Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Kontantene er nesten borte, men vi har flaks og finner gratis parkering til slutt. - The cash is almost gone, but we are lucky and find free parking in the end.

kontanter is the indefinite plural (“cash” in general), while kontantene adds the definite article suffix -ene, turning it into “the cash.” In Norwegian, you form the definite plural by attaching -ene (or -a in some dialects) to the noun. Here it specifies the particular cash you have with you.

What does nesten borte mean, and how does nesten function in the sentence?

nesten means “almost.” It modifies borte (“gone”), so nesten borte translates to “almost gone.” In Norwegian, nesten typically comes directly before the adjective or adverb it qualifies.

What part of speech is borte here, and how is it used?

Here borte is a predicative adjective describing the subject (kontantene). With the verb er (“are”), it forms a state of being: “are gone.” Although borte can sometimes act like an adverb of place (“away”), in “er borte” it functions adjectivally.

Why is there no inversion of word order after men?

men is a coordinating conjunction (like “but”). In Norwegian main clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions, you keep the normal Subject–Verb–Object word order. Inversion only happens after subordinate conjunctions or certain adverbs.

How does the phrase vi har flaks og finner gratis parkering til slutt work grammatically?

The subject vi applies to both verbs har (“have”) and finner (“find”). They’re simply coordinated with og (“and”). You don’t need to repeat the subject for the second verb, so you get two actions by the same subject in one clause.

Why isn’t there an article before gratis parkering? Could you say en gratis parkering?

parkering (“parking”) is an uncountable noun in Norwegian, so you don’t use the indefinite article en. You simply say gratis parkering (“free parking”). If you tried en gratis parkering, it would sound odd—like you’re talking about one instance of parking rather than the concept.

What exactly does til slutt mean, and are there alternatives?

til slutt literally means “to the end” but idiomatically “finally,” “in the end,” or “at last.” It’s a fixed adverbial phrase (preposition til + noun slutt). You could also use til sist or endelig (“finally”), but til slutt is the most straightforward way to say “at the end of the process.”

What’s the nuance between kontantene and pengene in Norwegian?

kontantene refers specifically to physical cash—notes and coins. pengene is broader: “the money,” which can include bank deposits, credit, and digital funds. In a context emphasizing you’re low on physical money, kontantene is the precise choice.