Jeg spiser middag rett etter jobb.

I eat dinner right after work.

Breakdown of Jeg spiser middag rett etter jobb.

• jeg: I
• spise: to eat
• middagen: the dinner
• etter: after
• rett: right
• jobben: the work

Questions & Answers about Jeg spiser middag rett etter jobb.

What does rett etter mean and how is it used?

Rett is an adverb meaning “straight” or “right,” and etter is a preposition meaning “after.” Combined as rett etter, they mean “right after” or “immediately after.” You can use it before an event or time expression: rett etter jobb, rett etter skolen, rett etter møtet.

Why is there no article before jobb?

Here, jobb refers to “work” in a general sense, so you drop the article. If you talk about a specific job or shift, you could use the definite form jobben. For example: etter jobben (“after the job/shift”).

Why isn’t there a på before jobb, like etter på jobb?

In Norwegian you don’t stack prepositions. På jobb means “at work,” while etter jobb means “after work.” If you want to be more explicit—“after I’m done at work”—you can say: etter at jeg er ferdig på jobben.

Does middag always mean “dinner”? What about lunch?

In modern Bokmål, middag is the main evening meal (dinner). Lunch is called lunsj. Historically middag meant a midday meal, but today you use lunsj for lunch and middag for dinner.

Can I move rett etter jobb to the beginning of the sentence? What happens to the word order?

Yes. Placing an adverbial first triggers the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in second position. So:
• Standard: Jeg spiser middag rett etter jobb.
• Fronted: Rett etter jobb spiser jeg middag.

What part of speech is rett in rett etter jobb, and why is it placed before etter?

Rett is an adverb modifying the preposition etter, adding immediacy. In Norwegian, adverbs modifying prepositions typically come before them: rett etter, langt fra, snart etter.

How would I say “right after I’m done with work” more explicitly?

You can add ferdig and a subordinate clause:
Jeg spiser middag rett etter at jeg er ferdig på jobben.
Here at jeg er ferdig introduces “that I am finished.”

Why is spiser in the present tense? Could I use a future form?

The present tense in Norwegian covers habitual actions and near-future plans. Jeg spiser middag rett etter jobb can mean both “I (regularly) eat dinner right after work” and “I’m going to eat dinner right after work.” To emphasize the future, you can use skal: Jeg skal spise middag rett etter jobb.