Hvilken kjole vil du bruke i kveld?

Which dress will you wear tonight?

Breakdown of Hvilken kjole vil du bruke i kveld?

• du: you
• i: in
• kvelden: the evening
• vil: will

Questions & Answers about Hvilken kjole vil du bruke i kveld?

What does the modal verb vil convey here—“will” or “want to”?

Both readings are possible, and context decides:

• Intention/plan: “Which dress are you going to wear tonight?” (most natural here)
• Desire/willingness: “Which dress do you want to wear tonight?”

Compare:

• Hvilken kjole vil du bruke i kveld? (focus on your intention/preference)
• Hvilken kjole skal du bruke i kveld? (more on a set plan/arrangement)
• To say “want to” unambiguously, you can use: Hvilken kjole har du lyst til å bruke i kveld?

Why is bruke used for clothing instead of a verb that literally means “wear”?

Norwegian often uses bruke (“use”) for clothing and accessories. It’s idiomatic:

• bruke: “wear/use” (e.g., Bruker du briller? = “Do you wear glasses?”)
• ha på (seg): “have on, wear” (e.g., Hvilken kjole skal du ha på deg i kveld?)
• ta på (seg): “put on” (e.g., Jeg tar på meg kjolen nå.)

In your sentence, bruke is completely natural.

Why is it hvilken and not hvilket or hvilke?