Nei, jeg kan ikke vente lenger.

No, I can’t wait any longer.

Breakdown of Nei, jeg kan ikke vente lenger.

• jeg: I
• kunne: can
• ikke: not
• vente: to wait
• lenger: any longer
• nei: no

Questions & Answers about Nei, jeg kan ikke vente lenger.

Why is there a comma after Nei?

The comma separates the standalone response Nei (No) from the following full clause jeg kan ikke vente lenger. It’s like saying No, I can’t wait any longer. in English.
In informal writing, some people might skip the comma, but using it is common and clear.

Why is Nei capitalized?

It’s capitalized because it’s the first word of the sentence. Inside a sentence you’d normally write nei in lowercase.

Why is it jeg kan ikke vente and not jeg kan ikke å vente?

After a modal verb like kan (can), Norwegian uses the bare infinitive (no å):

• Jeg kan vente. = I can wait.
• Jeg kan ikke vente. = I can’t wait.

You typically use å when there is no modal:

• Jeg prøver å vente. = I’m trying to wait.

Why does ikke come after kan?

In Norwegian main clauses, ikke usually comes after the finite (conjugated) verb. Here the finite verb is kan, so:

• jeg kan ikke …

This is normal Norwegian word order: subject + verb + ikke + rest.

Does kan ikke vente always mean literally can’t wait, or can it also mean I’m excited?

It can mean both, depending on context and tone:

• Literally / impatient: I can’t wait any longer (I’m done waiting).
• Excited: I can’t wait! (looking forward to something).

If you want to make the excited meaning clearer, you might add what you’re excited about, e.g. Jeg kan ikke vente til i morgen. (I can’t wait until tomorrow.)

What does lenger add, and why is it at the end?

Lenger means any longer / anymore in this context. It often goes near the end of the clause:

• Jeg kan ikke vente lenger. = I can’t wait any longer.

Without lenger, it sounds more general:

• Jeg kan ikke vente. = I can’t wait. (could be excitement or impatience, but less explicitly any longer)

Is there a difference between lenger and lenge?

Yes. In simple terms:

• lenge = for a long time (duration)
  
  • Jeg har ventet lenge. = I have waited a long time.
• lenger = longer / any longer (comparison or “anymore”)
  
  • Jeg kan ikke vente lenger. = I can’t wait any longer.

Could I also say Nei, jeg kan ikke vente mer?

Yes, mer can sometimes work similarly to lenger, and you may hear it. But lenger is the most natural choice for any longer with vente:

• Most idiomatic: Jeg kan ikke vente lenger.
• Possible, slightly different feel: Jeg kan ikke vente mer. (often like I can’t take any more waiting)

Should vente be followed by på (like wait for)?

Not necessarily. Norwegian can use vente without an object when the meaning is just wait in general:

• Jeg kan ikke vente lenger. = I can’t wait any longer.

If you specify what you’re waiting for, you often use på:

• Jeg venter på bussen. = I’m waiting for the bus.
  You can also use other structures depending on what follows:
• Jeg kan ikke vente til fredag. = I can’t wait until Friday.

Could I drop jeg and just say Kan ikke vente lenger?

In standard written Norwegian, you normally keep jeg.
In casual speech, people sometimes drop the subject in short, expressive replies (similar to English Can’t wait!), so Kan ikke vente lenger can sound natural in conversation, but it’s informal.

Is ikke pronounced the way it’s spelled?

Often not exactly. In many spoken varieties (especially in Eastern Norwegian), ikke is commonly pronounced more like ikke / ikke with a reduced ending (sometimes sounding like ikkje or ikk’ depending on dialect).
Also note: ikke is Bokmål; in Nynorsk it’s typically ikkje.

How would this change in past tense?

You’d usually use kunne (past of kan) if you mean you were unable to wait at that time:

• Nei, jeg kunne ikke vente lenger. = No, I couldn’t wait any longer.

Or you might switch to a more descriptive past construction:

• Jeg klarte ikke å vente lenger. = I couldn’t manage to wait any longer.