Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vi nyter desserten på hotellet mens vinden blåser utenfor. - We enjoy the dessert at the hotel while the wind blows outside.

nyter is the present‐tense form of the verb å nyte, which means “to enjoy.” Here’s a quick overview:
• Present: jeg nyter, du nyter, han/hun nyter, vi nyter, dere nyter, de nyter
• Past: jeg nøt
• Perfect (supine): har nytt

What is desserten, and how do you form the definite and indefinite forms of this noun?

desserten is the definite singular form of en dessert (“a dessert”). In Norwegian Bokmål you typically form noun stems plus endings as follows:
• Indefinite singular: en dessert
• Definite singular: desserten (stem + -en)
• Indefinite plural: desserter
• Definite plural: dessertene (stem + -ene)

Why is it på hotellet instead of i hotellet?

på is used with many public or commercial places (hotell, kino, restaurant, skole) to indicate “at” or “on.”
• på hotellet = “at the hotel” (location/activity)
i hotellet would stress “inside the building,” e.g. if you want to emphasize being physically within the walls.

What does mens mean, and does it affect Norwegian word order?

mens means “while” and introduces a simultaneous‐action clause. In Norwegian subordinate clauses with conjunctions like mens, the verb still follows the subject (so it looks like main‐clause V2 order):
• mens vinden blåser utenfor
(subject vinden + verb blåser + adverb utenfor)

Why is vinden definite (instead of en vind)?

vinden (“the wind”) is in definite form because we’re referring to the specific wind blowing outside at that moment. In Norwegian, when speaking about general or known phenomena (weather, wind, sun), the definite form is common:
• en vind (a wind – any wind)
• vinden (the wind – the one we’re experiencing)

What is utenfor, and can it be used with other nouns (e.g. utenfor hotellet)?

utenfor can function both as an adverb (“outside”) and as a preposition with a noun:
• Adverb: vinden blåser utenfor (“the wind is blowing outside”)
• Preposition: vinden blåser utenfor hotellet (“the wind is blowing outside the hotel”)

Could we use når or da instead of mens here?

Not really for this context.
• mens = “while,” used for two actions happening simultaneously in the present.
• når = “when,” used for habitual or future events (e.g. Når jeg reiser, tar jeg alltid tog).
• da = “when” for a single past event (e.g. Da jeg var liten …).
Since we’re enjoying dessert while the wind is blowing right now, mens is the natural choice.