Skynd deg, ellers mister vi bussen.

Hurry up, otherwise we will miss the bus.

Breakdown of Skynd deg, ellers mister vi bussen.

• vi: we
• bussen: the bus
• ellers: otherwise
• skynde seg: to hurry up
• miste: to miss

Questions & Answers about Skynd deg, ellers mister vi bussen.

Why is it Skynd deg and not Skynd du?

Because å skynde seg is a reflexive verb: “to hurry (oneself).” In the imperative, reflexive verbs use the object/reflexive pronoun, not the subject pronoun.

• one person: Skynd deg!
• several people: Skynd dere! (Nynorsk: Skund dykk!) Avoid forms like “Skynde deg!” (the imperative is the bare stem skynd).

How would I say it to more than one person?

Use the plural reflexive pronoun:

• Skynd dere, ellers mister vi bussen. = “Hurry up, otherwise we’ll miss the bus.” If you want the whole group as the subject in the second clause, that’s already covered by vi (“we”).

Why is it mister vi bussen after ellers, and not vi mister bussen?

Norwegian main clauses are V2 (the finite verb is the second element). When ellers (“otherwise”) starts the clause, the verb must come next:

• Ellers mister vi bussen (adverb – verb – subject). If you start with the subject instead, you use normal order:
• Vi mister bussen.

Can I add så after ellers?

Yes. Ellers så mister vi bussen is common and natural in speech and informal writing. The V2 rule still applies, so you keep:

• Ellers (så) mister vi bussen.

Why is bussen definite here?

You’re talking about a specific, known bus (the one you intend to catch), so Norwegian uses the definite form with a suffix:

• indefinite: en buss
• definite: bussen Definiteness is marked on the noun itself, even in object position.

Is miste bussen the usual way to say “miss the bus”? What about other options?

Yes, miste bussen is idiomatic. Other natural options:

• Vi rekker ikke bussen. = “We won’t make the bus.” (very common) Avoid:
• gå glipp av bussen (usually “miss out on” events/opportunities, not transport)
• tape bussen (wrong; tape is “to lose” a game/contest)

Why is mister (present tense) used for a future meaning?

Norwegian often uses the present for near-future outcomes and scheduled events when the context makes the time clear: Ellers mister vi bussen = “otherwise we’ll miss the bus.” You can also say:

• Vi kommer til å miste bussen (we’re going to miss the bus) — possible but heavier. Avoid using vil as a generic future: vi vil miste bussen sounds unnatural here (it suggests willingness or a prediction in a different sense).

What’s the difference between eller and ellers?

• eller = “or”
• ellers = “otherwise” They look similar but aren’t interchangeable:
• Vil du te eller kaffe? = “Do you want tea or coffee?”
• Skynd deg, ellers mister vi bussen. = “Hurry up, otherwise we’ll miss the bus.”

Is the comma before ellers correct/necessary?

Yes. You have two main clauses linked by the adverb ellers, so a comma is standard: Skynd deg, ellers mister vi bussen. You could also split it into two sentences: Skynd deg! Ellers mister vi bussen. A semicolon is also acceptable in more formal writing.

How do I pronounce the tricky parts?

Approximate guidelines (Eastern Norwegian):

• Skynd: sk + y gives a “sh” sound; d is silent → roughly “shyn” [ʃʏn]
• deg: often like “dai” [dæi] (the g is not fully pronounced in many accents)
• ellers: “ELL-ersh” [ˈɛlːəʂ] (retroflex “rs”)
• mister: “MIS-ter” [ˈmɪstər]
• bussen: “BOO-sen” with a very front, rounded u [ˈbʉsːn]

Is Skynd deg very direct? Are there softer alternatives?

It’s direct but common. Softer/politer options:

• Kan du skynde deg (litt)?
• Kan du være litt raskere?
• Vi må gå nå, ellers mister vi bussen. (states the need rather than commanding)

How would I express the same idea with a hvis-clause?

• Hvis du ikke skynder deg, mister vi bussen. You can optionally add så in the main clause:
• Hvis du ikke skynder deg, så mister vi bussen. Note: in the subordinate hvis-clause, no inversion is triggered; in the following main clause, V2 still applies.