Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg vil øke kondisjonen min.

Jeg vil øke kondisjonen min ≈ I want to improve my fitness.
Norwegian usually uses the present tense (or adverbs like i morgen) for plain future meaning, not vil.
vil expresses a desire or will:
- Jeg vil trene mer. – I want to work out more.
- Jeg vil ikke røyke. – I don’t want to smoke.

For a more neutral “I’m going to / I will”, Norwegians often use skal or just present tense with a time expression, depending on context.

Why is there no å before øke? Shouldn’t it be vil å øke?

After modal verbs in Norwegian, you don’t use å before the infinitive.

Common modal verbs: vil, skal, kan, må, bør, får.

So you say:

Jeg vil øke kondisjonen min. (correct)
Jeg vil å øke kondisjonen min. (incorrect)

Other examples:

Jeg kan snakke norsk. – I can speak Norwegian.
Jeg må gjøre lekser. – I must do homework.

Why is it kondisjonen min and not min kondisjon? Is min kondisjon wrong?

Both are grammatically correct, but they sound different in Norwegian.

Noun + possessive after (default, neutral):
- kondisjonen min – my fitness (normal, everyday way)
- This is the most common, neutral pattern in speech and writing.
Possessive before noun (more marked/emphatic):
- min kondisjon – also means my fitness, but often with some emphasis or contrast, like “my fitness (as opposed to someone else’s)” or in a more formal/literary style.

In this sentence, Jeg vil øke kondisjonen min is the most natural option.
Jeg vil øke min kondisjon is possible but sounds more formal or pointed.

Why is it kondisjonen (definite) and not just kondisjon?

When the possessive pronoun (min, din, hans, etc.) comes after the noun, the noun must be in the definite form:

en bil → bilen min (the car my → my car)
en katt → katten din (the cat your → your cat)
en kondisjon → kondisjonen min (the fitness my → my fitness)

So:

Jeg vil øke kondisjonen min. – correct (noun definite + possessive after)
Jeg vil øke kondisjon min. – incorrect

If the possessive comes before the noun, the noun is indefinite:

min kondisjon, min bil, min katt

What does kondisjon really mean in Norwegian? Is it the same as English “condition”?

Not exactly. In this context:

kondisjon = physical fitness, especially stamina / cardio capacity.

Typical uses:

Jeg har dårlig kondisjon. – I’m in bad shape (poor stamina).
Hun har god kondisjon. – She’s in good shape.

In everyday speech, for “general physical shape” people also say:

Jeg er i dårlig form. – I’m in bad shape.
Jeg vil komme i bedre form. – I want to get in better shape.

English “condition” is broader; Norwegian kondisjon is mostly about fitness/endurance.

What gender is kondisjon, and how does it decline?

Kondisjon is a masculine noun in Norwegian (Bokmål).

Typical forms:

Singular indefinite: en kondisjon
Singular definite: kondisjonen
Plural indefinite: kondisjoner
Plural definite: kondisjonene

Examples:

Jeg har dårlig kondisjon. – I have poor fitness.
Kondisjonen min er bedre nå. – My fitness is better now.
Disse øvelsene forbedrer kondisjonene til spillerne. – These exercises improve the players’ fitness levels.

Why is it min and not mi or mitt?

The possessive pronoun must agree with the gender and number of the noun:

en (masculine) → min
ei (feminine) → mi
et (neuter) → mitt
plural → mine

Since kondisjon is masculine (en kondisjon):

kondisjonen min – my fitness (correct)

Other examples:

boka mi – my book (feminine: ei bok → boka)
huset mitt – my house (neuter: et hus → huset)
vennene mine – my friends (plural)

Could I say Jeg vil forbedre / bedre kondisjonen min instead of øke? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can:

Jeg vil øke kondisjonen min.
Jeg vil forbedre kondisjonen min.
Jeg vil bedre kondisjonen min.

All are understandable and natural, with small nuances:

øke = increase (literally raise the level/amount)
forbedre/bedre = improve / make better

In practice, for fitness:

øke kondisjonen → focus slightly on level going up (e.g., run longer, higher VO₂ max).
forbedre/bedre kondisjonen → more general improve, but in everyday talk they’re often interchangeable here.

Is there a more informal or colloquial way to say kondisjon, like a shorter version?

Yes. In everyday spoken Norwegian, people often say kondis:

Jeg vil øke kondisen min. – I want to improve my fitness.

This is quite colloquial and common in speech. In more formal writing, kondisjon is usually preferred.

Is there a more idiomatic way to say “I want to get in better shape” in Norwegian?

Very common and idiomatic alternatives:

Jeg vil komme i bedre form. – I want to get in better shape.
Jeg vil bli i bedre form. – I want to be(come) in better shape.
Jeg vil bli i god form. – I want to get in good shape.

These are actually more frequent than using kondisjon for general “shape” in everyday speech.

How do you pronounce øke and kondisjonen?

Approximate pronunciation (Standard East Norwegian):

øke → [ˈøːkə]
- ø like the u in French lune or German schön (rounded front vowel).
- Stress on the first syllable: Ø-ke.
kondisjonen → roughly [kɔnˈdɪʃɔnən] (there is some regional variation)
- kon like English con-
- di like dee but shorter
- sj often sounds like English sh
- Stress on the -disj- syllable: kon-DISJ-o-nen.

You can think of it like: KON-dish-on-en, with main stress on dish.

What is the difference between Jeg vil øke kondisjonen min and Jeg skal øke kondisjonen min?

Both refer to the future, but with different nuances:

Jeg vil øke kondisjonen min.
- Focus on wanting / wishing to improve fitness.
- Emphasizes desire or motivation.
Jeg skal øke kondisjonen min.
- Focus on a plan, decision, or obligation: “I’m going to / I shall improve my fitness.”
- Sounds more like a firm intention or promise.

In everyday speech:

Use vil to express what you want.
Use skal to express what you’re going to do / have decided to do.