How do you tell the time in Norwegian?

Basic Vocabulary for Telling Time in Norwegian

Key Words and Phrases

Before you start telling the time, it’s important to learn the essential vocabulary:

• Klokka (the clock / time)
• Time (hour)
• Minutt (minute)
• Sekund (second)
• Morgen (morning)
• Formiddag (before noon)
• Ettermiddag (afternoon)
• Kveld (evening)
• Natt (night)

Numbers You’ll Need

Norwegians use the 12-hour clock in casual settings and the 24-hour clock in formal or official contexts. Here are the numbers 1-12 in Norwegian:

• 1 – en / ett
• 2 – to
• 3 – tre
• 4 – fire
• 5 – fem
• 6 – seks
• 7 – sju / syv
• 8 – åtte
• 9 – ni
• 10 – ti
• 11 – elleve
• 12 – tolv

How to Ask “What Time Is It?” in Norwegian

The most common way to ask for the time is:

• Hva er klokka? (What time is it?)

You might also hear:

• Hvor mye er klokka? (Literally: How much is the clock?)

How to Tell the Time: The Basics

To answer, you’ll start with “Klokka er…” (The time is…). Here’s how you can express the time on the hour:

• Klokka er ett (It’s one o’clock)
• Klokka er to (It’s two o’clock)

Minutes Past the Hour

For minutes past the hour, you use the word “over” (past):

• Klokka er ti over tre (It’s ten past three)
• Klokka er fem over seks (It’s five past six)

Minutes To the Hour

For minutes to the hour, use “på” (to):

• Klokka er ti på fire (It’s ten to four)
• Klokka er fem på åtte (It’s five to eight)

Half and Quarter Hours

Norwegian uses a slightly different system for “half past” and “quarter to/past” compared to English:

Half Past

In Norwegian, “half” refers to the upcoming hour, not the previous one:

• Klokka er halv fire (It’s half past three – literally: half [to] four)
• Klokka er halv åtte (It’s half past seven – literally: half [to] eight)

Quarter Past and To

• Klokka er kvart over fem (It’s quarter past five)
• Klokka er kvart på ni (It’s quarter to nine)

Using the 24-Hour Clock

In timetables, public transport, and formal settings, Norwegians often use the 24-hour clock:

• Klokka er femten (It’s 15:00, or three PM)
• Klokka er tjueen (It’s 21:00, or nine PM)

You can simply say the number, or add “null-null” for o’clock: Klokka er femten null-null (15:00 exactly).

Example Conversations

Here’s how a typical exchange about the time might look:

• – Hva er klokka?
• – Klokka er kvart over seks.

Or using the 24-hour clock:

• – Hvor mye er klokka?
• – Klokka er atten tretti. (18:30)

Tips for Learning to Tell the Time in Norwegian

• Practice with real clocks and daily routines
• Listen to Norwegian radio or podcasts to hear time expressions naturally
• Use language learning platforms like Talkpal to reinforce your skills with interactive exercises

Conclusion

Learning how to tell the time in Norwegian is a practical step that will boost your confidence and help you navigate everyday situations more easily. By memorizing key vocabulary, practicing common expressions, and using resources like Talkpal’s AI language learning blog, you’ll soon be able to ask for and give the time like a native speaker. Lykke til med norsklæringen! (Good luck with your Norwegian learning!)