vente
To wait in Norwegian is vente. Wiktionary also lists bie and venta.
Meaning: delay until some event (verb)
Ways to say it
| Norwegian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vente | ||
| bie | archaic | |
| venta | /²ʋɛntɑ/ /ʋɛɲc/ |
The phrase means to delay until some event (verb). The word vent is the most universal and common word for wait in Norwegian. You can also use the phrase vent litt to say "wait a moment".
Which one should you use?
The verb appears in several forms. vente is the infinitive, while venta is a variation. The form bie is an archaic version of the verb.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb vente conjugates as follows: the imperative command is vent, the present tense is venter (waits/am waiting/are waiting) and the past tense is ventet (waited).
Did you know?
- The verb vente can also be used to mean 'expecting', such as when a woman is venter et barn or 'expecting a child'.
- The archaic form bie is a distant relative of the English word 'bide', as seen in the phrase 'bide your time'.
- In some Norwegian dialects, the choice between vente and venta is not just a variation but a marker of regional identity, particularly between Eastern and Western Norway.
Examples in context
- Vi får venta og sjå.We'll wait and see.This sentence shows how to use the form venta in the phrase 'wait and see'.Tatoeba #12468060 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #3312062 by CK
- Lat oss venta og sjå.Let us wait and see.This sentence also demonstrates the use of venta in a suggestion.Tatoeba #12484311 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #3530164 by danepo
- Du bør ikke vente her.You shouldn't wait here.This sentence uses the infinitive form vente to express a recommendation.Tatoeba #2888318 by eirik174, translation #405520 by CK
- Vennligst ventPlease wait
- Vent litt, jeg skal hente detWait a moment, I'll fetch it
- Hold på, jeg skal overføre samtalenHold on, I'll transfer the call
- Sitt rolig, jeg skal bli med snartSit still, I'll join soon
- Kan du vente litt? Jeg skal bare betale regningen.Can you wait a moment? I just need to pay the bill.
- Vent i køen, så blir det din tur snart.Wait in line, it will be your turn soon.
- Vær så snill å vente mens jeg sjekker tilgjengeligheten.Please wait while I check the availability.
- Kan du vennligst vente på linjen mens jeg får sjefen din?Could you please hold the line while I get your boss?
- Jeg er like ved å være klar, vent bare et øyeblikk!I'm about to be ready, just wait a moment!
- Unnskyld forsinkelsen! Kan du vente et sekund?Apologies for the delay! Can you wait a second?
- 29 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nora and Kristoffer are standing by the bus stop.
- NoraVi må vente på bussen.We have to wait for the bus.
- KristofferKan vi vente litt?Can we wait a little while?
- NoraJa, Kristoffer, vi kan vente.Yes, Kristoffer, we can wait.
- KristofferTakk, Nora.Thanks, Nora.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wait” translations and entries vente, bie, venta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bie, venta, vente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
