Jeg skreller potetene mens jeg hører på radioen.

I peel the potatoes while I listen to the radio.

Breakdown of Jeg skreller potetene mens jeg hører på radioen.

• jeg: I
• høre på: to listen to
• poteten: the potato
• mens: while
• radioen: the radio
• skrelle: to peel

Questions & Answers about Jeg skreller potetene mens jeg hører på radioen.

Why is it skreller and not an infinitive like å skrelle?

In Norwegian, the present tense of a verb is used for actions happening now (and also for habitual actions).

• Infinitive: å skrelle = to peel
• Present tense: (jeg) skreller = I peel / I’m peeling
  So Jeg skreller potetene is a normal “present tense” statement.

What does potetene mean exactly, and why does it end in -ene?

Potetene is the definite plural of potet (potato).

• en potet = a potato
• poteten = the potato
• poteter = potatoes
• potetene = the potatoes

Using the definite form often implies you mean specific potatoes you’re dealing with (e.g., the ones on the counter).

Could I also say Jeg skreller poteter (without -ene)?

Yes, and the nuance changes:

• Jeg skreller potetene = I’m peeling the potatoes (specific ones).
• Jeg skreller poteter = I’m peeling potatoes (more general/indefinite; could be “some potatoes”).
  Both can be natural depending on context.

Why is jeg repeated: mens jeg hører ...? Can it be omitted?

In Norwegian, you normally repeat the subject in the second clause.

• Natural: Jeg skreller potetene mens jeg hører på radioen.
  Omitting jeg would sound incomplete or incorrect in standard Norwegian.

How does word order work after mens? Why isn’t it mens hører jeg?

Mens introduces a subordinate clause. In subordinate clauses, Norwegian uses the basic order subject + verb (like English):

• mens jeg hører ... (subject jeg before verb hører)

Inversion (hører jeg) is typical after certain sentence openings in a main clause, not inside a subordinate clause introduced by mens.

What’s the difference between mens and når here?

• mens = while (two actions happening at the same time, overlapping)
• når = when (often used for repeated situations, “whenever/when”, or a time point)

So mens is the most direct choice for “I peel the potatoes while I listen to the radio.”

Why is it hører på and not just hører?

Norwegian often distinguishes:

• å høre = to hear (sound reaches your ears; passive)
• å høre på = to listen to (pay attention; active)

So jeg hører på radioen is “I’m listening to the radio,” not just “I hear the radio.”

Why is it radioen (definite) and not en radio?

Radioen is the definite singular = “the radio.” Norwegian commonly uses the definite form in everyday situations where English might say “the radio” or even just “radio” in a general sense.

• en radio = a radio (one radio among others)
• radioen = the radio (the one you mean / the medium you’re listening to right now)

Could I say på radio instead of på radioen?

Sometimes, yes, but it depends on meaning and what sounds idiomatic:

• høre på radioen = listening to the radio (often the device/your radio broadcast generally)
• høre på radio can appear in more general statements (similar to “listen to radio” as an activity), but høre på radioen is extremely common and natural in this kind of “right now” sentence.

How would I pronounce the tricky parts: skreller, potetene, hører, radioen?

A practical, learner-friendly guide (approximate):

• skreller: starts with skr- (like “skr” in “script”), then a clear -eller ending; rolled/trilled r in many accents.
• potetene: stress usually on the last part of the stem (po-TE-ter-ne feeling), with a clear t sound.
• hører: the ø is like the vowel in French peur / German ö; many learners need practice distinguishing ø from o.
• radioen: often ra-di-o-en, with -en as a light ending.

If you tell me whether you’re aiming for Bokmål with an Oslo/Eastern pronunciation or another dialect target, I can give a more precise pronunciation guide.