Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg finner stikkontakten bak sofaen og lader datamaskinen mens jeg hører på musikk. - I find the power outlet behind the sofa and charge the computer while I listen to music.

It means “the power outlet” or “the wall socket.” Norwegian uses the definite form when referring to a specific, identifiable thing. Here, it’s the particular outlet behind the sofa. If you just found any outlet, you could say: Jeg finner en stikkontakt bak sofaen (“I find an outlet behind the sofa”).

Why is it bak sofaen (“behind the sofa”) and not bak en sofa?

Bak sofaen implies a specific sofa that both speaker and listener can identify (e.g., the one in the room). Bak en sofa would mean “behind a sofa” (any sofa, not a particular one), which is less likely in this context.

Should there be a comma before mens?

Both versions occur: ..., mens jeg hører på musikk and ... mens jeg hører på musikk. Norwegian has two comma styles; one puts a comma before subordinate clauses (like the mens-clause), the other often omits it in cases like this. Be consistent within a text. If you move the mens-clause to the front, you must add a comma after it: Mens jeg hører på musikk, finner jeg ....

Why is it mens jeg hører, not mens hører jeg?

After mens (“while”), you’re in a subordinate clause, so the word order is Subject–Verb: jeg hører. In main clauses, Norwegian is V2 (verb in second position), but subordinate clauses do not invert like that. Mens hører jeg is ungrammatical.

Why is it hører på musikk and not just hører musikk or lytter til musikk?

høre på musikk = “listen to music” (natural, everyday phrasing).
lytte til musikk = also “listen to music,” a bit more deliberate/attentive.
høre musikk can occur, but often implies merely “hear music” (perceive it), not necessarily listening intentionally. Note: lytte på is wrong; use lytte til. And høre til musikk means “belong to music,” not “listen to music.”

Does the simple present in Norwegian here mean “I am finding/charging/listening”?

Yes. Norwegian often uses the simple present for actions happening right now: Jeg lader datamaskinen = “I am charging the computer.” If you want to stress the ongoing nature, you can say Jeg holder på å lade datamaskinen (nå).

Why is there no jeg after og (why not og jeg lader)? Is that allowed?

When two coordinated clauses share the same subject, you can omit the repeated subject: Jeg finner ... og lader ... Both og lader ... and og jeg lader ... are correct; adding jeg sounds a bit more explicit or contrastive.

Does og here mean “then”? Is the order of actions clear?

Og simply links actions. Real-world logic tells us you find the outlet before you charge. If you want to make sequence explicit, use og så (“and then”): Jeg finner ..., og så lader jeg ... The mens-clause clearly marks that listening happens during the charging.

Is lader a verb or a noun here? And what about lade vs lade opp?

Here, lader is the verb “(I) charge.” As a noun, en lader means “a charger.” Both å lade and å lade opp are used for charging batteries; lade opp can feel a bit more explicit about “filling up,” but in everyday speech they’re interchangeable.

Could I move the mens-clause to the front?

Yes: Mens jeg hører på musikk, finner jeg stikkontakten bak sofaen og lader datamaskinen. Note the comma after the fronted clause and the V2 inversion in the following main clause (finner jeg).

Is it okay to say hører musikk without på?

It’s possible but less idiomatic for intentional listening. For “listening to music,” prefer høre på musikk or lytte til musikk. Use bare høre musikk when you mean you can hear music (it’s audible), not necessarily that you are listening.

Why do the nouns end in -en: sofaen, stikkontakten, datamaskinen?

They’re in the definite singular. In Bokmål, masculine/common-gender nouns typically take -en: en sofa → sofaen, en stikkontakt → stikkontakten, en datamaskin → datamaskinen. Some nouns (like maskin) can also be treated as feminine in Bokmål, giving datamaskina in more informal styles, but -en is the safest default.

Can I say bakom instead of bak?

Bak is the standard word for “behind.” Bakom exists, but it’s dialectal/poetic and not typical in neutral Bokmål prose. Stick with bak.

Is stikkontakt one word? Could I write it as two words?

It’s one compound word: stikkontakt (definite: stikkontakten). Norwegian compounds are normally written as single words, not split: avoid “stikk kontakt.”

Can I front the place phrase instead: Bak sofaen finner jeg stikkontakten?

Yes. That’s a natural alternative. When you front an adverbial like Bak sofaen, the main clause must still be V2, so you invert to finner jeg (not jeg finner in that position).

Is there any difference between mens and imens?

Yes. Mens is the conjunction “while” introducing a clause: mens jeg hører .... Imens is an adverb meaning “meanwhile/at the same time,” typically used on its own: Imens hører jeg på musikk. Don’t say mens at—mens never takes at.

Should it be musikk or musikken?

Use the bare mass noun musikk for “music” in general: høre på musikk. Use musikken (definite) only when you mean specific, known music (e.g., “the music we talked about”).