Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vi trenger nok tid, ellers rekker vi ikke avgangen. - We need enough time, otherwise we will not catch the departure.

Here it most naturally means enough, because it directly modifies the noun tid to form the set phrase nok tid (enough time). The adverbial nok can also mean “probably,” but that reading would be clearer with something like Vi trenger nok mer/litt tid (We probably need more/a bit of time). Context favors the “enough” reading here because it’s followed by a consequence about missing the departure.

What does ellers mean, and why does the verb come right after it?

Ellers means “otherwise.” It is a sentence‑initial linking adverb, and Norwegian is a V2 language: when something other than the subject starts the clause (like ellers), the finite verb comes next. Hence: Ellers rekker vi ikke avgangen (“Otherwise won’t-make we not the departure”).

Why is ikke placed after rekker?

In main clauses, ikke normally follows the finite verb: Vi rekker ikke avgangen. In subordinate clauses, ikke comes earlier: … fordi vi ikke rekker avgangen.

What does the verb å rekke mean here?

Here å rekke means “to make/catch (in time).” It can also mean “to reach” physically or “to have time to” when followed by å + infinitive (e.g., Jeg rekker å spise = I have time to eat). Principal forms: rekke – rakk – har rukket.

Why is it avgangen (definite) and not just avgang?

Because it refers to a specific, known departure (a particular flight, train, bus, etc.). Norwegian typically uses the definite form for such concrete, identifiable events: avgangen = “the departure.”

Is avgang only used for flights?

No. Avgang is any scheduled departure (train, bus, ferry, plane). You’ll also see compounds like avgangstid (departure time) and avgangshall (departure hall).

Why is the present tense used in rekker when talking about the future?

Norwegian often uses the present tense for near-future or scheduled events, especially tied to timetables. So Vi rekker ikke avgangen can mean “We won’t make the departure.” You could also say Vi kommer ikke til å rekke avgangen or Vi vil ikke rekke avgangen, but the present is natural and common.

Why is there a comma before ellers?

You have two coordinated main clauses. A comma separates them when the second starts with an adverb like ellers: Vi trenger nok tid, ellers rekker vi ikke avgangen.

Could I say the same thing another way?

Yes:

Vi trenger nok tid. Hvis ikke, rekker vi ikke avgangen. (If not, we won’t make the departure.)
Vi trenger nok tid, ellers så rekker vi ikke avgangen. (ellers så is colloquial; inversion still applies: rekker vi.)

What’s the difference between nok tid and mer tid?

Nok tid = enough time (sufficiency). Mer tid = more time (comparative increase), not necessarily enough. You might need mer tid to reach nok tid.

Where does nok go with nouns and adjectives?

With nouns, nok is preposed: nok tid, nok penger (enough time/money).
With adjectives, nok is postposed: stor nok, god nok (big enough, good enough).

How does å rekke work with an infinitive?

Å rekke å + infinitive means “to have time to do something”: Vi rekker ikke å spise (We don’t have time to eat). Contrast this with a direct object: Vi rekker bussen/avgangen (We make/catch the bus/the departure).

Could I use behøve instead of trenge?

Often, yes. Å behøve also means “to need,” though it’s somewhat more formal/literary in some dialects and especially common in negatives and questions: Behøver vi mer tid? In everyday speech trenge is very common: Vi trenger nok tid.

Can I replace avgangen with a pronoun?

Yes: Vi rekker den ikke (We won’t make it), if the referent is clear (e.g., a specific departure previously mentioned). You can also say Vi rekker det ikke with a neutral pronoun when “it” is the situation or plan.

Any quick pronunciation tips for the tricky words?

trenger: the ng like in English sing.
nok: short o (like the vowel in British “not”), final k pronounced clearly.
rekker: short e (like in “bed”), double k gives a short, strong k.
avgangen: v is voiced; ng again like in sing; final -en is a light schwa+n.
ellers: stress on the first syllable: ELL-ers.