofte 'aften' i sine verk for å etablere en formell tone eller for å hentyde til sosiale konvensjoner fra sin tid. Dette skillet mellom 'aften' og 'kveld' var tydeligere i det nittende århundre, hvor 'aften' bar med seg en tyngre betydning av sosiale sammenkomster og forpliktelser. I dag er differansen primært stilistisk, med 'kveld' som det dominerende ordet i dagligdags tale, mens 'aften' ofte brukes for å oppnå en mer arkaisk eller poetisk effekt.
Hvilken påstand stemmer best overens med passasjen angående Ibsens bruk av 'aften'?
Passasjen indikerer tydelig at Ibsen brukte 'aften' for å etablere en formell tone og hentyde til sosiale konvensjoner fra sin tid, noe som var mer fremtredende i det nittende århundre.
Passasjen indikerer tydelig at Ibsen brukte 'aften' for å etablere en formell tone og hentyde til sosiale konvensjoner fra sin tid, noe som var mer fremtredende i det nittende århundre.
Hva er hovedårsaken til at 'aften' fortsatt brukes i moderne norsk, ifølge teksten?
Read this passage:
Den historiske utviklingen av det norske språket viser hvordan ord kan endre sin konnotasjon og bruksfrekvens over tid. 'Aften', en gang et felles begrep for kvelden med en spesifikk sosial undertone, har gradvis blitt erstattet av 'kveld' i mange kontekster. Imidlertid er det interessant å merke seg at 'aften' fortsatt lever videre i visse faste uttrykk og som en bevisst stilistisk valg i litteratur for å fremkalle en følelse av fortid eller formalitet. Dette speiler en større språklig tendens der dagligdags språkbruk forenkles, mens mer formelle eller eldre former bevares for spesifikke effekter.
Hva er hovedårsaken til at 'aften' fortsatt brukes i moderne norsk, ifølge teksten?
Teksten forklarer at 'aften' fortsatt lever videre som et bevisst stilistisk valg for å fremkalle en følelse av fortid eller formalitet.
Teksten forklarer at 'aften' fortsatt lever videre som et bevisst stilistisk valg for å fremkalle en følelse av fortid eller formalitet.
Hva antyder teksten om sammenhengen mellom 'aften' og andre skandinaviske språk?
Read this passage:
I mange skandinaviske språk finnes lignende distinksjoner mellom ord for 'evening' som reflekterer sosiale hierarkier eller grad av formalitet. Mens det norske 'aften' bærer en mer formell ladning sammenlignet med 'kveld', kan man se tilsvarende mønstre i svensk og dansk. Denne språklige arven er en påminnelse om hvordan kultur og historie veves inn i ordvalg, selv i en tid hvor mange språklige nyanser gradvis viskes ut i det daglige. Å forstå disse subtilitetene er nøkkelen til en dypere forståelse av språket.
Hva antyder teksten om sammenhengen mellom 'aften' og andre skandinaviske språk?
Passasjen sier at 'i mange skandinaviske språk finnes lignende distinksjoner mellom ord for 'evening' som reflekterer sosiale hierarkier eller grad av formalitet,' og nevner spesifikt svensk og dansk som eksempler.
Passasjen sier at 'i mange skandinaviske språk finnes lignende distinksjoner mellom ord for 'evening' som reflekterer sosiale hierarkier eller grad av formalitet,' og nevner spesifikt svensk og dansk som eksempler.
/ 72 correct
Perfect score!
