When you're just starting out with Norwegian, you'll find words that are super useful for everyday situations. One of these is arbeid. It's a noun, and it means something like a 'task to be done' or 'work'.
You'll often hear it when people talk about their jobs or what they're doing. It's a fundamental word for talking about what occupies your time. Understanding arbeid is a great step in building your basic Norwegian vocabulary.
§ What 'arbeid' means
- Norwegian Word
- arbeid (noun)
- CEFR Level
- A1
- Definition
- task to be done
The word 'arbeid' is a very common noun in Norwegian. It refers to a task, a job, or work in general. It's not just about paid employment; it can also mean a project, an effort, or even homework. Think of it as anything you need to do or are doing that requires effort.
§ How to use 'arbeid' in a sentence
When you use 'arbeid', you're talking about something that needs to be done or is being done. It can be quite broad in its application.
Jeg har mye arbeid å gjøre i dag. (I have a lot of work/tasks to do today.)
Here, 'arbeid' refers to the general amount of tasks someone has. It's not a specific job, but rather the sum of their responsibilities for the day.
Hjemmearbeidet er vanskelig. (The homework is difficult.)
In this example, 'hjemmearbeidet' (homework) is a compound word where 'arbeid' is the core. It's a specific task given by a school.
§ 'Arbeid' with prepositions
Prepositions are important in Norwegian, just like in English. 'Arbeid' often appears with certain prepositions.
- med arbeid: to be busy with work/a task
Han er opptatt med arbeid. (He is busy with work.)
Here, 'med' indicates involvement or being occupied by something.
- på arbeid: at work (referring to the location or state of being at one's job)
Jeg skal på arbeid klokka åtte. (I'm going to work at eight o'clock.)
'På arbeid' is a common phrase to indicate going to or being at your place of employment. It's similar to 'going to work' or 'at work' in English.
- til arbeid: for work (referring to something being for the purpose of work)
Denne datamaskinen er til arbeid. (This computer is for work.)
Here, 'til arbeid' clarifies the purpose or intended use of an item.
§ Common phrases with 'arbeid'
Many fixed expressions use 'arbeid'. Learning these will make your Norwegian sound more natural.
- å gå på arbeid: to go to work
- å være i arbeid: to be employed / to be at work
- å søke arbeid: to look for work / to apply for a job
Remember, 'arbeid' is a fundamental word. You'll hear and use it constantly. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in different contexts, and you'll quickly get the hang of it.
How Formal Is It?
"Vi har en viktig oppgave foran oss. (We have an important task ahead of us.)"
"Jeg har mye jobb å gjøre i dag. (I have a lot of work to do today.)"
"Det er en kjedelig greie, men jeg må gjøre det. (It's a boring thing, but I have to do it.)"
"Har du gjort leksene dine? (Have you done your homework?)"
"Det er et tungt slag, men vi får det til. (It's a tough grind, but we'll manage.)"
Grammaire à connaître
Nouns in Norwegian have grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter). 'Arbeid' is a neuter noun.
Et arbeid. (An effort/work)
The indefinite form of a neuter noun is preceded by 'et'.
Et arbeid. (A work)
The definite singular form of a neuter noun is formed by adding '-et' to the end of the word.
Arbeidet. (The work)
The indefinite plural form of 'arbeid' is 'arbeider'. Many neuter nouns ending in a consonant do not change in the indefinite plural form, but 'arbeid' is an exception.
Mange arbeider. (Many works/tasks)
The definite plural form of 'arbeid' is 'arbeidene'.
Alle arbeidene. (All the works/tasks)
Exemples par niveau
Jeg har mye arbeid å gjøre.
I have a lot of work to do.
Arbeidet er viktig.
The work is important.
Hun liker sitt arbeid.
She likes her work.
Vi starter arbeidet nå.
We start the work now.
Han er ferdig med arbeidet.
He is finished with the work.
Dette er et vanskelig arbeid.
This is a difficult task.
De har et nytt arbeid.
They have a new job.
Mitt arbeid er interessant.
My work is interesting.
Jeg har mye arbeid å gjøre før fristen.
I have a lot of work to do before the deadline.
Dette prosjektet krever mye hardt arbeid.
This project requires a lot of hard work.
Hun er veldig dedikert til sitt arbeid.
She is very dedicated to her work.
Vi fullførte arbeidet i tide, heldigvis.
We completed the work on time, luckily.
Er du fornøyd med ditt nåværende arbeid?
Are you satisfied with your current work?
Det er viktig å finne balanse mellom arbeid og fritid.
It is important to find a balance between work and leisure.
Han mistet sitt arbeid under finanskrisen.
He lost his job during the financial crisis.
Alt arbeid ble stoppet på grunn av streiken.
All work was stopped due to the strike.
Modèles grammaticaux
Structures de phrases
Jeg har mye arbeid.
I have a lot of work.
Han liker sitt arbeid.
He likes his work.
Hva er ditt arbeid?
What is your job?
Hun søker arbeid.
She is looking for work.
Dette er hardt arbeid.
This is hard work.
Vi har mye arbeid å gjøre.
We have a lot of work to do.
Arbeidet er viktig.
The work is important.
Jeg er på arbeid.
I am at work.
Comment l'utiliser
Arbeid is a very common word, meaning work or job. It is used in many contexts:
- Jeg skal på arbeid. (I am going to work.)
- Hva er ditt arbeid? (What is your job?)
- Han har mye arbeid. (He has a lot of work.)
A common mistake is confusing arbeid (work/job - noun) with å arbeide (to work - verb). They are related, but not interchangeable.
- Incorrect: Jeg arbeid hver dag.
- Correct: Jeg arbeider hver dag. (I work every day.)
- Correct: Det er mye arbeid å gjøre. (There is a lot of work to do.)
- Less common/potentially incorrect: Det er mye jobb å gjøre. (Unless referring to specific employment tasks.)
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsBoth 'jobb' and 'arbeid' can mean 'work' in English. However, they have slightly different nuances. 'Jobb' often refers to a specific occupation or a place of employment, like 'Jeg har en ny jobb' (I have a new job). 'Arbeid' is more general and can refer to the activity of working, a task, or a project, like 'Dette er hardt arbeid' (This is hard work) or 'Jeg har mye arbeid å gjøre' (I have a lot of work to do).
No, 'arbeid' is only a noun. The verb form is 'å arbeide' (to work). For example, 'Jeg arbeider som lærer' (I work as a teacher).
'Arbeid' is an uncountable noun when it refers to work in general. So, it doesn't typically have a plural form in that sense. If you are talking about specific tasks or pieces of work, you might use other words or rephrase your sentence. For example, 'Jeg har mange oppgaver' (I have many tasks).
'Arbeid' is a neuter noun. This means it takes the indefinite article 'et' (et arbeid) and the definite article 'arbeidet' (the work).
Yes, there are a few. For instance, 'gå på arbeid' (to go to work), 'være i arbeid' (to be employed), 'sette i gang arbeid' (to start work), and 'godt arbeid' (good job/work).
The most common word for homework is 'lekser'. While you *could* technically say 'hjemmearbeid', 'lekser' is far more natural and widely used for school assignments.
'Arbeidsplass' means 'workplace' or 'place of work'. It's a compound word formed from 'arbeid' (work) and 'plass' (place). For example, 'Min arbeidsplass er et kontor' (My workplace is an office).
No, not at all. 'Arbeid' can refer to mental tasks, creative work, or any kind of effort. For example, 'åndsverk' (intellectual work) or 'kreativt arbeid' (creative work).
Yes, it can. In this context, it often refers to a piece of art or a work of literature. For example, 'Dette er et viktig arbeid av kunstneren' (This is an important work by the artist).
Think of it as the general concept of 'work' or a 'task'. If you're talking about the action of working, use 'å arbeide'. If you're talking about your job or profession, 'jobb' is often more common. Practice using it in sentences and try to differentiate it from 'jobb' to solidify your understanding.
Teste-toi 24 questions
Write a short sentence using 'arbeid' to describe something you have to do today.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg har mye arbeid med leksene mine.
Form a simple question asking someone what their 'arbeid' is.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hva er ditt arbeid?
Write a sentence saying that a specific task is 'hardt arbeid'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Å lære norsk er hardt arbeid.
What does the person like?
Read this passage:
Jeg liker mitt arbeid. Det er interessant. Hver dag lærer jeg nye ting.
What does the person like?
The passage states 'Jeg liker mitt arbeid', which means 'I like my work'.
The passage states 'Jeg liker mitt arbeid', which means 'I like my work'.
What kind of 'arbeid' does Lise have?
Read this passage:
Lise har mye arbeid i hagen. Hun planter blomster og vanner dem. Hagen blir fin.
What kind of 'arbeid' does Lise have?
The passage mentions 'i hagen' (in the garden) and activities like planting flowers.
The passage mentions 'i hagen' (in the garden) and activities like planting flowers.
Where does the man do his 'arbeid'?
Read this passage:
Mannen jobber på kontoret. Han sender e-poster og skriver rapporter. Hans arbeid er viktig.
Where does the man do his 'arbeid'?
The passage says 'Mannen jobber på kontoret', meaning 'The man works at the office'.
The passage says 'Mannen jobber på kontoret', meaning 'The man works at the office'.
The correct order forms the sentence 'This is a difficult task to be done.'
The correct order forms the sentence 'We must complete the task to be done today.'
The correct order forms the sentence 'She starts a new task to be done next week.'
This sentence structure is standard in Norwegian, with the subject ('Han') followed by the modal verb ('må'), then the main verb ('fullføre'), the object ('arbeidet'), and finally the temporal phrase ('før fristen').
The demonstrative pronoun ('Dette') and adjective ('vanskelige') precede the noun ('arbeidet'), which acts as the subject. The verb ('krever') follows, then the object phrase ('stor nøyaktighet').
The prepositional phrase ('Etter mye hardt arbeid') starts the sentence, setting the context. The verb ('oppnådde') then comes, followed by the subject ('de') and the object ('målet'). Note 'hardt' (neuter) agrees with 'arbeid'.
Which of the following best describes 'arbeid' in the context of a challenging and intricate project?
'Arbeid' can encompass complex undertakings, not just simple tasks. The other options describe less demanding activities.
In a philosophical discussion about the meaning of human endeavor, how might 'arbeid' be interpreted?
At a C2 level, 'arbeid' can be understood as a profound concept related to self-realization and contribution, not merely survival or frustration.
Considering 'arbeid' in an abstract artistic sense, what could it represent?
In art, 'arbeid' refers to the creative process and the resulting creation, not dull routines or obligations.
The term 'arbeid' is exclusively limited to paid employment and cannot describe voluntary or intellectual efforts.
'Arbeid' in Norwegian is broader than just paid employment; it can refer to any effort, including voluntary work, mental tasks, or creative endeavors.
When discussing the 'arbeid' of a renowned scientist, it strictly refers to their physical labor in a laboratory.
The 'arbeid' of a scientist primarily encompasses their intellectual contributions, research, and discoveries, not just physical labor.
The phrase 'å legge ned et stort arbeid' signifies a minimal effort with negligible results.
'Å legge ned et stort arbeid' idiomatically means to put in a significant amount of effort, implying substantial results, not minimal effort.
/ 24 correct
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