Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg har lyst til å drikke te i kveld.

har lyst til å literally combines har (have) + lyst (desire/wish) + til å (to + infinitive). Idiomatically it’s equivalent to “feel like” or “would like to.” So Jeg har lyst til å drikke te i kveld means “I feel like drinking tea this evening.”

Why is å drikke in the infinitive instead of drikker?

After expressions like har lyst til, Norwegian requires the infinitive form of the verb, introduced by å. The present tense drikker (“drink/are drinking”) would be grammatically incorrect here—you need å drikke (“to drink”).

What’s the role of til in lyst til å?

til is a preposition that goes with lyst (desire). Together lyst til å marks that you want to carry out the action expressed by the following infinitive.

How do you pronounce the letter å in å drikke?

The Norwegian å sounds like the vowel in English “awe” but shorter and more closed. Practice by rounding your lips slightly and aiming for a single, steady vowel sound.

Why is there no article before te?

Te is an uncountable noun in Norwegian, so you don’t use an indefinite article. If you want to specify quantity, you’d say en kopp te (“a cup of tea”) or litt te (“some tea”).

What’s the difference between i kveld and om kvelden?

i kveld means “this evening” (i.e. tonight).
om kvelden means “in the evenings” as a habitual time frame (e.g. Om kvelden leser jeg – “In the evenings I read”).

Could I say Jeg vil gjerne drikke te i kveld instead?

Yes. Jeg vil gjerne drikke te i kveld is a perfectly natural, slightly more formal way to say “I would like to drink tea this evening.” Jeg har lyst til å drikke te i kveld is more colloquial and carries the nuance “I’m in the mood for tea tonight.”