When you're just starting out in Norwegian, knowing how to talk about everyday objects is super helpful. One word you'll definitely use is telefon.
Like in English, "telefon" refers to the device you use to call people. It's a masculine noun, so it takes the article en: en telefon.
You can use it in phrases like å ringe en telefon (to make a phone call) or å svare på telefonen (to answer the phone).
Even in the age of smartphones, this word is still very common!
When discussing advanced Norwegian, the concept of "telefon" (telephone) might seem basic, but its usage can reflect nuanced understanding. At a C1 level, you should not only be able to use "telefon" in various grammatical structures but also understand its cultural implications in a Norwegian context. This includes recognizing when a phone call is preferred over other communication methods, or understanding common idioms involving telephones. Mastering its use in complex sentences, such as passive constructions or indirect speech, further demonstrates a high level of proficiency.
§ Telefon vs. Phone: Not Always the Same
Many English speakers assume that 'telefon' works exactly like 'phone' in English. This isn't always the case. While 'telefon' directly translates to 'telephone', the usage can differ, especially in casual conversation.
§ Mistake 1: Using 'Telefon' for 'Mobile Phone' Every Time
In English, we often just say 'phone' when we mean 'mobile phone' or 'cell phone'. In Norwegian, while 'telefon' can refer to a mobile phone, the more common and specific term is 'mobiltelefon' or simply 'mobil'. If you're talking about your smartphone, 'mobil' is usually the better choice.
Jeg har glemt mobilen min hjemme. (I have forgotten my mobile phone at home.)
Kan du sende meg en melding på mobilen? (Can you send me a message on my mobile phone?)
Using 'telefon' here wouldn't be wrong, but 'mobil' is more common. It's a subtle difference, but it helps you sound more like a native speaker.
§ Mistake 2: Confusing 'Telefon' with 'Call' or 'Phone Call'
'Telefon' is the device. It is not the act of calling or the call itself. In English, we might say 'I'll give you a phone' (meaning a call), but this doesn't work in Norwegian. For 'a call' or 'a phone call', you'd use 'en telefonsamtale' or 'en samtale' (a conversation), or simply refer to the action of calling.
- DEFINITION
- telefonsamtale: phone call, conversation by telephone
Jeg må ta en telefonsamtale. (I need to take a phone call.)
To say 'to call someone', you use the verb 'ringe'.
- DEFINITION
- ringe: to call, to ring
Jeg skal ringe deg senere. (I will call you later.)
You would not say 'Jeg skal telefon deg senere.' That doesn't make sense in Norwegian.
§ Mistake 3: Incorrect Gender and Pluralization
'Telefon' is a masculine noun. This means it takes masculine articles and endings. Many learners forget this and use neutral or feminine forms.
- Indefinite singular: en telefon (a telephone)
- Definite singular: telefonen (the telephone)
- Indefinite plural: telefoner (telephones)
- Definite plural: telefonene (the telephones)
Hvor er telefonen min? (Where is my telephone?)
Vi har to telefoner hjemme. (We have two telephones at home.)
§ When to Use 'Telefon' (and when not to)
Use 'telefon' when you are specifically referring to the physical device that makes calls, particularly a landline, or in more formal contexts when 'mobil' feels too informal. You'll also see it in compound words.
- DEFINITION
- telefonkiosk: phone booth
- DEFINITION
- telefonnummer: phone number
Hva er telefonnummeret ditt? (What is your phone number?)
However, in casual conversation about your personal mobile device, 'mobil' is almost always preferred. Don't be afraid to use 'mobil' instead of 'telefon' when referring to your cell phone. It's more natural and makes your Norwegian sound much better.
수준별 예문
Jeg må ringe deg tilbake, min telefon er nesten tom for strøm.
I have to call you back, my phone is almost out of battery.
Here 'telefon' refers to a mobile phone, and 'tom for strøm' means 'out of power/battery'.
Har du sett den nye smarttelefonen som ble lansert i går? Den har et fantastisk kamera.
Have you seen the new smartphone that was launched yesterday? It has a fantastic camera.
'Smarttelefon' is the compound word for smartphone.
Politiet sporet telefonen hans til en forlatt hytte langt inne i skogen.
The police tracked his phone to an abandoned cabin deep in the forest.
'Sporet telefonen hans' means 'tracked his phone'.
Det er viktig å ha en sikkerhetskopi av dataene på telefonen din, i tilfelle den blir mistet eller ødelagt.
It is important to have a backup of the data on your phone, in case it gets lost or damaged.
'Sikkerhetskopi av dataene på telefonen' refers to a 'backup of the data on the phone'.
Jeg prøvde å ringe henne hele dagen, men hun svarte ikke på telefonen.
I tried to call her all day, but she didn't answer the phone.
'Svarte ikke på telefonen' means 'didn't answer the phone'.
På grunn av pandemien jobber mange hjemmefra og bruker sin private telefon til jobbkommunikasjon.
Due to the pandemic, many are working from home and using their private phone for work communication.
'Privat telefon' means 'private phone'.
Kan du gi meg nummeret til en pålitelig reparatør av mobiltelefoner?
Can you give me the number of a reliable mobile phone repairer?
'Reparatør av mobiltelefoner' means 'mobile phone repairer'.
Hun er så avhengig av sin telefon at hun sjekker den hvert par minutter, selv under middagen.
She is so addicted to her phone that she checks it every couple of minutes, even during dinner.
'Avhengig av sin telefon' means 'addicted to her phone'.
실생활에서 연습하기
실제 사용 상황
Asking someone to call you
- Kan du ringe meg på telefonen?
- Gi meg telefonnummeret ditt.
- Jeg ringer deg på telefonen.
Talking about making a phone call
- Jeg må ta en telefon.
- Skal vi ringe ham på telefonen?
- Har du ringt mamma på telefonen?
Referring to your mobile phone
- Min telefon er i lommen min.
- Jeg kan ikke finne telefonen min.
- Hvor er telefonen din?
Describing someone on the phone
- Han snakker i telefonen.
- Hun er opptatt i telefonen.
- De var i telefonen i en time.
Asking if someone has a phone
- Har du en telefon?
- Er telefonen din ny?
- Hvilken type telefon har du?
대화 시작하기
"Har du en smarttelefon?"
"Hva bruker du telefonen din til mest?"
"Har du et favorittprogram på telefonen din?"
"Hvor ofte sjekker du telefonen din?"
"Har du hatt en fasttelefon hjemme?"
일기 주제
Beskriv din ideelle telefon. Hva ville den kunne gjøre?
Hvordan har telefoner endret måten vi kommuniserer på?
Skriv om en gang telefonen din reddet deg ut av en vanskelig situasjon.
Hva er fordelene og ulempene med å ha en telefon?
Hvordan ville livet vært uten telefoner?
셀프 테스트 24 질문
Write a short sentence in Norwegian introducing yourself and mentioning that you have a phone.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg heter [ditt navn] og jeg har en telefon. (My name is [your name] and I have a phone.)
Imagine you are asking someone if they have a phone. Write the question in Norwegian.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Har du en telefon? (Do you have a phone?)
Write a simple Norwegian sentence stating that the phone is new.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Telefonen er ny. (The phone is new.)
Hvilken farge har telefonen? (What color is the phone?)
Read this passage:
Jeg har en telefon. Den er svart. Jeg bruker den til å ringe. (I have a phone. It is black. I use it to call.)
Hvilken farge har telefonen? (What color is the phone?)
The passage states 'Den er svart', meaning 'It is black'.
The passage states 'Den er svart', meaning 'It is black'.
Hva vil Lise gjøre? (What does Lise want to do?)
Read this passage:
Lise har en telefon. Den er gammel. Hun vil kjøpe en ny telefon. (Lise has a phone. It is old. She wants to buy a new phone.)
Hva vil Lise gjøre? (What does Lise want to do?)
The passage says 'Hun vil kjøpe en ny telefon', meaning 'She wants to buy a new phone'.
The passage says 'Hun vil kjøpe en ny telefon', meaning 'She wants to buy a new phone'.
Hva sier Ola om sin telefon? (What does Ola say about his phone?)
Read this passage:
Ola og Kari snakker om en telefon. Ola sier: 'Min telefon er stor.' Kari svarer: 'Min telefon er liten.' (Ola and Kari are talking about a phone. Ola says: 'My phone is big.' Kari replies: 'My phone is small.')
Hva sier Ola om sin telefon? (What does Ola say about his phone?)
Ola states: 'Min telefon er stor', which translates to 'My phone is big'.
Ola states: 'Min telefon er stor', which translates to 'My phone is big'.
Jeg må ringe deg, men jeg finner ikke min ___.
The sentence means 'I need to call you, but I can't find my ___.' 'Telefon' (telephone) is the most logical word to complete the sentence.
Kan du gi meg ditt ___nummer?
The sentence means 'Can you give me your ___ number?' 'Telefonnummer' (telephone number) is the correct compound word.
Han snakker i ___ hver kveld.
The sentence means 'He talks on the ___ every evening.' 'I telefon' (on the phone) is the correct phrase.
Min ___ ringer, jeg må ta den.
The sentence means 'My ___ is ringing, I have to answer it.' 'Telefon' (telephone) is what rings in this context.
Har du en lader til min ___?
The sentence means 'Do you have a charger for my ___?' 'Telefon' (telephone) is the most common device that needs a charger from the given options.
Jeg mistet min ___ på bussen.
The sentence means 'I lost my ___ on the bus.' 'Telefon' (telephone) is a common item to lose.
Jeg må kjøpe en ny ___ fordi den gamle er ødelagt.
The context implies something that can be 'broken,' and among the options, 'telefon' (telephone) fits best for needing a replacement.
Hun glemte ___ sin hjemme, så hun kan ikke ringe.
To make a call, one needs a 'telefon' (telephone). The other options don't fit the action of 'calling'.
Hvilket nummer ringer du på ___?
You dial a number 'on' a 'telefon' (telephone) to make a call. The other devices are not used for making phone calls in this context.
Kan du gi meg ___nummeret ditt?
When asking for a number to contact someone, it's typically their 'telefonnummer' (telephone number).
Han snakket i ___ i over en time.
The action of 'speaking for over an hour' suggests a conversation, which is most commonly done 'on the telephone' ('i telefonen').
Jeg må lade ___ min; batteriet er nesten tomt.
Something with a 'battery' that can be 'charged' and can run 'empty' is commonly a 'telefon' (telephone).
Etter den lange turen ønsket hun bare å ringe hjem, men mobiltelefonen hennes var dessverre helt uten ___. (After the long journey, she just wanted to call home, but her mobile phone was unfortunately completely out of ___.)
'Uten strøm' means 'out of power/battery', which is the most fitting in this context for a mobile phone.
Den gamle ___, en klassisk modell med dreieskive, sto som et klenodium i entreen og vitnet om en svunnen tid. (The old ___, a classic model with a rotary dial, stood like a relic in the hallway, bearing witness to a bygone era.)
A rotary dial is characteristic of an old telephone.
Hun hadde lagt igjen sin nye smarttelefon i bilen, så hun måtte låne en kollegas ___ for å bekrefte avtalen. (She had left her new smartphone in the car, so she had to borrow a colleague's ___ to confirm the appointment.)
To confirm an appointment by calling, one would need a 'telefon'.
Til tross for den avanserte krypteringen på den nye kommunikasjonsplattformen, følte han seg fortsatt usikker på å diskutere sensitiv informasjon over ___ . (Despite the advanced encryption on the new communication platform, he still felt insecure discussing sensitive information over the ___.)
'Over telefon' (over the phone) is a common idiom for a conversation by phone, even when referring to digital calls.
Etter at strømmen gikk, var den eneste måten å kontakte utenomverdenen på via en gammel satelitt___, som heldigvis hadde egen batteribackup. (After the power went out, the only way to contact the outside world was via an old satellite ___, which fortunately had its own battery backup.)
A satellite phone is used for communication when other means are unavailable.
Da nødsentralen ringte tilbake, var linjen helt død, noe som indikerte at noen hadde kuttet ___. (When the emergency center called back, the line was completely dead, indicating that someone had cut the ___.)
To 'kutte telefonen' (cut the telephone) is an idiomatic way to say the phone line has been severed, implying communication was interrupted.
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
관련 콘텐츠
관련 표현
technology 관련 단어
anvendelse
B1the practical use of something
apparat
B1Apparatus, device, or machine
batteri
A2a device providing power
bruk
A2the act of using something
bruker
B1User
datamaskin
A2a programmable electronic device
e-post
A1elektronisk
B1Electronic
fil
B1File
forhåndsvisning
C1a preview or look ahead
