Meaning
Having a casual conversation.
Cultural Background
The 'kaffeprat' (coffee chat) is a vital part of Norwegian social life. If someone asks to 'ta en prat', there is a 90% chance coffee will be involved. Americans might say 'let's grab a coffee', which implies the same thing as 'ta en prat'. The focus is on the activity (grabbing coffee) rather than the talk itself. In Japan, 'taking a chat' with a superior is much more formal and usually requires a scheduled time, unlike the spontaneous Norwegian version. The British 'have a chat' is very similar to 'ta en prat', often used to downplay the importance of a conversation to avoid sounding too direct.
The 'Kjapp' Trick
Add 'kjapp' (quick) to make it 'ta en kjapp prat'. This is the ultimate way to get a busy Norwegian to talk to you.
Don't be too formal
In Norway, even with your boss, 'ta en prat' is usually better than 'jeg ber om et møte' (I request a meeting).
Meaning
Having a casual conversation.
The 'Kjapp' Trick
Add 'kjapp' (quick) to make it 'ta en kjapp prat'. This is the ultimate way to get a busy Norwegian to talk to you.
Don't be too formal
In Norway, even with your boss, 'ta en prat' is usually better than 'jeg ber om et møte' (I request a meeting).
Pronunciation of 'prat'
Make sure the 'a' is long. If it's too short, it might sound like a different word.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing verb in the correct form (present tense).
Jeg ______ en prat med sjefen akkurat nå.
The present tense of 'å ta' is 'tar'.
Which preposition is correct?
Kan vi ta en prat ____ det nye huset?
We talk 'about' (om) a topic.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural phrase.
A: Lenge siden sist! B: Ja! Vi må _________ snart.
'Ta en prat' is the standard way to suggest catching up.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You want to discuss a problem with a friend without making it too serious.
'Ta en prat' softens the approach to a discussion.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Prat vs. Samtale
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJeg ______ en prat med sjefen akkurat nå.
The present tense of 'å ta' is 'tar'.
Kan vi ta en prat ____ det nye huset?
We talk 'about' (om) a topic.
A: Lenge siden sist! B: Ja! Vi må _________ snart.
'Ta en prat' is the standard way to suggest catching up.
Situation: You want to discuss a problem with a friend without making it too serious.
'Ta en prat' softens the approach to a discussion.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it is neutral to informal. It's perfect for friends and colleagues.
Yes! It's actually the most common way to ask for a meeting in Norway's flat hierarchy.
'Prat' is a casual chat, while 'samtale' is a more formal or structured conversation.
You say 'Vi tok en prat'.
No, that sounds unnatural. Stick to 'ta en prat'.
Always use 'med' (with).
Not necessarily. It can be 5 minutes or 2 hours, but it implies a dedicated time for talking.
It's a 'serious talk', often used for discipline or big life decisions.
Yes, it's very common in work emails: 'Kan vi ta en prat om dette?'
It is masculine: 'en prat'.
Related Phrases
slå av en prat
synonymTo have a casual chat
småprate
similarTo make small talk
en alvorsprat
specialized formA serious talk
å prates
builds onTo talk to each other (later)
en samtale
contrastA conversation
