Language/Norwegian-bokmal/Grammar/Question-Words

◀️ Asking for Directions — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Negation ▶️

Norwegian Bokmål → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Question Words

Welcome to another exciting lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Norwegian Bokmål Course"! Today, we're diving into an essential aspect of language learning: question words. Understanding how to ask questions is crucial for effective communication, whether you're exploring Norway, conversing with friends, or simply trying to get through everyday interactions.

In this lesson, we will explore various question words in Norwegian Bokmål, their meanings, and how to use them in sentences. We'll provide plenty of examples to illustrate each point, ensuring you grasp the nuances of forming questions in Norwegian. By the end of this lesson, you'll be equipped with the tools to start asking questions confidently!

Importance of Question Words

Question words are fundamental in any language. They help us gather information, clarify doubts, and engage in conversations. In Norwegian Bokmål, these words allow you to inquire about people, places, things, reasons, and manners. Mastering them opens the door to meaningful interactions and enriches your vocabulary.

Structure of the Lesson

1. Overview of Common Question Words

2. Examples of Each Question Word

3. Practice Exercises

4. Solutions and Explanations for Exercises

Overview of Common Question Words

Below is a list of some of the most common Norwegian question words.

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
hva	/vɑː/	what
hvem	/vɛm/	who
hvor	/vuːr/	where
når	/nɔr/	when
hvorfor	/ˈhʉrfʊr/	why
hvordan	/ˈhʊrdɑn/	how
hvilken	/ˈvɪlkɛn/	which
hvor mye	/vuːr ˈmyːə/	how much
hvor mange	/vuːr ˈmɑŋɛ/	how many
hva slags	/vɑː slɑɡs/	what kind (of)

Each question word serves a specific purpose, and knowing when and how to use them is key to forming clear and effective questions.

Using Question Words

Now let's delve into examples of how to use these question words in sentences. This will help you understand their usage in context.

1. Hva (What)

• Usage: To ask for information about something.

• Example: Hva gjør du? (What are you doing?)

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
Hva gjør du?	/vɑː jøːr du/	What are you doing?
Hva er klokka?	/vɑː ɛr ˈklɔkːɑ/	What time is it?
Hva liker du?	/vɑː ˈliːkər du/	What do you like?
Hva skal vi spise?	/vɑː skɑl vi ˈspiːsə/	What shall we eat?
Hva heter katten din?	/vɑː ˈheːtər ˈkɑtn diːn/	What is your cat's name?

2. Hvem (Who)

• Usage: To inquire about a person.

• Example: Hvem er du? (Who are you?)

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
Hvem er du?	/vɛm ɛr du/	Who are you?
Hvem har ringt?	/vɛm hɑr rɪŋt/	Who called?
Hvem jobber her?	/vɛm ˈjʊbər hɛr/	Who works here?
Hvem kommer til festen?	/vɛm ˈkɔmːər tɪl ˈfɛstən/	Who is coming to the party?
Hvem vil gå?	/vɛm vɪl ɡɔː/	Who wants to go?

3. Hvor (Where)

• Usage: To ask about a place or location.

• Example: Hvor er du? (Where are you?)

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
Hvor er du?	/vuːr ɛr du/	Where are you?
Hvor ligger butikken?	/vuːr ˈlɪɡər buˈtɪkːən/	Where is the store?
Hvor skal vi dra?	/vuːr skɑl vi drɑ/	Where should we go?
Hvor bor du?	/vuːr buːr du/	Where do you live?
Hvor er toalettet?	/vuːr ɛr tuˈɑːlɛtːɛt/	Where is the bathroom?

4. Når (When)

• Usage: To ask about time.

• Example: Når skal vi spise? (When shall we eat?)

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
Når skal vi spise?	/nɔr skɑl vi ˈspiːsə/	When shall we eat?
Når er møtet?	/nɔr ɛr ˈmøːtɛt/	When is the meeting?
Når kommer du hjem?	/nɔr ˈkɔmːər du jɛm/	When are you coming home?
Når er det fest?	/nɔr ɛr dɛ ˈfɛst/	When is the party?
Når skal vi dra til Norge?	/nɔr skɑl vi drɑ tɪl ˈnɔrɡə/	When shall we go to Norway?

5. Hvorfor (Why)

• Usage: To inquire about reasons or motives.

• Example: Hvorfor er du trist? (Why are you sad?)

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
Hvorfor er du trist?	/ˈhʉrfʊr ɛr du trɪst/	Why are you sad?
Hvorfor skal vi gå?	/ˈhʉrfʊr skɑl vi ɡɔː/	Why should we go?
Hvorfor er det viktig?	/ˈhʉrfʊr ɛr dɛ ˈvɪktɪɡ/	Why is it important?
Hvorfor liker du ikke det?	/ˈhʉrfʊr ˈliːkər du ˈɪkɛ dɛ/	Why don't you like that?
Hvorfor spør du?	/ˈhʉrfʊr spør du/	Why are you asking?

6. Hvordan (How)

• Usage: To ask about the manner or way of doing something.

• Example: Hvordan lager man dette? (How do you make this?)

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
Hvordan lager man dette?	/ˈhʊrdɑn ˈlɑːɡər mɑn ˈdɛtə/	How do you make this?
Hvordan har du det?	/ˈhʊrdɑn hɑr du dɛ/	How are you?
Hvordan fungerer det?	/ˈhʊrdɑn fʊŋˈɡɛrɛ dɛ/	How does it work?
Hvordan går det?	/ˈhʊrdɑn ɡɔːr dɛ/	How's it going?
Hvordan kan jeg hjelpe deg?	/ˈhʊrdɑn kɑn jɛɡ ˈjɛlpə dɛɪ/	How can I help you?

7. Hvilken (Which)

• Usage: To ask about a choice or selection among options.

• Example: Hvilken bok leser du? (Which book are you reading?)

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
Hvilken bok leser du?	/ˈvɪlkɛn bɔk ˈleːsər du/	Which book are you reading?
Hvilken farge liker du?	/ˈvɪlkɛn ˈfɑrɡə ˈliːkər du/	Which color do you like?
Hvilken film vil du se?	/ˈvɪlkɛn fɪlm vɪl du seː/	Which movie do you want to see?
Hvilken vei skal vi ta?	/ˈvɪlkɛn vɛɪ skɑl vi tɑː/	Which way should we take?
Hvilken restaurant anbefaler du?	/ˈvɪlkɛn rɛstəˈrɑ̃ː ɑnˈbɛfɑːlər du/	Which restaurant do you recommend?

8. Hvor mye (How much)

• Usage: To ask about quantity or price.

• Example: Hvor mye koster det? (How much does it cost?)

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
Hvor mye koster det?	/vuːr ˈmyːə ˈkɔstɛr dɛ/	How much does it cost?
Hvor mye penger har du?	/vuːr ˈmyːə ˈpeŋər hɑr du/	How much money do you have?
Hvor mye tid har vi?	/vuːr ˈmyːə tiːd hɑr vi/	How much time do we have?
Hvor mye vann trenger vi?	/vuːr ˈmyːə vɑn ˈtrɛŋər vi/	How much water do we need?
Hvor mye melk skal jeg kjøpe?	/vuːr ˈmyːə mɛlk skɑl jɛɡ ˈjøːpə/	How much milk should I buy?

9. Hvor mange (How many)

• Usage: To ask about a countable quantity.

• Example: Hvor mange epler har du? (How many apples do you have?)

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
Hvor mange epler har du?	/vuːr ˈmɑŋɛ ˈɛplər hɑr du/	How many apples do you have?
Hvor mange bøker har du?	/vuːr ˈmɑŋɛ ˈbøːkər hɑr du/	How many books do you have?
Hvor mange venner har du?	/vuːr ˈmɑŋɛ ˈvɛnər hɑr du/	How many friends do you have?
Hvor mange språk snakker du?	/vuːr ˈmɑŋɛ ˈsprɔːk ˈsnɑkər du/	How many languages do you speak?
Hvor mange timer har vi?	/vuːr ˈmɑŋɛ ˈtiːmər hɑr vi/	How many hours do we have?

10. Hva slags (What kind)

• Usage: To ask about the type or category of something.

• Example: Hva slags musikk liker du? (What kind of music do you like?)

Norwegian Bokmål	Pronunciation	English Translation
Hva slags musikk liker du?	/vɑː slɑɡs muˈsɪk ˈliːkər du/	What kind of music do you like?
Hva slags klær har du på?	/vɑː slɑɡs klɛːr hɑr du pɔː/	What kind of clothes are you wearing?
Hva slags film vil du se?	/vɑː slɑɡs fɪlm vɪl du seː/	What kind of movie do you want to see?
Hva slags aktiviteter liker du?	/vɑː slɑɡs ɑktɪvɪˈtɛrə ˈliːkər du/	What kind of activities do you like?
Hva slags sport trener du?	/vɑː slɑɡs spɔrt ˈtrɛːnər du/	What kind of sport do you train in?

Practice Exercises

Now that you've learned about question words and seen them in context, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are some practice exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the appropriate question word from the list: hva, hvem, hvor, når, hvorfor, hvordan, hvilken, hvor mye, hvor mange, hva slags.

1. _______ er du?

2. _______ skal vi dra?

3. _______ liker du?

4. _______ er det?

5. _______ vil du ha?

Exercise 2: Match the Questions

Match the Norwegian question on the left with its English translation on the right.

Norwegian Question	English Translation
1. Hva gjør du?	A. Where do you live?
2. Hvem er han?	B. How many books do you have?
3. Hvor ligger skolen?	C. What are you doing?
4. Hvor mange bøker har du?	D. Who is he?
5. Hvor bor du?	E. Where is the school?

Exercise 3: Create Your Questions

Using the question words, create your questions based on the prompts below.

1. Ask someone about their favorite color.

2. Inquire about the time of a meeting.

3. Ask how much a ticket costs.

4. Find out who is coming to dinner.

5. Ask what kind of food they like.

Exercise 4: True or False

Read the following statements and determine if they are true or false based on what you've learned.

1. "Hvor" is used to ask about time.

2. "Hva slags" is used to inquire about types or categories.

3. "Hvem" means "what" in Norwegian Bokmål.

4. "Hvor mye" asks about quantity or price.

5. "Når" is used to ask for information about something.

Exercise 5: Rewrite the Questions

Rewrite the following sentences using the correct question words.

1. ___ er din favorittfilm? (What)

2. ___ vil komme i kveld? (Who)

3. ___ ligger nærmest? (Which)

4. ___ er klokka? (What)

5. ___ koster en kopp kaffe? (How much)

Solutions and Explanations for Exercises

Here are the solutions and explanations for the exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. Hvem er du? (Who are you?)

2. Når skal vi dra? (When shall we go?)

3. Hva liker du? (What do you like?)

4. Hvor er det? (Where is it?)

5. Hva slags vil du ha? (What kind do you want?)

Exercise 2: Match the Questions

1. C - What are you doing?

2. D - Who is he?

3. E - Where is the school?

4. B - How many books do you have?

5. A - Where do you live?

Exercise 3: Create Your Questions

1. Hvilken farge liker du? (Which color do you like?)

2. Når er møtet? (When is the meeting?)

3. Hvor mye koster en billett? (How much does a ticket cost?)

4. Hvem kommer til middag? (Who is coming to dinner?)

5. Hva slags mat liker du? (What kind of food do you like?)

Exercise 4: True or False

1. False - "Hvor" is used to ask about places.

2. True - "Hva slags" is used to inquire about types or categories.

3. False - "Hvem" means "who" in Norwegian Bokmål.

4. True - "Hvor mye" asks about quantity or price.

5. False - "Når" is used to ask about time.

Exercise 5: Rewrite the Questions

1. Hva er din favorittfilm? (What is your favorite movie?)

2. Hvem vil komme i kveld? (Who will come tonight?)

3. Hvilken ligger nærmest? (Which one is closest?)

4. Hva er klokka? (What time is it?)

5. Hvor mye koster en kopp kaffe? (How much does a cup of coffee cost?)

Congratulations! You've now learned how to use question words in Norwegian Bokmål. With practice, you'll find it easier to engage in conversations and seek information in your new language. Keep asking questions, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your classmates or teachers if you have any doubts!

Table of Contents - Norwegian Bokmål Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Norwegian Bokmål

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Definite Articles
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Daily Activities

• Daily Routine
• Hobbies and Interests

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Coordinating Conjunctions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Question Words
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Expressing Emotions

  ---

Norwegian Customs and Traditions

• Holidays and Celebrations
• Etiquette and Social Norms

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 ▶️