Hun vasker opp i mellomtiden.

She does the dishes in the meantime.

Breakdown of Hun vasker opp i mellomtiden.

• hun: she
• vaske opp: to do the dishes
• i mellomtiden: in the meantime

Questions & Answers about Hun vasker opp i mellomtiden.

What does the verb phrase vaske opp mean here?

It’s an idiomatic particle verb meaning to do the dishes / wash up (the dishes). On its own, vaske means “to wash/clean” (e.g., clothes, floors, hands). To say “wash oneself,” use vaske seg. So Hun vasker opp = “She is doing the dishes.”

Is opp a separable particle? Where does it go with negation, adverbs, questions, etc.?

Yes—opp is a particle that stays close to the verb but can be split by certain elements.

• Negation: Hun vasker ikke opp.
• Yes–no question: Vasker hun opp?
• Perfect: Hun har vasket opp.
• Modal + infinitive: Hun vil vaske opp.
• Fronted adverbial (V2 rule): I mellomtiden vasker hun opp. The particle normally comes after the verb; sentence adverbs like ikke slot between verb and particle.

Can I say Hun vasker oppvasken?

Natural Norwegian is either:

• Hun vasker opp. (do the dishes), or
• Hun tar oppvasken. (take/do the dishes; very idiomatic) Saying vaske oppvasken is generally avoided because it sounds redundant (literally “wash the dishwashing”). Use one of the two options above.

Can vaske opp take a specific object, like “the pot”?

Yes, when you mean “wash something up,” you can add an object.

• Noun object (often between verb and particle): Hun vasker kjelen opp.
• Pronoun object (must go between verb and particle): Hun vasker den opp. If you just mean “wash the pot,” you can also skip the particle: Hun vasker kjelen. The particle opp often adds a sense of “completely/finish off.”

How is vaske opp different from just vaske?

• vaske = to wash/clean in general: Hun vasker gulvet (She washes the floor).
• vaske opp = to wash dishes or wash something up to completion: Hun vasker opp (She does the dishes).

What’s the difference between vaske opp and rydde opp?

• vaske opp = do the dishes.
• rydde opp = clean up/tidy up (put things in order), not specifically dishes. Example: Han rydder opp på rommet (He tidies up the room).

What does i mellomtiden mean compared with imens, mens, and imidlertid?

• i mellomtiden = “in the meantime” (a time adverbial phrase).
• imens = “meanwhile” (often at the start of a clause): Imens lagde jeg mat.
• mens = “while” (subordinating conjunction): Mens jeg lagde mat, vasket hun opp.
• imidlertid = “however” (contrastive sentence adverb), not a time expression.

Is the spelling imellomtiden or i mellom tiden ever correct?

No. The correct fixed phrase is i mellomtiden (three words, no hyphen). A common variant (also standard in Bokmål and typical in Nynorsk/dialects) is i mellomtida.

Can I put i mellomtiden at the start of the sentence?

Yes, and then apply the V2 rule:

• I mellomtiden vasker hun opp. Norwegian main clauses typically have the finite verb in second position, so after fronting i mellomtiden, the verb vasker comes next, then the subject hun.

Does the present tense vasker mean “is washing” or “washes”?

Both. Norwegian present covers progressive and habitual. Context decides:

• Right now: “She is doing the dishes.”
• Habitually: “She does the dishes.” To emphasize ongoing action, you can say: Hun holder på å vaske opp or Hun står og vasker opp.

How would I say it in the past, perfect, or future?

• Preterite (past): Hun vasket opp i mellomtiden.
• Present perfect: Hun har vasket opp i mellomtiden.
• Future/intended: Hun skal vaske opp i mellomtiden. / Hun kommer til å vaske opp i mellomtiden. Note that simple present with a future time phrase is also common in Norwegian.

Where does ikke go in this sentence?

Before the particle:

• Hun vasker ikke opp i mellomtiden. With a fronted time phrase:
• I mellomtiden vasker hun ikke opp. In a subordinate clause:
• … at hun ikke vasker opp i mellomtiden.

Why is it mellomtiden (definite) without an article like den?

It’s a set prepositional time expression: i + definite noun (“in the meantime”), parallel to patterns like i helgen (“on/over the weekend”). The definite ending is built into mellomtiden, so you don’t add den.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

• Hun: the u is a rounded sound (like German ü). Roughly “hoon,” but shorter and more fronted.
• vasker: say “VAS-ker” (the -er is a reduced syllable).
• opp: “op” with a short o and a long p sound.
• i mellomtiden: “ee MEL-lom-tee-den.” Stress typically on the first syllable of mellom and ti in tiden.

What about Bokmål vs Nynorsk or dialectal variants?

• Bokmål (standard): Hun vasker opp i mellomtiden.
• Bokmål variant: Hun vasker opp i mellomtida.
• Nynorsk/dialects: Ho vaskar opp i mellomtida. All are natural within their standards/dialects.

Can I say Hun vasker i mellomtiden opp?

That word order is not idiomatic. Keep the particle close to the verb and place the time phrase at the end or front:

• End: Hun vasker opp i mellomtiden.
• Fronted: I mellomtiden vasker hun opp.