When you are learning Norwegian, you might come across the word kone. This word refers specifically to a married woman, or a wife.
It's an important word to know when talking about family or relationships. While it means 'wife,' it can also sometimes be used more generally to refer to a woman in certain contexts, though 'kvinne' is the more common general term for 'woman.'
Understanding words like 'kone' helps you grasp the nuances of Norwegian vocabulary, especially at the A2 level, as you begin to discuss more personal topics.
When talking about a married woman in Norwegian, the word to use is kone. This is a direct and common term. You'll often hear it in everyday conversations. For example, if someone is introducing their wife, they might say 'dette er min kone'. It's good to know this basic word as it's fundamental to describing family relationships.
When talking about a married woman in Norwegian, the word kone is used. It's a direct equivalent to the English word 'wife'.
It's a common noun and you'll hear it frequently in everyday conversation. Remember that Norwegian nouns have genders, and 'kone' is a feminine noun.
For example, if you want to say 'my wife', you would say 'min kone' or 'kona mi'.
While straightforward, understanding the gender and how to use possessives with it is key for natural communication.
§ Understanding 'kone'
The Norwegian word kone (pronounced: koo-neh) is a common and straightforward term. It directly translates to 'wife' in English. It's an A1-level word, meaning it's one of the first words you'll learn as a beginner in Norwegian. You will hear and see this word used frequently in everyday conversations.
- Word Type
- Noun
- Gender
- Feminine. When speaking, you might say 'en kone' (a wife) or 'kona' (the wife).
- Plural
- The plural form is 'koner' (wives).
§ How to use 'kone' in sentences
Using kone in a sentence is similar to how you'd use 'wife' in English. It typically follows a possessive pronoun or an article.
Min kone er norsk.
My wife is Norwegian.
Han snakker med sin kone.
He talks with his wife.
Notice how the possessive pronouns 'min' (my) and 'sin' (his/her own) come before kone. This is standard in Norwegian grammar.
§ Definite and Indefinite Forms
Like many Norwegian nouns, kone has both indefinite and definite forms:
- Indefinite singular: en kone (a wife)
- Definite singular: kona (the wife)
- Indefinite plural: koner (wives)
- Definite plural: konene (the wives)
Jeg har en kone.
I have a wife.
Kona mi er hjemme.
My wife (the wife of mine) is home.
§ Prepositions with 'kone'
You'll use common prepositions with kone, just as you would in English. Here are a few examples:
- Med (with)
- Til (to/for)
- Om (about)
Jeg går på tur med min kone.
I go for a walk with my wife.
Han kjøpte en gave til kona si.
He bought a gift for his wife.
Vi snakket om konene våre.
We talked about our wives.
Mastering kone and its forms will significantly boost your ability to discuss family and relationships in Norwegian. Keep practicing with these examples, and you'll be using it naturally in no time.
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'kone' used to be a general term for 'woman' in Old Norse, similar to how 'wife' in English once meant 'woman' before it became specifically associated with marriage.
Exemples par niveau
Min kone er syk i dag.
My wife is sick today.
Possessive pronoun 'min' (my) before the noun.
Han og hans kone bor i Oslo.
He and his wife live in Oslo.
Possessive pronoun 'hans' (his) used with 'kone'.
Er hun din kone?
Is she your wife?
Interrogative sentence structure with 'er' (is) and 'din' (your).
De er gift, så hun er hans kone.
They are married, so she is his wife.
'Gift' means married.
Jeg så min kone i butikken.
I saw my wife in the shop.
Past tense verb 'så' (saw).
Har du en kone?
Do you have a wife?
Question using 'har' (have).
Hun er en snill kone.
She is a kind wife.
Adjective 'snill' (kind) before the noun.
De har vært kone og mann i mange år.
They have been wife and husband for many years.
'Mann' means husband/man.
Modèles grammaticaux
Structures de phrases
En kvinne som er gift er en kone.
En kvinne som er gift er en kone. (A woman who is married is a wife.)
Han er gift med sin kone.
Han er gift med sin kone. (He is married to his wife.)
Min kone og jeg skal reise.
Min kone og jeg skal reise. (My wife and I are going to travel.)
Hennes kone er snill.
Hennes kone er snill. (Her wife is kind.)
Kona hans er syk.
Kona hans er syk. (His wife is sick.)
Jeg har en kone.
Jeg har en kone. (I have a wife.)
Han presenterte sin kone for meg.
Han presenterte sin kone for meg. (He introduced his wife to me.)
De er mann og kone.
De er mann og kone. (They are husband and wife.)
Famille de mots
Noms
Adjectifs
Comment l'utiliser
The term kone directly translates to 'wife'. While it can refer to any married woman, its primary use is to denote someone's spouse. For instance, 'min kone' means 'my wife'. It's a very common and neutral term.
A common mistake is using kone to refer to any woman in general. In Norwegian, 'woman' is kvinne or dame. Kone specifically means 'wife' and should not be used as a general term for a female person, married or otherwise. For example, you wouldn't say 'En kone gikk inn i butikken' (A wife went into the store) unless you specifically meant someone's wife. You would say 'En kvinne gikk inn i butikken' (A woman went into the store).
Origine du mot
Old Norse kona
Sens originel : woman
North GermanicContexte culturel
In modern Norwegian, 'kone' specifically refers to a wife or a married woman. While it's a perfectly acceptable and common word, some people might prefer 'ektefelle' (spouse) for a more gender-neutral term, especially in formal contexts.
Teste-toi 60 questions
Listen for 'kone' in the question.
Listen for the name of the 'kone'.
Listen for the adjective describing 'kone'.
Read this aloud:
Jeg har en kone.
Focus: ko-ne
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Min kone er snill.
Focus: snill
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Er du en kone?
Focus: Er du
Tu as dit :
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Write a short paragraph describing a typical Norwegian family, making sure to include the word 'kone' at least once. Focus on simple sentences.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
En norsk familie har ofte en mann og en kone. De har kanskje to barn. Kona jobber som sykepleier, og mannen er lærer. De spiser middag sammen hver dag.
Imagine you are introducing your Norwegian friend's mother. Write two sentences. Use 'kone' to refer to her in the second sentence, showing you understand her marital status.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Dette er min venn Per sin mor. Hun er Peters kone.
Complete the sentence using 'kone' in a grammatically correct way: 'Han er gift, og hans ____ heter Anne.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Han er gift, og hans kone heter Anne.
Hva er Kari?
Read this passage:
Kari og Per er gift. Kari er Per sin kone. De har to barn. De bor i Oslo og jobber begge to.
Hva er Kari?
The passage states 'Kari er Per sin kone.'
The passage states 'Kari er Per sin kone.'
Hvor kommer brorens kone fra?
Read this passage:
Jeg har en bror. Han er gift. Hans kone kommer fra Sverige. De snakker norsk hjemme.
Hvor kommer brorens kone fra?
The passage says 'Hans kone kommer fra Sverige.'
The passage says 'Hans kone kommer fra Sverige.'
Hvem planter mange blomster?
Read this passage:
Min onkel bor på landet med sin kone. De har en stor hage. Hver sommer planter kona mange blomster.
Hvem planter mange blomster?
The passage states 'Hver sommer planter kona mange blomster.'
The passage states 'Hver sommer planter kona mange blomster.'
This sentence structure is common for expressing someone's preferences or actions. 'Min kone' (My wife) is the subject, followed by the verb 'elsker' (loves), and then the infinitive phrase 'å lese bøker' (to read books).
This sentence consists of two clauses joined by 'og' (and). The first clause describes their marital status and duration, while the second introduces 'hans kone' (his wife) and her cooking skills. The word order within each clause follows the standard subject-verb-object/complement structure.
This sentence connects two facts about 'hennes kone' (her wife): her origin and her language proficiency. 'Hennes kone' is the subject, followed by 'er fra Spania' (is from Spain), and then 'og snakker flytende norsk' (and speaks fluent Norwegian).
Which sentence correctly uses 'kone' in a formal context?
In Norwegian, 'kone' is often used with a possessive pronoun directly preceding it (e.g., 'min kone'). The other options are grammatically correct but less formal or imply a general statement rather than a specific person.
Choose the most appropriate synonym for 'kone' in a casual conversation.
'Frue' is a more casual term for 'wife' or 'married woman' in Norwegian, similar to 'lady' or 'madam' in English, but often used informally to refer to one's wife. 'Ektefelle' is more formal, and 'kjæreste' means 'girlfriend/boyfriend'. 'Damen' just means 'the lady'.
Which of the following phrases implies a traditional role for a 'kone'?
'Hjemmets kone' (wife of the home) is a phrase that historically, and sometimes still, implies a woman who primarily manages the household, reflecting a more traditional gender role.
'Kone' can be used interchangeably with 'ektemann' to refer to a married person of any gender.
'Kone' specifically refers to a married woman. 'Ektemann' refers to a married man. They are not interchangeable in terms of gender.
In modern Norwegian, it's common to use 'kone' in a legal document to describe one's spouse.
While 'ektefelle' (spouse) is also common and perhaps more gender-neutral in legal contexts, 'kone' is still perfectly acceptable and widely understood in legal documents when specifically referring to a wife.
The term 'kone' is exclusively used to describe a woman who is currently married; it cannot refer to a widow.
While primarily referring to a currently married woman, 'kone' can sometimes be used in phrases like 'enkemannens kone' (the widower's wife) to refer to his deceased wife, or in historical contexts. However, for a living widow, 'enke' is the correct term.
The typical Norwegian sentence structure is Subject-Verb-Object. 'Min kone' (My wife) is the subject, 'elsker' (loves) is the verb, and 'å lese bøker' (to read books) is the object phrase.
Here, 'De feiret' (They celebrated) is the subject and verb, followed by 'sin 20-årsdag' (their 20th anniversary) and then the phrase 'som mann og kone' (as husband and wife) which describes their status.
The main clause is 'Han spurte sin kone' (He asked his wife), followed by an indirect question 'om hva hun ville spise' (about what she wanted to eat).
Etter flere tiår med ekteskap er hun ikke lenger bare hans partner, men hans livslange ___.
I denne sammenhengen refererer 'kone' til en ektefelle etter mange års ekteskap, noe som passer best med 'livslang'.
Selv om de aldri formaliserte forholdet sitt, levde de som mann og ___, delende gleder og sorger gjennom et langt liv.
'Kone' brukes her for å beskrive en kvinne i et langvarig, ekteskapslignende forhold, selv uten formell vielse.
En tradisjonell fest var planlagt for å feire deres gullbryllup, ettersom han fortsatt betraktet henne som sin kjæreste ___.
I forbindelse med et gullbryllup er 'kone' det naturlige valget for å beskrive den kvinnelige ektefellen.
Historien forteller om kongen som, mot alles råd, valgte en borgerkvinne til sin ___.
Her brukes 'kone' i betydningen 'ektefelle' i en historisk kontekst der en kvinne ble gift med en konge.
Etter å ha mistet sin ___ for ti år siden, valgte han å vie resten av livet sitt til veldedighetsarbeid.
Her refererer 'kone' til en avdød ektefelle, noe som gir mening i konteksten av tap og sorg.
Som en vellykket forretningsmann, forventet samfunnet at han skulle ha en representativ ___ ved sin side.
I denne setningen refererer 'kone' til en ektefelle som forventes å representere familien sosialt sammen med sin mann.
Choose the most appropriate synonym for 'kone' in a formal context.
'Ektefelle' is a gender-neutral term for spouse, often used in formal contexts and documents, whereas 'kone' specifically refers to a wife. 'Dame' means lady, 'frue' means Mrs. or madam, and 'jente' means girl.
Which sentence correctly uses 'kone' to imply a long-standing marital relationship?
The phrase 'gjennom tykt og tynt i over tretti år' (through thick and thin for over thirty years) strongly implies a long-standing and committed marital relationship, which aligns with the nuance of 'kone' in this context.
In a legal document, which term would most likely be preferred over 'kone' when referring to a married woman?
'Hustru' is a more formal and somewhat archaic term for wife, often found in legal or official contexts, offering a more precise and formal alternative to 'kone'. 'Dame' means lady, 'medarbeider' means colleague, and 'kjæreste' means girlfriend/boyfriend.
The term 'kone' can sometimes carry a slightly informal or traditional connotation compared to 'ektefelle' in modern Norwegian usage.
While 'kone' is perfectly acceptable, 'ektefelle' is often preferred in modern, gender-neutral language or formal contexts, giving 'kone' a slightly more traditional or informal feel by comparison.
It is always appropriate to use 'kone' when referring to a female partner in a civil union.
'Kone' specifically denotes a married woman. For partners in a civil union, terms like 'partner' or 'samboer' (cohabitant) would be more accurate, as a civil union is not the same as marriage, although the legal distinctions vary by country.
The historical use of 'kone' in literature often implies a subservient role for women.
Historically, and in older literature, the term 'kone' was often associated with traditional gender roles where the wife's position was often seen as subordinate to her husband's. This connotation is less prevalent in modern usage but can be present in historical contexts.
This sentence structure is a basic subject-verb-object construction in Norwegian.
The indefinite article 'en' comes after the verb and before the adjective and noun.
Possessive pronouns like 'hans' (his) typically precede the noun they modify.
Etter femti år sammen feiret han og hans _____ gullbryllup med stor glede.
In formal contexts, 'kone' refers specifically to a married woman, and 'gullbryllup' (golden wedding anniversary) implies a long-standing marriage.
Ifølge testamentet arvet hans _____ hele formuen, med unntak av noen små gaver til fjernere slektninger.
A will typically designates the spouse as the primary inheritor, making 'kone' the most logical choice in this legal context.
Statsministeren presenterte sin _____ for de utenlandske dignitærene under gallamiddagen.
It's customary for a head of state to introduce their spouse at formal diplomatic events, so 'kone' fits the context.
Han beskrev sin _____ som en intelligent og støttende livsledsager, som alltid sto ved hans side.
The description 'livsledsager' (life companion) strongly implies a marital relationship, making 'kone' the best fit.
På grunn av hennes bidrag til lokalsamfunnet ble byens ordfører og hans _____ tildelt en ærespris.
When an award is given for community contributions, it's common for both the mayor and their spouse to be recognized, indicating 'kone'.
Under den høytidelige seremonien, mens han mottok sin ridderorden, sto hans _____ stolt ved hans side.
At a solemn ceremony like receiving a knighthood, the spouse ('kone') would typically be present and stand by the recipient's side.
Which of the following best describes the historical usage of 'kone' in Norwegian society beyond its literal meaning?
Historically, 'kone' could signify a woman's established status in a household or community, not just marital status.
In modern Norwegian, how might the nuance of 'kone' differ from 'hustru' in formal vs. informal contexts?
'Kone' is the everyday term, while 'hustru' often carries a more formal or antiquated connotation.
Which of these phrases correctly uses 'kone' to imply a long-standing, traditional relationship, potentially with a touch of informality?
In Norwegian, 'min gamle kone' can affectionately refer to a long-term spouse without implying advanced age, showcasing a nuanced use of 'kone'.
The term 'kone' can sometimes be used in compound words like 'husmor' (housewife) where 'kone' is implied as the 'woman of the house,' reflecting traditional gender roles.
While 'husmor' doesn't directly use 'kone' as a prefix, the concept of 'kone' as the 'woman of the house' is deeply embedded in such historical terms concerning household roles.
In contemporary, progressive Norwegian discourse, 'kone' is universally preferred over 'ektemann' (husband) when referring to spouses in same-sex marriages to maintain traditional linguistic symmetry.
While 'kone' is gendered for a woman, 'ektefelle' (spouse) or 'partner' are more gender-neutral and often preferred in discussions about same-sex marriages for inclusivity, and 'ektemann' is for a husband.
The diminutive form of 'kone', if one were to be created, would carry an inherently affectionate or endearing tone in all Norwegian dialects.
Diminutives are less common and less standardized in Norwegian compared to some other languages, and their tone (affectionate, condescending, etc.) can vary greatly by context and dialect.
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