Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg er akkurat ferdig med middagen.

It literally means am finished with. So Jeg er akkurat ferdig med middagen = “I am just finished with the dinner.” Norwegian uses a stative construction (present of å være + adjective ferdig) to express a current state of completion, where English often uses the present perfect: “I’ve just finished dinner.”

Why is middagen in the definite form instead of middag?

Because it refers to a specific, identifiable meal (the dinner you just had). With activities like meals, homework, dishes, etc., Norwegian often uses the definite after ferdig med: ferdig med middagen, ferdig med leksene, ferdig med oppvasken.

Can I say it without the definite, like Jeg er ferdig med middag?

That sounds odd. Keep the definite with the noun: … ferdig med middagen. If you switch to an activity, use an infinitive: Jeg er ferdig med å spise middag.

Is akkurat the best word for “just,” or should I use nettopp?

Both work. Akkurat can mean “just now” or “exactly,” and is fine here. Nettopp focuses more clearly on recentness. You can say: Jeg er nettopp ferdig med middagen (very natural) or stick with akkurat.

Where does akkurat/nettopp go in the sentence?

Place it after the verb in main clauses:

Jeg er akkurat ferdig med middagen.
Jeg er nettopp ferdig med middagen.
With perfect: Jeg har akkurat/nettopp spist middag. Don’t say Jeg akkurat er … or Jeg nettopp har ….

Why not say Jeg har akkurat ferdig med middagen?

That’s ungrammatical. You can say either the stative form Jeg er (akkurat/nettopp) ferdig med middagen or use a verb phrase like Jeg har (akkurat/nettopp) spist middag or Jeg har (akkurat/nettopp) gjort ferdig middagen (if you mean you finished preparing/clearing it).

What’s the difference between er ferdig and ble ferdig?

er ferdig = focuses on the current state: “am finished.”
ble ferdig = highlights the moment of completion: “got/just became finished.”
So: Jeg ble nettopp ferdig med middagen emphasizes the finishing moment.

Can I drop med and say Jeg er ferdig middagen?

No. Ferdig med is a fixed combination meaning “finished with.” Keep med: ferdig med noe or ferdig med å + infinitive.

Is ferdig å + infinitive acceptable?

In speech, yes: Jeg er ferdig å spise. In neutral/formal writing, prefer ferdig med å + infinitive: Jeg er ferdig med å spise.

How do I say “I’ve just eaten dinner” as an alternative?

Use the perfect with an activity: Jeg har nettopp/akkurat spist middag. This is very common and avoids the definite noun issue.

What’s the difference between ferdig and klar?

ferdig = finished/done with something.
klar = ready/prepared for something.
Example: Er du ferdig med middagen? (Have you finished eating?) vs Er du klar til å gå? (Are you ready to leave?)

How do I negate or ask a question with this pattern?

Question: Er du (akkurat) ferdig med middagen?
Negation: Jeg er ikke ferdig med middagen (ennå).
Note that ikke akkurat ferdig means “not exactly finished,” which softens the negation.

Could I say “only” instead of “just” here with bare?

No. English “just” is ambiguous. For “just now,” use akkurat or nettopp. Bare means “only/merely,” e.g., Jeg har bare spist litt (I’ve only eaten a little).

Any tips for pronunciation?

Jeg is often pronounced like “yay” or “yeh” in everyday speech.
akkurat: stress the first syllable, roughly “AK-ku-raht.”
ferdig: often “FAIR-dee” (the g is soft/weak).
middagen: “MID-dah-gen”; many speakers reduce the final g, sounding like “MID-dah-en.” Dialects vary, so you’ll hear different variants.

Anything cultural to know about middag?

In Norway, middag is the main hot meal, often eaten earlier than in some English-speaking countries (commonly around 4–6 p.m.). A later light meal can be kveldsmat/kvelds.