§ What 'kveld' Means and How to Use It
The Norwegian word kveld (noun) refers to the end part of the day. Think of it as 'evening' in English. It's a common word you'll hear and use daily in Norway. Understanding kveld is crucial for basic communication, especially when greeting people, making plans, or talking about times of the day.
- DEFINITION
- The end part of the day.
In Norway, the concept of 'kveld' can feel a bit flexible compared to 'evening' in some other languages. It generally starts after the workday ends, around 4 or 5 PM, and stretches until people go to bed. It's not as precise as 'afternoon' or 'night' in English, but rather a broader period.
You'll often use kveld when talking about activities that happen after work or school, such as:
- Having dinner: Vi spiser middag i kveld. (We are eating dinner this evening.)
- Meeting friends: Jeg skal møte venner i kveld. (I am going to meet friends this evening.)
- Relaxing at home: Jeg skal bare slappe av hjemme i kveld. (I will just relax at home this evening.)
It's also common to use kveld when referring to a specific evening, like:
Hva skal du gjøre denne kvelden? (What are you doing this evening?)
Or:
Jeg jobber sent i kveld. (I am working late this evening.)
The word can also be part of compound words. For example, kveldsmat means 'supper' or 'evening meal', which is a lighter meal often eaten later in the evening than dinner. Another example is kveldsnytt, which refers to the 'evening news'.
Remember, mastering these small, foundational words like kveld is key to building your Norwegian vocabulary and confidence. Don't underestimate their importance. They are the building blocks of everyday conversation.
§ Understanding 'Kveld' vs. 'Natt'
Many English speakers get confused between 'kveld' (evening) and 'natt' (night). In Norwegian, 'kveld' generally refers to the period from late afternoon until you go to bed. 'Natt' is when you're typically sleeping or it's very late. Think of 'kveld' as the active part of the evening, and 'natt' as the inactive, dark part.
§ Using 'Kveld' in Greetings
A common mistake is using 'God kveld' too late in the evening. 'God kveld' is typically used when you meet someone in the early to mid-evening. If it's getting very late, or you're saying goodbye for the night, 'God natt' is more appropriate. For example, if you're leaving a party around 11 PM, you'd say 'God natt'.
- Wrong
- It's midnight, and you say: God kveld!
- Right
- It's midnight, and you say: God natt!
§ Prepositions with 'Kveld'
Another area of confusion is using the correct prepositions with 'kveld'.
- To say 'in the evening', use 'om kvelden'.
- To say 'this evening', use 'i kveld'.
- To say 'last evening' or 'yesterday evening', use 'i går kveld'.
- To say 'tomorrow evening', use 'i morgen kveld'.
It's easy to mix these up with direct translations from English. Remember, Norwegian often uses specific prepositions for time expressions.
Vi spiser middag om kvelden. (We eat dinner in the evening.)
Hva skal du gjøre i kveld? (What are you doing this evening?)
Jeg så en god film i går kveld. (I watched a good movie last evening/yesterday evening.)
Vi skal ut og spise i morgen kveld. (We are going out to eat tomorrow evening.)
§ 'Kveld' as a Noun
Remember that 'kveld' is a masculine noun. This means it takes masculine articles and endings. While at CEFR A1 you might not be deep into grammar, it's good to be aware. For example, 'en kveld' (an evening), 'kvelden' (the evening), 'kvelder' (evenings), 'kveldene' (the evenings).
- Example
- Det var en fin kveld. (It was a nice evening.)
Don't overthink it at the beginning, but simply be aware that 'kveld' is not interchangeable with words like 'dag' (day) or 'uke' (week) in terms of grammatical gender or typical usage. Focus on learning the common phrases and contexts, and the grammar will become more natural over time.
Niveau de difficulté
Short, common word.
Straightforward spelling.
Common, simple pronunciation.
Clear, distinct sound.
Quoi apprendre ensuite
Apprends ensuite
Avancé
Grammaire à connaître
Nouns in Norwegian have grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, neuter). 'Kveld' is a masculine noun.
en kveld (a night), kvelden (the night), kvelder (nights), kveldene (the nights)
Definite form of masculine nouns adds -en (or -n) to the end.
kveld (night) -> kvelden (the night)
To express 'in the evening', use 'om kvelden' or 'på kvelden'. 'Om' implies a general occurrence, while 'på' can imply a specific point or period.
Jeg leser om kvelden. (I read in the evenings.) Jeg jobber på kvelden. (I work in the evening [tonight/that evening].)
To say 'last night', use 'i går kveld'.
Hva gjorde du i går kveld? (What did you do last night?)
To wish someone a good evening, use 'God kveld!'. This is a common greeting.
God kveld, alle sammen! (Good evening, everyone!)
Exemples par niveau
God kveld!
Good evening!
Vi spiser middag i kveld.
We are eating dinner tonight.
Hva gjør du i kveld?
What are you doing this evening?
Jeg leser en bok hver kveld.
I read a book every evening.
Det er mørkt om kvelden.
It is dark in the evening.
Jeg ser på TV om kvelden.
I watch TV in the evening.
Skal vi gå en tur i kveld?
Shall we go for a walk tonight?
Sov godt i kveld!
Sleep well tonight!
Jeg skal ut i kveld.
I am going out tonight.
Here 'i kveld' means 'tonight'.
Vi spiser middag om kvelden.
We eat dinner in the evening.
'Om kvelden' means 'in the evening' or 'during the evening'.
Det blir en fin kveld.
It will be a nice evening.
Refers to the entire evening as a period.
Han jobber sent hver kveld.
He works late every evening.
'Hver kveld' means 'every evening'.
Hva gjør du denne kvelden?
What are you doing this evening?
'Denne kvelden' refers to a specific evening.
God kveld!
Good evening!
A common greeting in the evening.
Kvelden er ung.
The evening is young.
An expression meaning it's still early in the evening.
Før kvelden er omme.
Before the evening is over.
'Før kvelden er omme' means 'before the evening concludes'.
Jeg skal ut en tur i kveld.
I am going out for a walk tonight.
Har du noen planer for kvelden?
Do you have any plans for the evening?
Vi spiste middag sent i går kveld.
We ate dinner late last night.
Kvelden var lang og mørk.
The evening was long and dark.
Hun liker å lese en bok hver kveld før hun legger seg.
She likes to read a book every evening before she goes to bed.
God kveld!
Good evening!
På kveldstid er det ofte stille i byen.
In the evening, it is often quiet in the city.
Vi møtes i kveld for en kopp kaffe.
We are meeting tonight for a cup of coffee.
Kveldens forestilling var en triumf av teaterkunst, en uforglemmelig opplevelse som vil leve lenge i minnet.
Tonight's performance was a triumph of theatrical art, an unforgettable experience that will live long in memory.
Here 'kveldens' is the definite genitive form of 'kveld', meaning 'of the evening' or 'tonight's'.
Som kvelden skred frem, ble samtalene dypere og latteren mer løssluppen, et sant tegn på godt selskap.
As the evening progressed, the conversations grew deeper and the laughter more unrestrained, a true sign of good company.
'Skred frem' is a common idiom meaning 'progressed' or 'advanced'.
Han er kjent for sine kveldsritualer; en rolig spasertur etterfulgt av en time med klassisk musikk og refleksjon.
He is known for his evening rituals; a quiet stroll followed by an hour of classical music and reflection.
'Kveldsritualer' is a compound word, combining 'kveld' (evening) and 'ritualer' (rituals).
Til tross for kveldens innledende regnbyger, klarnet det opp til en stjerneklar natt, perfekt for å observere meteorsvermen.
Despite the evening's initial rain showers, it cleared up to a star-filled night, perfect for observing the meteor shower.
'Kveldens' again signifies 'of the evening'.
Etter en travel dag ser mange frem til kveldens ro, en tid for å koble av og lade batteriene for morgendagen.
After a busy day, many look forward to the evening's calm, a time to unwind and recharge for tomorrow.
'Kveldens ro' means 'the calm of the evening' or 'the evening's calm'.
Måltidet var en kulinarisk opplevelse, som toppet kvelden med sine utsøkte smaker og kunstneriske presentasjon.
The meal was a culinary experience, topping off the evening with its exquisite flavors and artistic presentation.
'Toppet kvelden' is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to finish off the evening perfectly' or 'to crown the evening'.
Hun foretrekker å tilbringe kveldene med intellektuell stimulans, enten i form av litteratur eller dyptgående diskusjoner.
She prefers to spend her evenings with intellectual stimulation, either in the form of literature or in-depth discussions.
'Kveldene' is the definite plural form of 'kveld', meaning 'the evenings'.
Det var sent på kvelden da den uventede nyheten nådde oss, og kastet en skygge over det som ellers hadde vært en hyggelig samling.
It was late in the evening when the unexpected news reached us, casting a shadow over what had otherwise been a pleasant gathering.
'Sent på kvelden' is a common phrase meaning 'late in the evening'.
Questions fréquentes
10 questions'Kveld' refers to the evening, generally the time from late afternoon until you go to bed. 'Natt' is the night, specifically the time you spend sleeping or the very late hours when it's dark.
You can say 'God kveld!' for 'Good evening!' It's a common greeting when you meet someone in the evening.
'Kveld' is a masculine noun. So you would say 'en kveld' (an evening) and 'kvelden' (the evening).
Yes, you can! You'd say 'i kveld' for 'tonight.' For example, 'Hva skal du gjøre i kveld?' (What are you going to do tonight?)
A very common phrase is 'på kvelden' which means 'in the evening' or 'during the evening.' For example, 'Vi spiser middag på kvelden.' (We eat dinner in the evening.)
For 'yesterday evening,' you say 'i går kveld.' For example, 'Jeg så en film i går kveld.' (I watched a movie yesterday evening.)
For 'tomorrow evening,' you say 'i morgen kveld.' For example, 'Vi møtes i morgen kveld.' (We meet tomorrow evening.)
It can be both. It can refer to a specific evening, like 'denne kvelden' (this evening), or generally, like 'på kvelden' (in the evenings). Context will usually make it clear.
Yes, several! For example, 'kveldsmat' (evening meal/supper) or 'kveldsnytt' (evening news). You'll see it often.
You would say 'hver kveld' for 'every evening.' For example, 'Jeg leser en bok hver kveld.' (I read a book every evening.)
Teste-toi 18 questions
Vi ser en film i ____.
The word 'kveld' fits best here as 'evening' is when people typically watch films. 'Morgen' means morning, 'ettermiddag' means afternoon, and 'natt' means night (usually later than 'kveld').
Hva skal du spise til middag i ____?
You eat dinner in the evening, so 'kveld' is the correct choice. 'Uke' is week, 'år' is year, and 'dag' is day.
Jeg jobber sent hver ____.
To work late 'every evening' makes sense, so 'kveld' is the right word. 'Morgen' is morning, 'formiddag' is forenoon, and 'helg' is weekend.
De møtes til kaffe og kake hver ____.
Meeting 'every evening' for coffee and cake is a common occurrence. 'Måned' is month, 'tirsdag' is Tuesday, and 'minutt' is minute.
Ønsker deg en god ____!
When greeting someone in the evening, you would say 'God kveld!', so 'kveld' is appropriate here. 'Dag' is day, 'morgen' is morning, and 'natt' is night.
Etter jobb går jeg en tur hver ____.
Taking a walk 'every evening' after work is a common activity. 'Middag' is dinner, 'lunsj' is lunch, and 'frokost' is breakfast.
The correct order forms the sentence 'I drink coffee in the evening.'
The correct order forms the sentence 'We go for a walk every evening.'
The correct order forms the sentence 'I read a book every evening before I go to bed.'
Choose the most appropriate synonym for 'kveld' in the context of a social gathering.
'Aften' is often used interchangeably with 'kveld', especially in more formal or literary contexts, and is suitable for social gatherings. 'Skumring' refers to twilight, 'natt' is night, and 'morgen' is morning.
In which sentence is 'kveld' used with a nuanced meaning of 'the period before an important event'?
This sentence uses 'kveld' to denote the evening directly preceding a significant day, specifically Christmas Day (juledagen), which is a common idiomatic use. The other options refer to 'kveld' in its more literal sense of 'evening' or 'a pleasant time spent in the evening'.
Which of the following phrases correctly uses 'kveld' to convey a sense of 'lasting into the evening'?
'Hele kvelden' directly translates to 'the whole evening', indicating that an action or state lasts throughout the evening. 'Fra morgen til kveld' means 'from morning to evening', 'i løpet av kvelden' means 'during the evening', and 'sent på kveld' means 'late in the evening'.
The phrase 'å ta kvelden' idiomatically means 'to have a night out'.
'Å ta kvelden' idiomatically means 'to call it a day' or 'to go to bed', not 'to have a night out'.
When referring to a specific evening in the past, 'denne kvelden' is always the most appropriate choice.
While 'denne kvelden' (this evening) can refer to a specific past evening if the context is clear, 'den kvelden' (that evening) or 'forrige kveld' (last evening) might be more appropriate depending on the temporal distance and emphasis. 'Denne kvelden' often refers to the current or upcoming evening.
In Norwegian, 'god kveld' is exclusively used as a greeting upon arrival, never upon departure.
'God kveld' is commonly used as a greeting upon arrival. However, similar to 'good night', it can also be used as a farewell, especially when someone is leaving for the night or going to bed, though 'god natt' is more common for farewells at bedtime.
/ 18 correct
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