Været er veldig kaldt om natten.

The weather is very cold at night.

Breakdown of Været er veldig kaldt om natten.

• være: to be
• natt: the night
• om: at
• veldig: very
• været: the weather
• kald: cold

Questions & Answers about Været er veldig kaldt om natten.

Why is været in its definite form here instead of just vær?

In Norwegian, we frequently use the definite form været when talking about the weather in a general sense (similar to saying the weather in English). If you were referring to weather in a more indefinite or general context, you could say vær. However, for everyday references to the overall conditions, været is common and natural.

What does veldig mean, and can I use other words instead?

Veldig means very or really. It's a common intensifier. You can also use words like svært or vel to convey a similar meaning. For example, Været er svært kaldt om natten would also sound natural.

Why do we say om natten instead of other expressions?

Om natten translates to at night in a general, habitual sense. You could also say i løpet av natten, meaning during the night, but that might refer more to an event happening at some point in the night rather than the general statement that it’s cold throughout the night.

How should I pronounce været?

Været is pronounced somewhat like veh-reh. The æ is pronounced as the vowel in cat, but slightly more open, and the t at the end is typically pronounced, albeit softly. You can also hear a slight rolling of the r if you’re using a standard Eastern Norwegian accent.