"Dinner for One"

Why this is so popular outside of England is a bit of a mystery, but here it is: Freddie Frinton in "Dinner for One" -- a New Year's Eve tradition in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, and on 23rd December in Norway.

Word of the Day: Aurora polaris

Aurora Borealis timelapse HD - Tromsø 2010 from
Tor Even Mathisen on Vimeo.

The Word of the Day is Aurora polaris.

The aurora is named for the Roman goddess of the dawn; the northern version is named after Boreas, the north wind of Greek mythology, and the southern version from the Latin word meaning "of the south".

en aurora = an aurora
auroraen = the aurora
auroraer = auroras (or aurorae)
auroraerne = the auroras (or the aurorae)

This phenomenon is also known in Norwegian as polarlys(et), "(the) polar light".

Aurora polaris (polarlys) er et fysisk fenomen som forekommer når solvinden er kraftigere enn normalt, med store elektriske utladninger som slynger elektrisk ladete partikler mot Jorden.

Polarlys på den nordlige halvkule kalles aurora borealis («morgenrøden i nord») eller nordlys, mens polarlys på den sørlige halvkule kalles aurora australis eller sørlys.

Ord fra kaffebaren

Foto: Oslopuls

Americano: En enkel eller dobbel espresso servert i cappuccino eller kaffe-kopp som fylles opp med varmt vann, eventuelt så mye som gjesten ønsker.

Lungo: Tilberedningstiden er den samme som for en espresso, men kaffen males grovere og mengden blir dermed større.

Espresso: Ca 30 ml kaffe laget på ca 25 sek "under trykk" i en spesialmaskin. Espressoen får et nydelig skum på toppen, kalt crema.

Doppio: Dobbel espresso. To enkle espressoer som serveres i en større kopp.

Ristretto: Tilberedningstiden er den samme som for en espresso, men kaffen males finere og mengden blir dermed mindre.

Kaffee crème: Tilberedningen skjer under trykk i espressomaskin eller helautomatisk maskin. Utgangspunktet er som oftest vanlig lysbrent kaffe slik vi kjenner den fra trakteren hjemme. Kaffen får et karakteristisk gyldent skum på toppen. Kaffen er mildere i smak enn espresso, syrligere enn traktekaffen og serveres i kopper eller glass på ca 1,5 dl.

Espresso con panna: Espresso toppet med ristet, tyktflytende kremfløte.

Espresso macchiato: Espresso "flekket" med en skvett melk eller melkeskum til pynt.

Cortado: Enkel eller dobbel espresso med melk. Melkemengden skal være tilsvarende kaffemengden.

Café au lait: Lait betyr melk på fransk. Café au lait er filterkaffe og varm melk i lik blanding.

Caffè latte: Latte betyr melk på italiensk. Opprinnelsen til caffè latte er kaffe laget på mokkakanne med varm melk. De fleste kaffebarer lager en caffè latte av espresso og steamet melk. Serveres oftest i høye glass.

Cappuccino: Enkel eller dobbel espresso, 50/50 melk og melkeskum.

Caffè mocca: Sjokoladesaus, espresso og steamet melk.

Caffè correto: Espresso med en liten slump sprit, for eksempel grappa, brandy eller likør.

Kild: Norsk Kaffe Informasjon (Norwegian Coffee Association).

Å sette = To set (Uke 46)

Å sette is the Verb of the Week for Week 46, and it means "to set". Its usage is quite similar to the English word. It is a transitive verb, requiring an object, the thing which is being set.

Å sette should not be confused with å sitte, "to sit". Å sitte is in fact an intransitive verb, and does not require an object: while you "set" something somewhere, you yourself simply "sit".

Here are the conjugations of this irregular verb:

jeg setter = I set/am setting (present tense)
jeg har satt = I have set (present perfect tense)
jeg satte = I set (past tense)
jeg hadde satt = I had set (past perfect)
jeg vil sette = I will set (future)
jeg vil ha sat = I will have set (future perfect)
jeg ville sette = I would set (present conditional)
jeg ville ha satt = I would have set (perfect conditional)

And here are some nyttige uttrykk, some useful expressions:

sette på bordet = set the table
sette til side = set aside, disregard
sette skylden på = put the blame on
sette i gang = start, get started
sette seg ned = sit down
sette bort = subcontract, outsource

Her er min nye sofa! Sett den rett der, gutter.
Here's my new sofa! Set it right there, boys.

Sett ut koppene, Marit, så skal jeg koke kaffen.
Set out the cups, Marit, and I'll make the coffee.

Hvem sett den vått glass på boken min?
Who set that wet glass on my book?

Å møte = To meet (Uke 45)

Queen Sonja of Norway. Source: Wikipedia

Å møte, "to meet" is the Verb of the Week for week 45. Generally it is a transitive verb, taking a direct object -- that is, the person or thing that is met -- but it can also be intransitive, as when a group "meets".

vi møter = we meet (present tense)
vi har møtt = we have met (present perfect tense)
vi møtte = we met (past tense)
vi hadde møtt = we had met (past perfect)
vi skal møte = we shall meet (future)
vi skal ha møtt = we shall have met (future perfect)
vi skulle møte = we would meet (present conditional)
vi skulle ha møtt = we would have met (perfect conditional)

Du er ikke som noen jente jeg har noensinne møtt.
You are not like any girl I have ever met.

Hun sier at hun kommer til å møte dronningen!
She says she's going to meet the Queen!

Bokklubben vår møter på fredagskveldene på kaféen.
Our book club meets on Friday evenings at the café.

Catullus 51

Greek lyre player, an illustration by John Pittaway from "Picture Reference Book of the Ancient Greeks" by Boswell Taylor (Brockhampton Press, 1974)

Han som ofte sitter ved din side
og betrakter og hører på deg
synes til meg som en gud, ja -- tørr jeg si det --
enda større en selve gudene.
Din søtt latter, min Lesbia, stjeler fra meg all forstand,
jeg trenger bare å stå ved din side
og ordene forsvinner fra mitt hode.

Tungen lammes, en spinkel ild
sprer seg gjennom kroppen min, mine ører
døves av sin egen ringing, mine øyne
dekkes av mørke.
Latheten, Catullus, blir din undergang:
så mye leilighet gjører deg målløs.
Mange store konger og byer har gått under
på grunn av latheten.

© copyright 26-2-2001 by Ricardo Odriozola

Lyric 51 and other poems by Catullus can be found in Norwegian and a host of other languages at Rudy Negenborn's Catullus Translations site.

Here is a translation of this poem into English:

He seems to me to be equal to a god,
he, if it is permissible, seems to surpass the gods,
who sitting opposite again and again
sees and hears you,
sweetly laughing, which stole all
the senses from miserable me: for when I look at you,
Lesbia, no voice is left to me in my mouth.

But the tongue slips, under the limbs
a thin flame pours down, with their own sound
the ears are ringing, the eyes
are covered by twin night.
Leisure, Catullus, is mischievous to you:
You revel in and desire leisure too much:
Leisure has previously destroyed kings and
blessed cities.

Word of the Day = Skjegg (Dagens ord)

A wise beard = et klokt skjegg.

A funny beard = en morsom skjegg.

An old-fashioned beard = en gammeldags skjegg.

A new beard = et nytt skjegg.

A fake beard = en falsk skjegg.

The Word of the Day is skjegg, "beard". To ta skjegget is to shave off one's beard.

skjegget = the beard
et skjegg = a beard
skjegg = beards
skjeggene (or skjegga) = the beards

Here are some idioms with this noun --

le i skjegget = to laugh up one's sleeve
mumle i skjegget = to mumble in one's beard
sitte (igjen) med skjegget i postkassa = to be left holding the bag

Å håpe = To hope (Uke 43)

This week's verb is å håpe, "to hope". As in English, one can hope for something, håpe på noe, or hope to do something, håpe å gjøre noe.

Here are the conjugations of this regular verb --

han håper = he hopes (present tense)
han har håpet = he has hoped (present perfect)
han håpet (occasionally han håpte) = he hoped (past)
han hadde håpet = he had hoped (past perfect)
han vil håpe = he will hope (future)
han vil ha håpet = he will have hoped (future perfect)
han ville håpe = he would hope (present conditional)
han ville ha håpet = he will have hoped (perfect conditional)

And here are some sentences using it --

Kjell håpet han ville komme til å spille Harold Hill i år.
Kjell hoped he would get to play Harold Hill this year.

Vi hadde håpet å ha en piknik i dag, men det er for vått.
We had hoped to have a picnic today, but it's too wet.

Jeg sendte sjekken forrige uke. Jeg håper jeg husket å signere den.
I mailed the check last week. I hope I remembered to sign it.

"I alt er det bedre å håpe enn å fortvile." - Goethe.
"In all things it is better to hope than to despair." -- Goethe.

Å holde = To hold (Uke 42)

Kild: Sunnhet.

This week's verb, å holde, "to hold, to keep", is generally a transitive verb, requiring an object; it also has a transitive form meaning "to suffice". It is also found in many idioms.

hun holder = she holds (present tense)
hun har holdt = she has held (present perfect tense)
hun holdt = she held (past)
hun hadde holdt = she had held (past perfect)
hun vil holde = she will hold (future)
hun vil ha holdt = she will have held (future perfect)
hun ville holde = she would hold (present conditional)
hun ville ha holdt = she would have held (perfect conditional)

holde pusten = hold (the) breath
holde (et) øye med noen = keep an eye on something
holde et løfte = keep a promise
holde ut = hold out, not give up
hold kjeft! = shut up

For en søt baby! Får jeg holder ham?
What a sweet baby! May I hold him?

Pass på å drikke melken. Det vil bare holde seg et par dager.
Be sure to drink the milk. It will keep only a few days.

Jeg har holdt denne planken i flere timer -- når kommer Torvald tilbake?
I've been holding this plank for hours -- when is Torvald coming back?

Jeg sa jo at hun ville holde med meg!
I told you she would agree with me!

Å kjenne = To know, be acquainted with (Uke 39)

Foto: Scanpix

The Verb of the Week for Week 39 is å kjenne, "to know, to be acquainted with". Å kjenne til (noe) means to know about (something).

(Use å vite for knowing facts, etc.)

Here are the conjugations of this regular verb:

vi kjenner = we know (present tense)
vi har kjent = we have known (present perfect tense)
vi kjente = we knew (past tense)
vi hadde kjent = we had known (past perfect tense)
vi vil kjenne = we will know (future)
vi vil ha kjent = we will have known (future perfect tense)
vi ville kjenne = we would know (present conditional)
vi ville ha kjent = we would have known (perfect conditional)

And here are some sentences using it:

Trond Espen Seim? Du kjenner ham??
Trond Espen Seim? You know him??

Jeg ønsker ikke å gå til festen. Jeg skal kjenne ingen der.
I don’t want to go to the party. I won’t know anyone there.

Å ja, vi har kjent hverandre siden universitetet.
Oh, yes, we’ve known each other since university.

Å bruke = To use (Uke 36)

The Verb of the Week for Week 36 is å bruke, "to use".

Let's conjugate this regular verb, shall we?

jeg bruker = I use (present tense)
du har brukt = you (sing.) have used (present perfect tense)
han brukte = he used (past tense)
hun hadde brukt = she had used (past perfect tense)
vi vil bruke = we will use (future tense)
dere vil ha brukt = they will have used (future perfect tense)
de ville bruke = you (pl.) would use (present conditional tense)
de ville ha brukt = you (pl.) would have used (perfect conditional tense)

And here are a few sentences using it --

Glem ikke å bruke ditt blinklys!
Don’t forget to use your turning indicator!

De sier at katter har ni liv. Min har brukt opp minst fem.
They say that cats have nine lives. Mine has used up at least five.

Jeg snakker bare litt norsk. Vennligst si meg hvis jeg bruker feil ord!
I speak only a little Norwegian. Please tell me if I use the wrong word!

Farger = Colours

Seven- and twelve-color circles, probably by Claude Boutet, ca.1708. Source: Wikipedia.

The three primary colours -- primærfarger -- are

gul = yellow
rød = red
blå = blue

The three secondary colours -- sekundærfarger -- are

grønn = green
oransje = orange
lilla = violet

Å hete = To be named, called (Uke 34)

Gateskilt fra kvadraturen, Kristiansand. Kild: Wikipedia.

Å hete, "to be named, to be called", is the Verb of the Week for Week 34.

It is usually assumed that the "be" in "be called" is included in hete, so this doesn't need to be translated from the English. See for instance the examples below -- skal hun hete instead of skal hun blir hete in the first, and het ikke? instead of var ikke het? in the second.

hun heter = she is named/called (present tense)
hun har hett = she has been named/called (present perfect tense)
hun het = she was named/called (past tense)
hun hadde hett = she had been named/called (past perfect)
hun vil hete = she will be named/called (future)
hun vil ha hett = she will have been named/called (future perfect)
hun ville hete = she would be named/called (present conditional)
hun ville ha hett = she would have been named/called (perfect conditional)

And here are some sentences using å hete --

Hvis barnet blir en jente, skal hun hete Ragnfrid.
If the baby is a girl, she'll be called Ragnfrid.

Det er merkelig. Het ikke begge den forrige kjærester også Per?
That's weird. Weren't both of your last boyfriends named Per, too?

Jeg tror noen holder deg for narr. Det er ikke noen gate som heter Duppedings-vei.
I think someone's pulling your leg. There is no street called Thingummy Way.

Word of the Day: Kjæreste

The Word of the Day is kjæreste, "sweetheart, boy/girlfriend" -- en person som man har et romantisk forhold til og fast følge med.

It is also a superlative of kjær, "dear", and can be used as an endearment -- Min kjæreste!, or more poetically, Kjæreste min!, although this might sound a little old-fashioned these days.

kjæreste = sweetheart
kjæresten = the sweetheart
kjærester = sweethearts
kjærestene = the sweethearts

Arne er lei seg fordi kjæresten slo opp med ham.
Arne is sad because his girlfriend broke up with him.

De har vært kjærester siden ungdommen.
They have been sweethearts since childhood.

Å la = To let (Uke 33)

The Verb of the Week for Week 33 is å la, "to let, to allow". As in English, it is usually used with another verb. It can also mean "to leave" as in "leave one behind, alone, in peace".

Note that "to let" in the sense of renting or taking a lease on something is å leie.

Here are the conjugations of this irregular verb:

vi lar = we let (present tense)
vi har latt = we have let (present perfect tense)
vi lot = we let (past tense)
vi hadde latt = we had let (past perfect)
vi vil la = we will let (future tense)
vi vil ha latt = we will have let (future perfect)
vi ville la = we would let (present conditional)
vi ville ha latt = we would have let (future conditional)
la! = let! (imperative)

And here are some sentences using å la --

Det er varmt i dag -- la døra stå åpen, vær så snill.
It's so warm today -- leave the door open, would you?

Hvorfor lot du meg gå ut seende ut som dette?
Why did you let me go out looking like this?

Pappa ville ikke la meg kjøre Saaben, så jeg måtte bruke sykkelen min. Unnskyld at jeg er sen.
Dad wouldn't let me drive the Saab, so I had to ride my bike. Sorry I'm late.

La meg gå, du store stut!
Let me go, you big lummox!

Heraklit

Heraclitus, a detail from "The School of Athens" by Raphael (1483-1520).

"Du kan ikke stige ned i samme elv to ganger. Den elven som du nettopp satte foten ned i er nå borte -- vannets rørsler og virvler blir uavbrutt andre."

-- Heraklit (540-480 f.Kr.), gresk filosof

Å bli = To be, to become (Uke 31)

Vil du bli millionær?

The Verb of the Week is å bli, one of the most common verbs in Norwegian. It can mean "to be, to become, to remain/stay".

The alternatives below are some of the older forms allowed in bokmål; the first listed are the most common.

jeg blir = I am (present tense)
jeg er/har blitt = I have been (present perfect tense)
jeg ble, blei = I was (past tense)
jeg var/har blitt = I had been (past perfect)
jeg vil bli, blive = I will be (future)
jeg vil være blitt = I will have been (future perfect)
jeg ville bli, blive = I would be (present conditional)
jeg ville være blitt = I would have been (perfect conditional)

Hvis du skal bli med til byen, må du først gjøre leksene dine.
If you are going to come to town with me, you must do your lessons first.

Åse sier at hun ikke ønsker å bli en astronaut likevel.
Åse says she doesn't want to be an astronaut after all.

Han ble vel for bare to dager, så vi ikke fikk se ham mye.
He stayed for only two days, so we didn't get to see much of him.

Det blir femti kroner, takk.
That will be fifty kroner, please.

Hvor det er hjerterom, blir det alltid husrom.
Where there is room in the heart, there is room in the house. [The English equivalent is “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”.]

Hangman

Play hangman in Norwegian online on the no.free.dictionary homepage, or here in English, Norwegian, or French at hangman.no.

Å bo = To live, reside (Uke 30)

Kroken Leilighet, Bergen.

The Verb of the Week for Week 30 is å bo, "to live, reside". Å bu is still seen, but the newer spelling is more common nowadays.

Use å leve for "to live, be alive" -- "Man kan ikke leve av brød alene".

hun bor = she lives (present tense)
hun har bodd = she has lived (present perfect tense)
hun bodde = she lived (past tense)
hun hadde bodd = she had lived (past perfect tense)
hun vil bo/bu = she will live (future)
hun vil ha bodd = she will have lived (future perfect)
hun ville bo/bu = she would live (present conditional)
hun ville ha bodd = she would have lived (perfect conditional)

Hvor lenge har du bodd i denne leiligheten?
How long have you lived in this flat?

Øyvind bor i Trondheim nå, men han er egentlig fra Kolvereid.
Øyvind lives in Trondheim now, but actually he's from Kolvereid.

Mor sier jeg ville bo på biblioteket hvis jeg kunne.
Mum says I'd live at the public library if I could.

Litt/lite = A little/little

Liten and litt both refer to the smallness of something, but when you are talking about how much Norwegian you speak, there is a subtle difference.

Jeg snakker litt norsk.
I speak a little Norwegian.

Jeg snakker lite norsk.
I speak little Norwegian.

The first implies, "yes, I speak [a bit of] Norwegian, please feel free to carry on", while the second is "I don't understand, please help!"

Jeg snakker bare litt norsk.
I speak only a little Norwegian.

Vennligst snakk saktere.
Please speak more slowly.

Hva betyr det?
What does that mean?

Å ta = To take (Uken 29)

Å ta, "to take", is the Verb of the Week for week 29. It is an irregular verb, and usually has a direct object, that which is taken.

jeg tar = I take (present tense)
jeg har tatt = I have taken (present perfect tense)
jeg tok = I took (past tense)
jeg hadde tatt = I had taken (past perfect)
jeg vil ta = I will take (future)
jeg vil ha ta = I will have taken (future perfect)
jeg ville ta = I would take (present conditional)
jeg ville ha ta = I would have taken (perfect conditional)

ta medisin sin = take one's medicine
ta en liten hvilepause = take a little break
ta en foto/bild = take a photo/picture

Here are some sentences using å ta --

Kjell har tatt den siste pakken med potetgull til sin lunsj.
Kjell has taken the last packet of crisps for his lunch.

Vel å merke, jeg trodde ikke at han skulle ta meg på alvor.
Mind you, I didn’t think he would take me seriously.

En ny fordeler? Hvor lenge vil det ta?
A new distributor? How long will it take?

Kom, så tar vi en kopp kaffe!
Come, let’s have a cup of coffee!

"I hildringstimen"

"I hildringstimen"
musikk av Finn Ludt, tekst av Erik Bye
sunget av Erik Bye

I hildringstimen er det godt å seile
En kaffekjeft og stomp med sirup på
Du åpner med et smell ditt rorhusvindu
Og stikker nesa ut og snuser mot det blå.

Ja, se den gamle gullsmed, morgensolen
Har atter hamret havet til et fat
Der skaperen med ødselhet har drysset
En håndfull holmer som nå bader i karat.

Og se mot styrbord gjennom hildringsdisen
De fjerne øyer svever! Fjell kan fly!
Nå aner du hva salig Adam skuet
Da han ble purret ved det aller første gry.

I slikt et lys, da blir alt mørkt et minne
Du hviler hånden rolig på ditt ratt
Og gnukker tommelen mot midskipsmerket
Og vet for denne gang, din kurs var riktig satt.

Du møter kuttere på vei mot feltet
Et solbrent fjes, som spytter brunt i le
En fiskerneve hilser fra et rorhus
Og gjør din glade hjemreis dobbelt rik ved det.

For ennå er din skute langt av lande
Men aldri var deg mennesket mer nært
Enn nettopp nå, i denne gyldne time
Som lar deg fatte alt du har å holde kjært.

I hildringstimen er det godt å seile
Og favne lys til kraft for blod og ben
Og vite at, i netter som skal komme
Så fins en kurs i mot et land av sang og sten.

Å gi = To give (Uke 28)

Socks from Colorful Stitches.

The Verb of the Week is å gi, "to give". It can have either an indirect object (the recipient) or a direct object (that which is given).

Ga is the more common past tense of this verb today, but the older form, gav, is still to be found.

Here are some conjugations of this irregular verb:

han gir = he gives (present tense)
han har gitt = he has given (present perfect tense)
han ga = he gave (past tense)
han hadde gitt = he had given (past perfect)
han skal gi = he shall give (future)
han skal ha gitt = he shall have given (future perfect)
han skulle gi = he should give (present conditional)
han skulle ha gitt = he should have given (perfect conditional)

Here are some idiomatic uses of this verb:

Hva gir du meg! = How do you like that!
gi mening = give/make sense
å gi kort = to deal cards
gi etter = give in
gi fra seg = give up, hand over
gi ut = publish, make known
gi videre = pass on
gi seg tid = take one's time
gi seg i vei = start off, set out

And here are some sentences using å gi --

Se hva Martin har gitt meg!
Look at what Martin has given me!

Hos Annike gir de gaver både til Hanukka og til jul.
At Annike's house, they give gifts at Hanukkah as well as Christmas.

Jeg ville ikke gi fem øre for det.
I wouldn't give you five cents for it.

Jeg strikket noen varme sokker til Terje, men han ville ikke gå med dem. Utakknemlige unge! Så jeg ga dem til broren min.
I knitted some warm socks for Terje, but he would not wear them. Ungrateful boy! So I gave them to my brother.

Å selge = To sell (Uke 27)

Kild: Storm.no

Å selge, "to sell", is the Verb of the Week for Week 27. It usually has a direct object, that which is being sold -- selge bøker, solgte bilen hans.

Here are the conjugations of this irregular verb:

han selger = he sells (present tense)
han har solgt = he has sold (present perfect tense)
han solgte = he sold (past tense)
han vil selge = he will sell (future)
han vil ha solgt = he will have sold (future perfect)
han hadde solgt = he had sold (past perfect)
han ville selge = he would sell (present conditional)
han ville ha solgt = he would have sold (perfect conditional)

Se mannen som selger iskrem der borte? Her, gå og få noe.
See that man selling ices over there? Here, go and get some.

Du kunne sannsynligvis selge de fleste av disse greiene på eBay, vet du.
You could probably sell most of this stuff on eBay, you know.

Med lykken min, har de allerede solgt den siste.
With my luck, they've already sold the last one.

"Ja, vi elsker dette landet"

The words to the Norwegian national anthem were written by poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson in 1859, and the tune by his cousin, the composer Rikard Nordraak, a few years later. It was first performed on Constitution Day in 1864. The verses below are the ones most commonly sung, 1, 7, and 8; the spelling has been modernised from the Dano-Norwegian of Bjørnson's day.

Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
som det stiger frem,
furet, værbitt over vannet,
med de tusen hjem.
Elsker, elsker det og tenker
på vår far og mor
og den saganatt som senker
drømmer på vår jord.
og den saganatt som senker,
senker drømmer på vår jord.

Norske mann i hus og hytte,
takk din store Gud!
Landet ville han beskytte,
skjønt det mørkt så ut.
Alt hva fedrene har kjempet,
mødrene har grett,
har den Herre stille lempet
så vi vant, vi vant vår rett.

Ja, vi elsker dette landet,
som det stiger frem,
furet, værbitt over vannet,
med de tusen hjem.
Og som fedres kamp har hevet
det av nød til seir,
også vi, når det blir krevet,
for dets fred, dets fred slår leir.

Yes, we love this country
as it rises forth,
rugged, weathered, above the sea,
with the thousands of homes.
Love, love it and think
of our father and mother
and the saga night that sends
dreams to our earth.
and the saga night that sends,
sends dreams to our earth.

Norseman in house and cabin,
thank your great God!
The country he wanted to protect,
although things looked dark.
All the fights fathers have fought,
and the mothers have wept,
the Lord has quietly moved,
so we won our rights.

Yes, we love this country
as it rises forth,
rugged, weathered, above the sea,
with those thousand homes.
And as the fathers' struggle has raised
it from need to victory,
even we, when it is demanded,
for its peace will encamp.

A lovely a capella version by the Norsk Solistkor can be seen and heard here at YouTube, and a men's-chorus version by Den norske Studentersangforening directed by Thomas Caplin, with a copy of the poem in its original spelling here at "Bjørnson for vår tid" from Nasjonalbiblioteket.

And here is a version of the public-domain arrangement, from the Norwegian Society of Texas:

Word of the Day = Fluer (Dagens ord)

Fluer eller "floaters" i synsfeltet. Kild: Wikipedia.

The Word of the day is fluen (or flua), fluer, fluene = the floater, floaters, the floaters.

A "floater" is a condensation or fragment of the vitreous humour in the eye, caused sometimes by trauma to the eye, but more often simply by the natural aging process and subsequent liquifaction of the vitreous. Floaters are variously seen as spots or as curved or straight lines, which can be thick or thin, or branched.

Floaters are actually the shadow of the fragment cast onto the retina, which is why you can't see them as well in poor light.

glasslege = vitreous humour of the eye
glasslegemesvløsning = retinal detachment

Han har fluer i øyet.
He has floaters in his eye.

Lese mer om flekker i synsfeltet på NHI.no og Lommelegen.no.

Word of the Day: Vekkerklokke (Dagens ord)

The Word of the Day is vekkerklokke, alarm clock, en klokke som kan stilles inn for å ringe til et ønsket tidspunkt.

Vekkerklokken (eller -klokka), "the alarm clock", is the definite singular form.

Vekkerklokker, "alarm clocks", is the indefinite plural form.

Vekkerklokkene, "the alarm clocks", is the definite plural form.

Ikke glem å stille vekkerklokka igjen, Kjell.
Don't forget to set your alarm clock again, Kjell.

"To veier skilte i et tre"

Skjellsandstier, Lysøen. Foto: Nortis, 2006.

"To veier skilte i et tre og jeg --
Jeg tok en mindre reiste med,
og som har gjort hele forskjellen."

Robert Frost

Å stå = To stand (Uke 17)

The Verb of the Week for Week 17 is å stå, "to stand".

Here are the conjugations of this regular verb:

jeg står = I stand (present tense)
du har stått = you have stood (present perfect tense)
han stod = he stood (past tense)
hun hadde stått = she had stood (past perfect tense)
vi vil stå = we will stand (future tense)
dere vil ha stått = I will have stood (future perfect tense)
de ville stå = they would stand (present conditional tense)
de ville ha stått = they would have stood (perfect conditional tense)

Å stå also has many idiomatic uses. Here are a few:

står som = be, serve as (chairman, leader, etc.)
står i butikk = work in a shop
står på en liste = be on a list
uret står = the clock has stopped
står og henge = hang around

And here are some sentences using å stå --

Hvorfor stå når du kan sitte?
Why stand when you can sit?

Jeg bare sto der. Jeg var for flau til å gjøre noe annet.
I just stood there. I was too embarrassed to do anything else.

Det står i avisen at det blir fint vær i morgen.
It says in the paper that it will be fine tomorrow.

Kjetil! Mads! Reidun! Maten står på bordet!
Kjetil! Mads! Reidun! Supper's on the table!

Å spørre = To ask (Uke 14)

The Verb of the Week for week 14 is å spørre. It means "to ask".

(Note that "to ask a question" is å stille spørsmål. Hvis du har spørsmål, kan du stille dem på slutten av foredraget = "If you have any questions, please ask at the end of the lecture.")

Å spørre conjugates irregularly, thus:

jeg spør = I ask (present tense)
du har spurt = you (sing.) have asked (present perfect tense)
han spurte = he asked (past tense)
hun hadde spurt = she had asked (past perfect)
vi vil spørre = we will ask (future)
dere vil ha spurt = they will have asked (future perfect)
de ville spørre = you (pl.) would ask (present conditional)
de ville ha spurt = you (pl.) would have asked (perfect conditional)

And here are some examples of its usage:

Uansett hva du gjør, så ikke spør om hårklippen hennes.
Whatever you do, don't ask about her haircut.

La oss spørre igjen når mamma er i bedre humør.
Let's ask again when mom's in a better mood.

Hva gjør han her? Spurte du ham?
What’s he doing here? Did you ask him?

Å gå = To go, to walk (Uke 13)

Å gå is the Verb of the Week for Week 13. It means "to go" or "to walk", and also has many idiomatic uses.

Here are the conjugations of this verb:

jeg går = I go (present tense)
jeg har gått = I have gone (present perfect tense)
jeg gikk = I went (past tense)
jeg hadde gått = I had gone (past perfect)
jeg vil gå = I will go (future)
jeg vil ha gått = I will have gone (future perfect)
jeg ville gå = I would go (present conditional)
jeg ville ha gått = I would have gone (perfect conditional)

gå en tur = go for a walk
gå fra et løfte = go back on a promise
gå på ski = go on ski
ja, so går vi da = well, let's go, then
toget går kl. 20 = the train leaves at 8 (p.m.)
gå på skole = go to, attend school
hvordan går det? = how are things going? how are you?
det går bra/dårlig = things are fine/bad

And here are some sentences using it:

Han går langsomt etter hjerneslaget, men det får så være.
He walks slowly since the stroke, but that can’t be helped.

Jeg vet ikke hvor hun har gått, og jeg bryr meg ikke heller.
I don't know where she's gone, and I don't care either.

Hun sa hun hadde gått en tur, men jeg tror at hun var hos Kåre.
She said she had gone for a walk, but I think she was at Kåre’s.