Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vi går runden sammen i skogen. - We walk the route together in the forest.

Å gå literally means “to walk,” but in Norwegian it can also mean “to go” in some contexts (e.g. gå på jobb – “go to work”).
Here, because it’s about moving along a route in the forest, the natural English choice is “walk.”

Why is it runden and not runde?

Runden is the definite form of runde (a round / a loop / a circuit).

en runde = a round (indefinite, “a route/loop”)
runden = the round (definite, “the route/loop”)

So:

Vi går en runde i skogen.
→ We walk a (unspecified) loop in the forest.
Vi går runden i skogen.
→ We walk the (known/specific) loop in the forest.

In your sentence, runden suggests a particular, known route that both speaker and listener recognize (for example, “our usual loop”).

What is the gender and basic forms of runde and skog?

In standard Bokmål:

runde is masculine
- indefinite singular: en runde
- definite singular: runden
- indefinite plural: runder
- definite plural: rundene
skog is also masculine
- indefinite singular: en skog
- definite singular: skogen
- indefinite plural: skoger (not used very often)
- definite plural: skogene

So runden = “the round/loop” and skogen = “the forest.”

What does runden actually refer to? Is it a “round,” a “loop,” or something else?

In everyday Norwegian, en runde often means:

a loop/round route (a circular or fixed path you walk/run/cycle), or
a lap (e.g. on a track), or
a round in a game, competition, or process.

Here it clearly means a specific loop/route in the forest:

Vi går runden sammen i skogen.
→ We walk the (usual / fixed) loop together in the forest.

Norwegians often have a standard walk they call runden (“the round/the circuit”) near where they live.

What is the difference between Vi går runden and Vi går en runde?

The difference is about specific vs. non‑specific:

Vi går en runde (i skogen).
→ We walk a loop (in the forest).
You’re walking a round, but it’s not specified which one.
Vi går runden (i skogen).
→ We walk the loop (in the forest).
This is a particular, known route—maybe the usual one you always talk about.

So runden implies that both speakers know which route is meant.

Could I say Vi går tur sammen i skogen instead? What’s the difference from Vi går runden?

Yes, Vi går tur sammen i skogen is perfectly natural:

Vi går tur sammen i skogen.
→ We’re going for a walk together in the forest.

Difference:

gå runden = walk the specific loop/route.
gå tur = go for a walk (more general; doesn’t say which path).

So:

Vi går runden sammen i skogen.
Focus: that particular route.
Vi går tur sammen i skogen.
Focus: the activity of walking; the route is not specified.

Why is it Vi går runden sammen i skogen and not Vi går sammen runden i skogen? Where does sammen usually go?

The natural placement is:

Vi går runden sammen i skogen.

Here’s why:

sammen (“together”) typically comes after the object when the object is short and simple:
- Vi gjør det sammen. – We do it together.
- Vi spiser middag sammen. – We eat dinner together.
- Vi går runden sammen. – We walk the route together.

Vi går sammen runden i skogen sounds wrong/very unnatural. You could say:

Vi går sammen i skogen. – We walk together in the forest.
Vi går runden sammen i skogen. – We walk the route together in the forest.

So: subject (Vi) – verb (går) – object (runden) – adverb (sammen) – place (i skogen) is a very typical order.

Could I say Vi går runden i skogen sammen instead?

Yes, Vi går runden i skogen sammen is also grammatically correct and understandable.

Both:

Vi går runden sammen i skogen.
Vi går runden i skogen sammen.

are fine. The first one is probably more common and more natural in casual speech, but the difference in meaning is minimal. Word order with adverbs like sammen is somewhat flexible as long as the sentence stays clear and not too “heavy” in the middle.

Why is it i skogen and not på skogen? How do I know which preposition to use?

Norwegian usually uses:

i for “in, inside, within”
på for “on, on top of, at” (and for some fixed phrases)

For forest, the normal preposition is i:

i skogen – in the forest
i byen – in the city
i huset – in the house

So:

Vi går runden sammen i skogen.
→ We walk the route together in the forest.

You use på with other types of places:

på fjellet – in the mountains / on the mountain
på stranden – on the beach
på skolen – at school

For skog, the natural, idiomatic choice is i.

What is the difference between i skogen, i en skog, and i skog?

All exist, but they’re used differently:

i skogen
- the most common
- means “in the forest” (a specific or generic forest in context)
- Vi går runden sammen i skogen.
i en skog
- literally “in a forest” (emphasizes that it’s one forest, not specified which)
- used if you introduce a forest that hasn’t been mentioned before:
  - Vi gikk oss bort i en skog. – We got lost in a forest.
i skog
- more formal/literary or set expressions, like “in forested areas” or “in forest”:
  - Elgen lever i skog og mark. – The moose lives in forest and open land.
- not used in your everyday “I’m walking in the forest” sentence.

So for normal conversation, i skogen is the standard choice.

Does Vi går runden sammen i skogen mean “We are walking” (right now) or “We usually walk”? Norwegian just uses the present, right?

Correct: Norwegian uses the same present tense for both:

current/ongoing action (present progressive in English)
habitual/repeated action (present simple in English)

So Vi går runden sammen i skogen can mean:

Right now / today:
- We’re walking the route together in the forest (now).
Regular habit:
- We (usually) walk the route together in the forest.

You understand which one is meant from context or extra words:

Nå går vi runden sammen i skogen. – Now we’re walking the route together.
Hver søndag går vi runden sammen i skogen. – Every Sunday we walk the route together.

Could I replace går with løper or spaserer? What would change?

Yes, but the meaning shifts:

løper = run
- Vi løper runden sammen i skogen.
  → We run the route together in the forest.
  Now it’s clearly running/jogging, not walking.
spaserer = stroll (a bit formal/old-fashioned)
- Vi spaserer runden sammen i skogen.
  → We stroll the route together in the forest.
  This sounds somewhat formal, literary, or old‑fashioned. In everyday speech people almost always just use går.

For neutral “we’re going for a walk,” stick with går or går tur.

Is this sentence formal or informal? In what situations can I use it?

Vi går runden sammen i skogen. is neutral, everyday Norwegian.

You can use it:

With friends and family (informal)
In normal conversation with colleagues
In written descriptions (e.g. a text about your daily routine)

It’s not slangy, and it’s not particularly formal; it’s just standard, correct Bokmål that fits most contexts.

How do you pronounce Vi går runden sammen i skogen?

Approximate pronunciation in IPA (standard Eastern Norwegian):

Vi – /viː/ (like vee)
går – /ɡoːr/ (long o, like in English more but with rounded lips; final r often weak or almost absent)
runden – /ˈrʉn.dən/
- u is like French u or German ü
sammen – /ˈsɑmːən/ (double m lengthens the consonant)
i – /i/ (like English ee)
skogen – /ˈskuː.ɡən/

Whole sentence:
Vi går runden sammen i skogen. → /viː ɡoːr ˈrʉn.dən ˈsɑmːən i ˈskuː.ɡən/

In fast speech some sounds are reduced, but this is a good careful pronunciation.