Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Norwegian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Vi venter på flyet.
What does venter på mean? Why not venter for?
In Norwegian, å vente på means to wait for. You must use på with this verb in this meaning. Venter for is incorrect here. Examples:
- Jeg venter på bussen. = I’m waiting for the bus.
- Han venter på deg. = He’s waiting for you.
Could på flyet here mean “on the plane”?
Not in this sentence. With vente, the fixed phrase vente på + noun means wait for. If you mean physically on board, you’d say:
- Vi er/sitter på flyet. = We are/are sitting on the plane. So Vi venter på flyet means only We are waiting for the plane.
Why is it flyet (the plane) and not et fly (a plane) or just fly (planes)?
Norwegian marks definiteness with a suffix. Flyet is definite singular (the plane) and implies a specific plane known from context. Use:
- et fly when you mean a plane (non-specific)
- fly (plural) when you mean planes in general
What are the forms of fly?
- Indefinite singular: et fly
- Definite singular: flyet
- Indefinite plural: fly
- Definite plural: flyene (colloquial alternative: flya)
How do you pronounce venter, på, and flyet?
- venter: stress on the first syllable; the e is like the short “e” in “bet.” Final -r is pronounced (type varies by dialect).
- på: long vowel, like “po” with a long “o.”
- flyet: roughly “FLY-eh,” but the y is a front rounded vowel (say “ee” while rounding your lips). The t in the ending -et is often silent in everyday speech.
Is venter a present tense that also covers “are waiting”?
Yes. Norwegian present tense (venter) covers both English simple present and present continuous: We wait / We are waiting.
Can I say Vi venter flyet without the preposition?
No. You need på: Vi venter på flyet. Be careful: å vente at means to expect that (with a clause), which is different in meaning:
- Vi venter på at flyet skal lande. = We are waiting for the plane to land.
- Vi forventer at flyet lander snart. = We expect the plane to land soon.
What’s the difference between vente på, vente til, and vente med?
- vente på + something/someone: wait for it/them. Example: Vi venter på flyet.
- vente til + time/event/clause: wait until. Example: Vi venter til flyet lander.
- vente med + infinitive: postpone doing something. Example: Vi venter med å spise.
How do I say “We are waiting for the plane to land”?
- Vi venter på at flyet skal lande. (waiting for something to happen) You can also use til for “until”: Vi venter til flyet lander.
How do I negate or ask a question?
- Negation: Vi venter ikke på flyet. (ikke comes after the verb)
- Yes/no question: Venter vi på flyet?
How do I distinguish location from “waiting for” with prepositions?
- Vi venter ved flyet. = We’re waiting by/next to the plane (location).
- Vi venter på flyplassen. = We’re waiting at the airport (location).
- Vi venter på flyet. = We’re waiting for the plane (not location).
How do I say “We are waiting for our/my plane”?
- Vi venter på flyet vårt. = our plane
- Vi venter på flyet mitt. = my plane Possessives typically go after the definite noun. Preposed forms (Vårt fly) are possible but more formal/emphatic.
How do I put it in the past or future?
- Past: Vi ventet/venta på flyet.
- Future/intention: Vi skal vente på flyet. / Vi kommer til å vente på flyet.
How do I add a duration like “for two hours”?
Use i for duration:
- Completed/total duration: Vi har ventet i to timer. = We have waited for two hours.
- Planned/future duration: Vi skal vente i to timer. Using present with i to timer can sound like a schedule (“we wait for two hours” as a rule), not an ongoing action right now.
Does flyet mean “the flight” too?
Literally it’s the airplane. For “flight,” Norwegian has flyvning/flyging (and sometimes the loanword flight in timetables). In everyday speech, people often say flyet when English would say “the flight,” e.g., Flyet til London er forsinket (“The flight to London is delayed”).
Is there a similar-looking verb I should know?
Yes: å fly = to fly; present flyr. Don’t mix up:
- flyet = the plane (noun, definite)
- flyr = flies/is flying (verb)