Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Beklager at jeg avbrøt samtalen; avtalen var viktig. - Sorry that I interrupted the conversation; the appointment was important.

å marks the infinitive: å avbryte (to interrupt).
at introduces a finite clause: at jeg avbrøt (that I interrupted). They are not interchangeable.

Should there be a comma before at?

No. In modern Norwegian you do not put a comma before an object at-clause: Beklager at jeg … is correct. You would use a comma if the subordinate clause comes first: At jeg avbrøt samtalen, beklager jeg.

What tense is avbrøt, and how does avbryte conjugate?

avbrøt is the preterite (simple past) of avbryte (to interrupt). Principal parts:

Infinitive: avbryte
Present: avbryter
Preterite: avbrøt
Past participle: avbrutt

Could I say har avbrutt instead of avbrøt?

You can, but it changes the nuance:

avbrøt = a finished past event (neutral narrative past).
har avbrutt = present perfect, focusing on the current relevance/result (e.g., you’ve interrupted and that fact matters now). In a quick apology for a just-finished interruption, both are possible; avbrøt is very natural.

Why is samtalen in the definite form?

Because it refers to a specific, identifiable conversation. In Norwegian, definiteness is shown by a suffix:

Indefinite: en samtale
Definite: samtalen Using the definite form signals “the conversation (we’re in / we were having).”

Could I say den samtalen instead of bare samtalen?

den samtalen is the demonstrative “that conversation,” which adds contrast/emphasis (that particular one, not another). Plain samtalen is usually enough when the context already identifies which conversation you mean.

What exactly does avtalen mean here—appointment or agreement?

avtale can mean:

an agreement/deal/contract, or
an appointment/arrangement (a scheduled commitment). Context decides. If you mean a scheduled slot with a doctor/hairdresser, time is also common; møte is a meeting (often with several people).

Why is there a semicolon here? Could I use something else?

The semicolon links two closely related main clauses without a conjunction. Alternatives:

Period: … samtalen. Avtalen var viktig.
Comma + conjunction: …, for avtalen var viktig. (because) or …, men avtalen var viktig. (but)
Em dash: … samtalen — avtalen var viktig. All are idiomatic; the choice is stylistic.

Could I use fordi to express the reason?

Yes: Beklager at jeg avbrøt samtalen fordi avtalen var viktig. That makes the cause explicit (“… because the appointment was important”). Note it ties the reason to the interruption itself. If you want a clearer pause, keep the semicolon or use two sentences.

What’s the word order rule inside the at-clause?

In subordinate clauses, Norwegian does not use V2. The subject comes before the verb: at jeg avbrøt (subject jeg, then verb avbrøt). In main clauses with something fronted, you’d get inversion: I stad avbrøt jeg samtalen.

What’s the difference between Beklager and Unnskyld?

Beklager = “I’m sorry/I regret” (often slightly more formal or serious).
Unnskyld = “excuse me/sorry/pardon” (very common for bumping into someone, getting attention, or apologizing). Both can introduce an apology; register and tone decide which fits best.

Do I need to include jeg after Beklager?

No. Beklager alone is fine and very common in speech and writing. Jeg beklager is a bit more formal/emphatic.

Is Beklager for at … acceptable?

You’ll hear (jeg) beklager for at … in colloquial Norwegian, but many style guides recommend the simpler (jeg) beklager at …, especially in writing. Alternatively, use a noun: Beklager avbrytelsen.

Is avbryte a separable verb? How about bryte av?

avbryte is a single (non‑separable) verb meaning “to interrupt.” There is also bryte av, which literally means “to break off” and can be used for physically breaking something or cutting yourself off when speaking; it’s not the standard verb for interrupting someone else.

Any quick pronunciation tips for tricky bits?

Beklager: the stress is on the second syllable: be-KLA-ger.
jeg is often pronounced roughly like “yai.”
avbrøt: the ø is a rounded vowel (like the vowel in French “peu”); the final t is pronounced.
samtalen/avtalen: clear a vowels; stress on the first syllable: SAM‑talen / AV‑talen.

Is var just the past of er?

Yes. å være (to be): present er, preterite var, past participle vært (har vært = “has been”).

Why isn’t jeg capitalized like English I?

Norwegian doesn’t capitalize the first‑person singular pronoun. jeg is lowercase unless it starts a sentence.