Language/Norwegian-bokmal/Grammar/Question-Words
| ◀️ Asking for Directions — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Negation ▶️ |
Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn how to form questions using common question words in Norwegian Bokmål. In the Norwegian language, there are several question words that are used to elicit specific information from the listener or reader. These question words are similar to those used in English and are easy to learn.
Asking questions is a fundamental part of communication in any language, and being able to ask questions in a new language is a critical step towards fluency. The ability to ask questions will allow you to gather information, clarify doubts or confusion, and better understand the people you are speaking with.
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Comparatives and Superlatives & Indirect speech.
Question Words
Question words are words used to elicit specific information from the listener or reader. They help to structure questions and ensure that the speaker or writer receives the desired information in response. In Norwegian, some of the most common question words are:
- Hva (What)
- Hvem (Who)
- Hvor (Where)
- Hvorfor (Why)
- Hvordan (How)
- Når (When)
Let's take a closer look at each of these question words and how they are used in Norwegian sentences.
Hva (What)
The question word hva means 'what' in English. It is used to ask for information about a thing, action or event.
| Norwegian Bokmål | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Hva er det? | hvɑː ær 'ɛ r dɛt | What is it? |
| Hva heter du? | hvɑː 'heːt ər duː | What is your name? |
| Hva synes du? | hvɑː syːnəs juː | What do you think? |
Hvem (Who)
The question word hvem means 'who' in English. It is used to ask for information about a person or people.
| Norwegian Bokmål | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Hvem er du? | hvɛm ær duː | Who are you? |
| Hvem er han? | hvɛm ær hɑːn | Who is he? |
| Hvem bor her? | hvɛm buːr hær | Who lives here? |
Hvor (Where)
The question word hvor means 'where' in English. It is used to ask for information about location.
| Norwegian Bokmål | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Hvor er du? | hvɔr ær duː | Where are you? |
| Hvor er toalettet? | hvɔr ær tuː lɛt ət | Where is the bathroom? |
| Hvor mye koster det? | hvɔr myː 'kɔstər dɛt | How much does it cost? |
Hvorfor (Why)
The question word hvorfor means 'why' in English. It is used to ask for a reason or explanation.
| Norwegian Bokmål | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Hvorfor gjorde du det? | hvɔr for 'jøːrə dʉː dɛt | Why did you do that? |
| Hvorfor er du sint? | hvɔr for ær duː sɪnt | Why are you angry? |
| Hvorfor vil du ikke? | hvɔr for viːl duː ɪk ə - | Why don't you want to? |
Hvordan (How)
The question word hvordan means 'how' in English. It is used to ask for information about manner or method.
| Norwegian Bokmål | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Hvordan har du det? | hvɔr dɑn hɑr duː dɛt | How are you? |
| Hvordan kommer jeg dit? | hvɔr dɑn kɔmər jɛiː dɪt | How do I get there? |
| Hvordan smaker det? | hvɔr dɑn 'smɑːkər dɛt | How does it taste? |
Når (When)
The question word når means 'when' in English. It is used to ask for information about time.
| Norwegian Bokmål | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Når kommer toget? | nɔr 'kɔmər toːgət | When does the train arrive? |
| Når skal vi møtes? | nɔr ʃɑlt viː 'møːtəs | When should we meet? |
| Når er konserten? | nɔr ær kɔnsært ər | When is the concert? |
Indirect Questions
In addition to the question words listed above, there are other ways to form questions in Norwegian. One way is by using indirect questions. An indirect question is a statement that asks a question in a more polite or indirect way. For example, instead of asking "Hvem er du?", which is a direct question, we could say "Kan jeg spørre hva navnet ditt er?" which means "May I ask what your name is?". Here are some other examples of indirect questions in Norwegian:
- Kan du fortelle meg hvor butikken er?
- Jeg lurte på om du kunne gi meg beskjed når du kommer.
- Vet du om det er noen gode restauranter her?
Exercise
Now that you have learned about the different question words in Norwegian, it's time to practice forming questions on your own. Take a moment to think about some questions you would like to ask in Norwegian, then use the question words and sentence structures you have learned in this lesson to form those questions. If you are having trouble thinking of questions, try asking about the weather, someone's job or interests, or recommendations for a good restaurant or activity.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you learned about the different question words in Norwegian and how to use them to form questions. By mastering these question words and structures, you will be able to communicate more effectively in Norwegian and have more meaningful conversations with others. Keep practicing forming questions on your own, and don't be afraid to ask native speakers for help or correction. With time and practice, you will become more confident in your ability to ask questions in Norwegian.
Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Pronouns & Present tense verbs.
Other Lessons
- Comparatives and Superlatives
- Nouns and adjectives
- Give your Opinion
- Academic writing and research skills
- Definite and indefinite forms of nouns
- Conditional Mood
- Advanced sentence structure and syntax
- Negation
- Adjectives
| ◀️ Asking for Directions — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Negation ▶️ |