Where is it? Learn i, på, under, over, ved, hos, foran, bak and mellom with an illustration, everyday examples and a quiz.
A preposition of place is a small word that tells you where something is. It answers the question «Where is it?». Your keys aren't just «the table», they're on the table, under the table or next to the table.
In Norwegian the preposition goes in front of the noun, and the noun never changes, as in «i skapet» (in the cupboard), «på hylla» (on the shelf) and «under senga» (under the bed). The two big ones are i and på. Use i when something is inside something, på when it sits on a surface. For people you use hos, as in «Jeg er hos legen» (I'm at the doctor's).
English is close, but in, on and at don't map one to one onto i, på, ved and hos. English «at» has no single Norwegian partner. At work is «på jobb», at the window is «ved vinduet», at Kari's is «hos Kari», and at home is simply «hjemme». So learn the Norwegian phrase, not the English word.
You'll use these words all day in Norway. You look for something at home, you ask the way to the pharmacy, or the barnehage calls to ask where the pram is. Then you answer «Vogna står utenfor døra, ved siden av sykkelen» (the pram is outside the door, next to the bike).
Use i when something is inside a space with walls or edges: a room, a cupboard, a box, a town, a country. The contrast is på, which means on top of a surface.
Use på when something lies or hangs on a surface: table, floor, roof, wall. På is also used for many places and institutions: på jobb (at work), på skolen, på butikken (at the shop), på sykehuset (in hospital).
Under means lower than something, often right below it. The opposite is over. It can also mean «less than»: under null grader (below zero).
Over means higher than something, without touching it. The lamp hangs over the table, but the book lies on the table.
Ved means close up to something, often something large or fixed: the window, the door, the table, the sea. For people you don't use ved, but hos.
Hos is used only with people, or with someone who runs a practice or salon: hos legen, hos frisøren (at the hairdresser's), hos mormor (at Grandma's). On your way there you say til: «Jeg skal til legen» (I'm going to the doctor), but «Jeg er hos legen» (I'm at the doctor's).
Foran means at the front of something. The opposite is bak. «Vi møtes foran inngangen» (let's meet in front of the entrance) is a classic way to arrange a meeting.
Bak means at the back of something. You'll also hear bakom, which means the same.
Ved siden av means right beside something, to its left or right. It's three words, but you use them as one.
Mellom means something has one thing on each side. Usually you name both: mellom banken og apoteket (between the bank and the pharmacy).
Nær means not far from. In everyday speech many people also say i nærheten av (near, in the area of): «Bor du i nærheten av skolen?» (Do you live near the school?)
Utenfor means on the outside of something: outside the door, outside the shop. It can also mean a bit out of town: utenfor Bergen (just outside Bergen).
Innenfor means on the inside of a boundary, a door or an area. It's the opposite of utenfor.
Overfor means on the other side, facing something. You'll often hear «rett overfor» (directly opposite): the pharmacy is right across from the station.
English «at» has no single Norwegian partner, so don't translate it as ved every time. «✗ Jeg er ved jobb» «✓ Jeg er på jobb».
At someone's place is always hos. «✗ Vi spiser middag ved Kari» «✓ Vi spiser middag hos Kari».
Word-for-word calques don't work. «✗ Bilen står i front av huset» «✓ Bilen står foran huset», and «✗ neste til meg» «✓ ved siden av meg».
Islands take på, even big ones. «✗ Hun bor i Island» «✓ Hun bor på Island».
Choose the right preposition. You see the answer with audio and an explanation right away.
Katten ligger ___ senga.
Katten ligger under senga.
The cat is lying under the bed.
💡 The cat is lower than the bed, right below it.
Jeg er ___ tannlegen nå.
Jeg er hos tannlegen nå.
I'm at the dentist's now.
💡 You're at a person's place, and «er» shows location, not movement.
Hun bor ___ Stavanger.
Hun bor i Stavanger.
She lives in Stavanger.
💡 Most towns and cities take i, Stavanger included.
Bildet henger ___ veggen.
Bildet henger på veggen.
The picture is hanging on the wall.
💡 The wall is a surface, and things hanging on a surface take på.
Vi møtes ___ inngangen klokka fem.
Vi møtes foran inngangen klokka fem.
We'll meet in front of the entrance at five.
💡 Foran is about place, før is about time (before).
Lampa henger ___ spisebordet.
Lampa henger over spisebordet.
The lamp hangs over the dining table.
💡 The lamp is higher than the table and doesn't touch it.
Apoteket ligger ___ banken og Kiwi.
Apoteket ligger mellom banken og Kiwi.
The pharmacy is between the bank and Kiwi.
💡 There's a building on each side, so you use mellom.
Hytta vår ligger ___ sjøen.
Hytta vår ligger ved sjøen.
Our cabin is by the sea.
💡 Ved means right next to something big like the sea, while hos is only for people.
Hun satt ___ meg på toget, og vi pratet hele veien.
Hun satt overfor meg på toget, og vi pratet hele veien.
She sat opposite me on the train, and we chatted the whole way.
💡 Overfor means on the other side, facing you.
Kan jeg sitte ___ deg?
Kan jeg sitte ved siden av deg?
Can I sit next to you?
💡 Ved siden av means right beside you, while mellom needs two things.
Verbs with prepositions → · Adjectives with prepositions → · Particle verbs →
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