Ring meg når som helst.

Call me at any time.

Breakdown of Ring meg når som helst.

• ringe: to call
• meg: me
• når som helst: at any time

Questions & Answers about Ring meg når som helst.

What form of the verb is Ring, and how is it made?

It’s the imperative (a direct request/command) of å ringe. In Bokmål, most -e verbs form the imperative by dropping the final -e:

• Infinitive: å ringe
• Imperative: Ring! For reference, other forms are: ringer (present), ringte (past), har ringt (perfect).

Why is it meg and not jeg?

Meg is the object form of jeg (I → me). After a verb like ringe (to call), you need the object: Ring meg = Call me. Subject vs. object:

• Subject: jeg, du, han/ham, hun/henne, vi, dere, de
• Object: meg, deg, ham/han, henne, oss, dere, dem

What does når som helst literally mean, and is it a fixed phrase?

It’s a fixed expression meaning “any time/whenever.” Literally it’s built like “when as (whatever),” where som helst functions like “-ever/at all.” You’ll see the same pattern with other words:

• hva som helst = anything
• hvem som helst = anyone
• hvor som helst = anywhere
• hvilken/hvilket/hvilke som helst = any (singular common/neuter/plural) Also useful: ikke noe som helst = nothing at all.

Is it okay to say Ring til meg instead of Ring meg?

Yes. Both are used:

• ringe noen (no preposition) is very common and feels a bit more natural in standard Bokmål: Ring meg.
• ringe til noen is also accepted: Ring til meg. Meaning is the same.

What about Ring meg opp—does that mean “call me back”?

Ring meg opp can mean “call me (up),” often with a nuance of initiating or returning a call. If you specifically mean “call me back,” ring meg tilbake or ring meg opp igjen is clearer.

Can I change the word order? Where does meg go?

Keep the pronoun right after the verb in the imperative:

• Natural: Ring meg når som helst.
• Odd/wrong: Ring når som helst meg. You can add a softener before the imperative: Bare ring meg når som helst.

How do I negate it?

Use the negative imperative with ikke before the verb:

• Ikke ring meg (når som helst). Typically you’d specify a time: Ikke ring meg midt på natta.

Period or exclamation mark? Any commas?

Both are fine depending on tone:

• Neutral: Ring meg når som helst.
• More emphatic: Ring meg når som helst! Don’t insert a comma between the verb phrase and når som helst.

Is the imperative addressed to one person or several?

The form Ring works for both singular and plural addressees. Context tells you whether you’re talking to one person or a group.

Politeness: is the bare imperative too direct?

It can be direct but is often perfectly fine. To soften:

• Kan du ringe meg når det passer (deg)? (Can you call me when it suits you?)
• Vær så snill og ring meg.
• Vennligst ring meg (formal or notice-like)
• Ring meg gjerne (you’re welcome to call me)

Pronunciation tips?

Approximate IPA (Eastern Norwegian):

• Ring [rɪŋ] (r is often a tap/trill; some dialects use a uvular r)
• meg [mæi] (also heard as [mɑi] in many areas)
• når [nɔːr] (long vowel)
• som [sɔm] (unstressed)
• helst [hɛlst] Primary stress typically on Ring, når, and helst; som is unstressed.

What are the full verb forms of å ringe?

• Infinitive: å ringe
• Present: ringer
• Preterite (past): ringte
• Present perfect: har ringt
• Past participle: ringt

Are there synonyms or idioms for saying the same thing?

Yes, depending on tone:

• Du kan ringe meg når som helst. (statement of permission)
• Gi meg en lyd. (give me a heads-up)
• Slå på tråden. (give me a ring; idiomatic)
• Ta kontakt når det passer. (get in touch when it suits you)

Does ring also mean “ring the doorbell”? How do I avoid confusion?

Yes. For a doorbell you use ringe på:

• Phone: Ring meg.
• Doorbell: Ring på (døra). Don’t say ring på meg when you mean calling by phone.