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A1 pronoun 3 min de lecture

hva

Entraîne-toi Notes et astuces

§ Common Mistakes with 'Hva'

When learning Norwegian, especially as an English speaker, the word 'hva' can be a bit tricky. It directly translates to 'what,' but its usage isn't always a one-to-one match with English. Here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them.

§ Mistake 1: Using 'hva' where English uses 'which'

In English, we often use 'which' when asking about a choice from a limited set of options. In Norwegian, you will typically use 'hvilken,' 'hvilket,' or 'hvilke' (depending on gender and number) instead of 'hva' in these situations.

DEFINITION: What you're asking about is a choice from a limited set.

Feil: Hva bok vil du lese? (Incorrect: What book do you want to read?)

Riktig: Hvilken bok vil du lese? (Correct: Which book do you want to read?)

§ Mistake 2: Forgetting 'som' in relative clauses

When 'what' introduces a relative clause in English (e.g., 'What I like is...'), Norwegian often requires 'det som' or just 'som'. Simply using 'hva' alone usually doesn't work.

DEFINITION: Introducing a clause that explains something.

Feil: Hva jeg liker er å lese. (Incorrect: What I like is to read.)

Riktig: Det som jeg liker er å lese. (Correct: The thing that I like is to read.)

Riktig: Det er det som skjedde. (Correct: That is what happened.)

§ Mistake 3: Overusing 'hva' in indirect questions

In English, we use 'what' in both direct and indirect questions. In Norwegian, while 'hva' is used for direct questions, indirect questions often revert to a declarative sentence structure, or use 'om' (if/whether).

DEFINITION: Reporting a question someone asked, rather than asking it directly.

Direkte spørsmål: Hva heter du? (Direct question: What is your name?)

Feil (indirekte): Jeg spurte hva han heter. (Incorrect (indirect): I asked what he is named.)

Riktig (indirekte): Jeg spurte hva han het. (Correct (indirect): I asked what his name was. *Note the verb tense change*)

§ Mistake 4: Literal translation of 'What about...?'

When we say 'What about...?' in English to suggest something or ask for an opinion, directly translating this with 'hva' will sound unnatural in Norwegian. Instead, use phrases like 'Hva med...?' or restructure your sentence.

DEFINITION: Suggesting an idea or asking for an opinion on something.

Feil: Hva kaffe? (Incorrect: What coffee?)

Riktig: Hva med kaffe? (Correct: How about coffee? / What about coffee?)

§ General Advice

The key to mastering 'hva' is to recognize that direct translation doesn't always work. Pay attention to context and the specific nuance of the question you're trying to form. Listen to native speakers and notice how they use 'hva' versus 'hvilken/hvilket/hvilke' and when they use 'det som'.

Practice asking both direct and indirect questions.
Try to rephrase sentences in your head to see if 'which' would be a more natural fit in English, which might indicate needing 'hvilken' in Norwegian.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes; it's part of the learning process!

Souvent confondu avec

hva vs what (as in 'what a')

In exclamations like 'what a beautiful day!', Norwegian often uses 'for en/et/ei...' (e.g., For en vakker dag!). You wouldn't use 'hva' here.

hva vs what (as a relative pronoun)

In sentences like 'I know what you mean', Norwegian typically uses 'hva' or 'det som' (e.g., Jeg vet hva du mener / Jeg vet det som du mener). It's a bit more flexible but 'hva' often works.

hva vs what (in expressions like 'what's up?')

For informal greetings like 'what's up?', Norwegian has its own idioms like 'hvordan går det?' or 'hva skjer?' ('what's happening?'). Direct translation of 'what's up' with just 'hva' doesn't work.

Facile à confondre

hva vs hva

'Hva' directly translates to 'what'. However, in English, 'what' can be used in many contexts where Norwegian would use other words.

Think of 'hva' primarily as 'what' when asking for information or the identity of something.

Hva er klokka? (What is the time? / What's the clock?)

hva vs hvilken/hvilket/hvilke

Often confused with 'hva' because both can translate to 'what' or 'which'.

'Hvilken/hvilket/hvilke' is used when choosing from a specific, limited set of options. The form depends on the gender/number of the noun.

Hvilken bok vil du lese? (Which book do you want to read? - implying a selection of books)

hva vs hvordan

Sometimes beginners might use 'hva' when they actually mean 'how'.

'Hvordan' specifically asks about the manner or method of something, translating to 'how'.

Hvordan går det? (How are you? / How is it going?)

hva vs hvor

Can be confused with 'hva' when asking about location or extent, as 'what' can sometimes imply this in English.

'Hvor' means 'where' or 'how much/many' when combined with adjectives/adverbs.

Hvor er du? (Where are you?)

hva vs hvorfor

While distinct, some learners might overgeneralize 'hva' for any question word.

'Hvorfor' explicitly asks for a reason or cause, meaning 'why'.

Hvorfor er du her? (Why are you here?)

Astuces

Basic question word

Hva is one of the most common question words. You'll use it all the time to ask about things, concepts, or actions. Think of it as the direct equivalent of 'what' in English.

Asking 'What is...?'

To ask 'What is...?', you'll typically use 'Hva er...?' For example, 'Hva er dette?' means 'What is this?'

Responding to 'Hva?'

When someone asks 'Hva?' (informal for 'What?'), they are asking you to repeat something or clarify. It's a quick way to say 'Pardon?' or 'Come again?'

Hva and verbs

You often combine 'hva' with verbs. For example, 'Hva gjør du?' means 'What are you doing?' and 'Hva spiser du?' means 'What are you eating?'

Not for 'who'

Remember that 'hva' is for 'what' (things/concepts), not for 'who' (people). For people, you'll use 'hvem'.

Pronunciation

The 'h' in 'hva' is pronounced, similar to the 'wh' sound in some English dialects. The 'a' sounds like the 'ah' in 'father'.

Sentence structure

In questions, 'hva' usually comes first, followed by the verb. This is common V2 word order in Norwegian. For example, 'Hva heter du?' ('What is your name?' literally 'What are you called?').

Expressions with 'hva'

You'll encounter expressions like 'Hva så?' which means 'So what?' or 'What then?' It's a useful informal phrase.

Don't confuse with 'hvordan'

While 'hva' is 'what', 'hvordan' means 'how'. Don't mix these up! 'Hva er det?' ('What is it?') vs. 'Hvordan går det?' ('How are things going?').

Practice asking questions

The best way to get comfortable with 'hva' is to practice asking simple questions. Try asking about objects around you: 'Hva er dette?' ('What is this?'), 'Hva er det?' ('What is that?').