Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Stranden er bredest ved lavvann, så det er best å ta bilder da. - The beach is widest at low tide, so it is best to take pictures then.

In Norwegian, bred (“wide”) forms its comparative as bredere (“wider”) and its superlative as bredest (“widest”). Here the sentence is saying “the beach is at its absolute maximum width at low tide,” so you need the superlative bredest, not the comparative bredere.

What does ved lavvann mean, and why use ved here instead of, say, på lavvann or når det er lavvann?

ved lavvann literally means “at low tide.” The preposition ved is common in Norwegian to indicate a particular condition or point in time (similar to “at” or “by” in English). You could rephrase it as når det er lavvann (“when it is low tide”), but ved lavvann is shorter and more idiomatic.

Why isn’t there an article before lavvann (for example, det lavvannet)?

Here lavvann is used as a general time‐expression (like “sunset” or “midnight”), so it remains uncountable and indefinite. You don’t say det lavvannet, just as you wouldn’t say det solnedgangen for “at sunset.”

Why is så used to begin the second clause, and how is it different from derfor?

så functions as the coordinating conjunction “so,” connecting the cause (Stranden er bredest ved lavvann) with the result (det er best å ta bilder da). derfor also means “therefore” or “for that reason,” but it is an adverb that typically starts an independent clause (Derfor er det best å ta bilder da). Using så keeps the sentence more fluid and colloquial.

Why does the sentence use det er best å ta bilder with å + infinitive? Is there another way to express “it’s best to take pictures”?

This is the impersonal construction det er best å + infinitive, literally “it is best to …,” which is very common for making general recommendations. You could also say:
• Det beste er å ta bilder da (“The best thing is to take pictures then”)
• Man bør ta bilder da (“One should take pictures then”)
But det er best å ta bilder is short and idiomatic.

What does da at the end of the sentence mean, and is it really needed?

Here da means “then,” referring back to ved lavvann. It clarifies the timing of the recommended action. Without da, the sentence would still make sense, but adding da emphasizes “at that specific moment.”

Could I use fotografere instead of ta bilder? Are they interchangeable?

Yes, fotografere is a perfectly correct verb meaning “to photograph” and is slightly more formal. ta bilder (“to take pictures”) is more colloquial and widely used in everyday speech. Both are understood, but ta bilder sounds more natural in casual contexts.

Why is lavvann spelled with a double v?

In Norwegian compounds, when one word ends with v (lav) and the next begins with v (vann), you usually keep both letters: lav + vann → lavvann. This follows standard Bokmål spelling rules for compounding.