Vi tilbringer kvelden hjemme.

We spend the evening at home.

Breakdown of Vi tilbringer kvelden hjemme.

• vi: we
• kvelden: the evening
• hjemme: at home
• tilbringe: to spend

Questions & Answers about Vi tilbringer kvelden hjemme.

What tense and form is the verb tilbringer, and how do I conjugate tilbringe?

Tilbringer is present tense of å tilbringe (to spend [time]). Common forms (Bokmål):

• Infinitive: å tilbringe
• Present: tilbringer (We spend/are spending)
• Preterite (simple past): tilbrakte (We spent)
• Present perfect: har tilbrakt (We have spent)
• Past perfect: hadde tilbrakt (We had spent)
• Future: skal tilbringe / kommer til å tilbringe (We will spend)

Why is kvelden in the definite form?

Norwegian often uses the definite for a specific, contextually understood time period. Vi tilbringer kvelden hjemme refers to the particular evening in question (typically “tonight”), much like English uses “the evening.” If you mean any unspecified evening: Vi tilbringer en kveld hjemme; for a habit: Vi tilbringer kveldene hjemme.

Can I say Vi tilbringer kveld hjemme?

No. You need an article or plural/definite form:

• Specific: Vi tilbringer kvelden hjemme.
• One evening: Vi tilbringer en kveld hjemme.
• Habitual: Vi tilbringer kvelder/kveldene hjemme.

What’s the difference between hjemme and hjem?

• hjemme = at home (location/stative). Example: Vi er hjemme.
• hjem = (to) home (direction/motion). Example: Vi drar hjem. So in your sentence (a location), hjemme is correct.

Is the word order normal? Can I front hjemme or other elements?

Yes. Base order is S–V–O–(adverbial): Vi tilbringer kvelden hjemme. Norwegian has the V2 rule, so if you front something, the verb still comes second:

• Hjemme tilbringer vi kvelden. (Fronted place)
• I kveld blir vi hjemme. (Fronted time; here a more natural rewording than repeating “evening”)

How do I pronounce the sentence?

Approximate IPA (Urban East Norwegian):

• Vi [viː]
• tilbringer [ˈtɪlbrɪŋər] (tapped/flapped r)
• kvelden [ˈkvɛlən] (the d in -ld is silent)
• hjemme [ˈjemːe] (initial h is silent; long m) Whole: [viː ˈtɪlbrɪŋər ˈkvɛlən ˈjemːe]

How do I say it in the past or the future?

• Past: Vi tilbrakte kvelden hjemme.
• Present perfect: Vi har tilbrakt kvelden hjemme.
• Future: Vi skal tilbringe kvelden hjemme. / Vi kommer til å tilbringe kvelden hjemme.

How do I negate it?

Place ikke after the finite verb:

• Vi tilbringer ikke kvelden hjemme.

Where do frequency adverbs go?

They typically go after the verb:

• Vi tilbringer ofte kvelden hjemme.
• Vi pleier å tilbringe kvelden hjemme. (for “usually” with a helper verb)

Can I use i kveld instead of kvelden? Is it redundant to use both?

• i kveld = tonight/this evening (time adverbial).
• kvelden = the evening (as a direct object). Both together often feel redundant. Prefer one:
• Vi er hjemme i kveld. (very common)
• Vi tilbringer kvelden hjemme.

Are there more everyday ways to say this?

Yes, very common alternatives:

• Vi er hjemme i kveld. (We’re home tonight.)
• Vi blir hjemme i kveld. (We’re staying home tonight.)
• Vi skal være hjemme i kveld. (We will be home tonight.)

What other objects can take tilbringe?

It collocates with time spans:

• dagen, kvelden, natten, helgen, ferien, sommeren Examples: Vi tilbringer helgen hjemme. / Hun tilbrakte sommeren i Norge.

What are the grammatical forms of kveld?

Masculine noun:

• Indefinite singular: en kveld
• Definite singular: kvelden
• Indefinite plural: kvelder
• Definite plural: kveldene

Do I ever add a preposition to hjemme?

No. Hjemme stands alone. Use prepositions with nouns:

• på hytta (at the cabin), i huset (in the house), hos oss (at our place)

How do I turn it into a question?

• Yes/no: Tilbringer vi kvelden hjemme?
• Wh-: Hvor tilbringer vi kvelden? — Hjemme.
• Time-focused: Når tilbringer vi kvelden hjemme? — I kveld.

Any pitfalls with hjemme vs hjemmet?

Yes. Hjemmet is a noun meaning the home (sometimes an institution). På hjemmet can mean “at the nursing home.” For “at home,” use hjemme.

Can I express a habit with the plural?

Yes:

• Vi tilbringer kveldene hjemme. = We spend the evenings at home (habitually). Also common: Vi er hjemme om kvelden(e). (in the evenings)

Should I use tilbringe or bruke?

• tilbringe is for spending time spans: tilbringe kvelden/helgen/ferie.
• bruke is “use/spend” in the sense of resources or time on something: Vi bruker kvelden på å se film. (We’ll spend the evening watching a movie.) You wouldn’t say bruke kvelden hjemme without an activity.