lys
neuter
The English word 'light' (referring to electromagnetic waves) is lys in Norwegian. Wiktionary also lists ljos.
Meaning: electromagnetic waves (noun)
Ways to say it
| Norwegian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| lys | neuter | |
| ljos | /ljuːs/ /juːs/ |
neuter |
lys is the standard and most commonly used word for 'light' in Norwegian. If you are specifically referring to 'illumination' or 'lighting', you may use belysning.
Is it said differently in some regions?
ljos is the Nynorsk variant of the Bokmål form lys.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As a neuter noun, the definite form of lys is lyset (the light) and the definite plural form is lysene (the lights).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes forget to add the -et suffix to lys when they want to refer to a specific light (the light) in a sentence.
Did you know?
- In Norway, the phrase å tenne lys means 'to light candles', a common cultural tradition during the dark winter months to create 'kos' or coziness.
- The word lys refers to both the electromagnetic waves of 'light' and a physical 'candle'.
- While lys is used for 'light', the word lyst looks almost identical but means 'desire' or 'inclination'.
Examples in context
- Hun slo på lyset.She turned on the light.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the form lys when talking about turning on the light.Tatoeba #2948983 by eirik174, translation #317152 by CK
- Kan du slå på lyset?Could you turn on the light?This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the form lys when asking to turn on the light.Tatoeba #12533797 by Barend, translation #12533798 by Barend
- Eg likar lyse fargar.I like light colors.This sentence is useful for seeing how the form lys is used in the context of colors.Tatoeba #12536143 by Barend, translation #261911 by CK
- Huset er fullt av lysThe house is full of light
- Vi trenger bedre belysning på veieneWe need better street lighting
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nora and Magnus are decorating a living room.
- NoraVi trenger mer lys her.We need more light here.
- MagnusBør vi åpne gardinene?Should we open the curtains?
- NoraJa, det slipper inn mer naturlig lys.Yes, that lets in more natural light.
- MagnusDet ser mye bedre ut nå.It looks much better now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “light” translations and entries lys, ljos, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
