Jeg mottar invitasjonen via e-post.

I receive the invitation via email.

Breakdown of Jeg mottar invitasjonen via e-post.

• jeg: I
• e-posten: the email
• motta: to receive
• invitasjonen: the invitation

Questions & Answers about Jeg mottar invitasjonen via e-post.

What does mottar mean, and is there a more informal way to say “receive”?

mottar is the present tense of å motta (to receive). It’s somewhat formal or neutral. In everyday speech, Norwegians often use å få (to get) instead. For example: Jeg får invitasjonen via e-post.

Why is invitasjonen in the definite form with -en rather than just invitasjon or en invitasjon?

Norwegian marks definiteness by adding a suffix.
• invitasjon = an invitation (indefinite)
• invitasjonen = the invitation (definite)
You use invitasjonen because you’re referring to one specific invitation that’s already known or mentioned.

Could you say Jeg mottar invitasjonen på e-post or per e-post? What’s the difference?

Yes—all three are correct, but register varies:
• via e-post – a bit more formal, common in writing
• på e-post – very common in both speech and writing
• per e-post – formal, slightly old-fashioned
You’ll also hear med e-post in everyday conversation. They all mean by email.

Why isn’t there an article before e-post? When would you say en e-post or ?