Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Hvor lenge varer filmen?

Present: varer (the form in the sentence)
Preterite (past): varte
Present perfect: har vart Example: Filmen varte i to timer = The film lasted two hours.

Why is it lenge and not lang?

lenge is an adverb meaning long (in time). It modifies a verb or a state/duration: Hvor lenge varer …?
lang is an adjective meaning long (in length/extent). It modifies a noun: Hvor lang er …? So use lenge with verbs about duration, and lang with a noun plus a linking verb like er.

Is Hvor lang er filmen? also correct to ask about duration?

Yes, it’s very common and natural in Norwegian to ask about runtime with Hvor lang er filmen? Even though lang literally refers to physical length, context (a film) makes the duration reading the default. Both Hvor lenge varer filmen? and Hvor lang er filmen? are idiomatic.

Can I say Hvor lenge er filmen?

Avoid that. lenge pairs with verbs that express an action/state over time (like varer). With er, you want the adjective: Hvor lang er filmen?

Why does the verb come before the subject (… varer filmen)?

Norwegian has the V2 rule in main clauses: the finite verb must be in the second position. In a wh-question, the wh-phrase (Hvor lenge) occupies the first position, so the verb (varer) comes next, then the subject (filmen): Hvor lenge | varer | filmen?

Why is it definite filmen (the film) and not en film (a film)?

Use the definite form when talking about a specific, known film (e.g., the one you’re about to watch). The indefinite en film would mean you’re asking in general about how long a film tends to last: Hvor lenge varer en film?

Can I ask with tid or use tar instead of varer?

Yes:

Hvor lang tid varer filmen? (How long does the film last?)
Hvor lang tid tar filmen? (How long does the film take?) All are idiomatic; varer and tar are both common with durations. You’ll also hear: Hva er spilletiden? (What’s the runtime?)

How do I put the question in the past or the future?

Past: Hvor lenge varte filmen? / Hvor lenge har filmen vart?
Future/planned: You can still use present for scheduled events: Hvor lenge varer filmen i kveld?
Or use a future expression: Hvor lenge kommer filmen til å vare? / Hvor lenge skal filmen vare?

How would I ask for the end time instead of the length?

Use når:

Når slutter filmen? (When does the film end?)
Når er filmen ferdig? (When is the film finished?)

Can I replace filmen with a pronoun?

Yes:

Hvor lenge varer den? (for masculine/feminine nouns like film)
Hvor lenge varer det? (neutral pronoun, often for general/unspecified things)

What are some pronunciation tips for the sentence?

Hvor: the h is usually silent; sounds like “vor”.
lenge: the ng is like the sound in “sing”.
varer: clear two syllables; both r’s are pronounced (rolled or uvular depending on dialect).
filmen: stress on the first syllable: FIL-men. Overall stress: HVor LENge VARer FILmen? (main stress on LEN-, VAR-, FIL-).

Are there differences between Bokmål and Nynorsk here?

Yes, the wh-word changes:

Bokmål: Hvor lenge varer filmen?
Nynorsk: Kor lenge varer filmen? The rest is the same in this sentence.

Do I need the preposition i when stating the duration?

With vare, both are used:

Filmen varer to timer.
Filmen varer i to timer. The version with i can feel a bit more explicit about the span, but both are common and correct.

When do I use hvor langt instead of hvor lenge?

hvor lenge = how long (in time)
hvor langt = how far (in distance) Examples:
Hvor lenge varer filmen? (time)
Hvor langt er det til kinoen? (distance)

Does varer also mean “goods”? Why isn’t that confusing here?

Yes, varer can be a plural noun meaning goods/merchandise. In this sentence it’s clearly a verb (second-position finite verb after the wh-phrase, followed by the subject). Context and word order disambiguate it.