Ways to say it
| Norwegian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vann | /ʋanː/ | neuter |
| vatn | /vatn/ /ˈvatən/ |
neuter |
The word refers to the inorganic compound H₂O. While vann is the standard written form, related Norwegian verbs like tisse are used colloquially to mean the act of urinating and verbs such as gråte or the phrase felle tårer are used to describe the act of secreting or filling with water in the form of tears.
Which one should you use?
vann is the standard spelling used in Bokmål, whereas vatn is used in Nynorsk and many Norwegian dialects.
Is it said differently in some regions?
vatn is the form used in Nynorsk and many various Norwegian dialects.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Bokmål, you can form the definite article 'the water' by adding the suffix '-et' to vann, resulting in vannet. In Nynorsk, you create 'the water' by adding the suffix '-et' to vatn, resulting in vatnet. Both forms are neuter nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʋanː/
Did you know?
- When creating compound words, Norwegian often uses vass- as the prefix for 'water' instead of vann-. This is a remnant of the Old Norse genitive form vaz.
- In Norwegian, the word vann can refer to both the liquid substance and a 'lake'.
Examples in context
- Vatn er ei væskeWater is a liquid.This sentence illustrates the use of vatn to define water as a liquid.Tatoeba #4110697 by Sara_9014, translation #270793 by CK
- Vi har ikke vann.We have no water.This sentence shows how to use vann to state the absence of water.Tatoeba #2875573 by eirik174, translation #2843432 by CK
- Her er noko vatn.Here is some water.This sentence demonstrates using vatn to indicate the presence of some water.Tatoeba #12465270 by Just_Some_Guy, translation #2975853 by KiwiCreme
- En flaske vannA bottle of water
- Kan jeg få litt vann, takk?Can I have some water, please?
- Unnskyld meg, kunne jeg få en flaske vann, vær så snill?Excuse me, could I have a bottle of water, please?
- 97 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kristoffer is thirsty while working in the garden.
- NoraVil du ha litt vann?Do you want some water?
- KristofferJa, takk, det er veldig varmt.Yes, please, it is very hot.
- NoraJeg henter et glass til deg.I will get a glass for you.
- KristofferDet er kjempesnilt av deg, Nora.That is very kind of you, Nora.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “water” translations and entries vann, vatn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vann, vatn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
