Questions & Answers about Vi tenner lampen i stuen.
What exactly does tenner mean here? Is it “light” or “turn on”?
Tenner is the present tense of å tenne, which basically means to light (to make something give light).
Traditionally, å tenne is used for things that burn or glow:
- å tenne et lys – to light a candle
- å tenne et bål – to light a bonfire
With lamps, it can mean:
- to light the lamp (if it’s a candle/oil lamp), or
- more generally to turn on the lamp.
In everyday speech, Norwegians very often say:
- å skru på lyset – to turn on the light
- å slå på lampen – to switch on the lamp
So Vi tenner lampen i stuen is correct and understandable, but in modern, casual contexts you will also hear:
- Vi skrur på lampen i stuen.
- Vi skrur på lyset i stuen.
Why is it lampen and not just lampe?