Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Flaksen er med oss i dag.

flaksen is the definite singular form of flaks (“luck” or “stroke of luck”). By using the definite form, Norwegian often personifies luck as a specific entity that can be “with” someone—similar to saying Lady Luck is with us in English.

What does med mean in er med oss?

med is a preposition meaning “with.” So er med oss literally translates to “is with us.” It indicates accompaniment or support, just like in English.

Why is oss used instead of vi after med?

After a preposition like med, you must use the object pronoun. oss is the object form of vi (“we”), so med oss means “with us.” Using vi in that position would be grammatically incorrect.

Could I say Vi har flaks i dag instead?

Yes. Vi har flaks i dag means “We have luck today” or more idiomatically “We’re lucky today.” It’s a perfectly natural alternative, though Flaksen er med oss i dag gives a more personified, vivid feel.

Can I start the sentence with i dag?

Absolutely. Norwegian allows time adverbials at the beginning. I dag er flaksen med oss is grammatically correct, and it shifts the emphasis slightly onto today.

Is flaks a countable noun? Does it have a plural?

Typically flaks is treated as uncountable when it means “good luck.” You wouldn’t normally form a plural like flakser. For multiple lucky events you might use other words like hendelser (“events”) or tilfeldigheter (“coincidences”).

Could I use an adjective like heldig instead of flaks?

Yes. You can say Vi er heldige i dag, meaning “We are lucky today.” Here heldig is an adjective (“lucky”), while flaks is a noun (“luck”). Both are correct, but the nuance and structure differ slightly.