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Questions & Answers about Været er kjølig.
Why does Været end with -et?
In Norwegian, you form the definite singular neuter by adding -et to the noun. The base form is vær (“weather”), so været literally means the weather.
Why don’t we say en vær or et vær for “weather”?
Vær is treated as an uncountable (mass) noun, so you don’t use an indefinite article (en or et) with it. Instead, you normally either put it in the definite form (været) or refer to it with det in a general statement (e.g. Det er kjølig).
What does er mean in this sentence?
er is the present-tense form of the verb å være (to be). So Været er kjølig = The weather is cool.
Why doesn’t kjølig get a -t ending like kaldt?
Most adjectives ending in -ig (for example kjølig, rolig, viktig) are invariant in neuter singular and keep the same form in predicate position. They don’t add -t.
How would you ask “Is the weather cool?” in Norwegian?
Invert subject and verb to form a question:
Er været kjølig?
How can I say “It’s a bit cool”?
Insert litt (“a little”) before the adjective:
Været er litt kjølig.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of kjølig?
Comparative: kjøligere (cooler)
Superlative: kjøligst (coolest)
How do you pronounce kjølig?
In IPA you might see [ˈçøːli]. Key points:
• kj is a voiceless palatal fricative [ç] (like German “ich”).
• ø is a rounded front vowel [ø], similar to French “eu” in “bleu.”
Put it together: “HYEU-lee.”
What’s the difference between kjølig and kald?
kjølig suggests a mild, refreshing coolness (pleasantly cool), whereas kald implies colder, often uncomfortably or sharply cold.
Can I replace Været er kjølig with Det er kjølig? Any nuance?
Yes. Det er kjølig (“It is cool”) is more generic and very common in speech. Været er kjølig specifically names the weather as the subject and sounds a bit more formal or emphatic.