Norwegian word choices
Hos vs med: at someone’s place or with someone?
At someone’s place: hos. Together with someone: med. Try four everyday situations.
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Four practice notes
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Situations, answers and short explanations.
Prompt
You are staying overnight at Anna’s home. Say whose place you are staying at. Jeg overnatter ___ Anna. Choose hos or med.
Answer and explanation
Jeg overnatter hos Anna. I am staying overnight at Anna’s place. You mean Anna’s home: use hos.
Prompt
You and Anna are going for a walk together. Jeg går en tur ___ Anna. Choose hos or med.
Answer and explanation
Jeg går en tur med Anna. I am going for a walk with Anna. Anna is your company on the walk: use med.
Prompt
You are at the dentist’s clinic for your appointment. Jeg er ___ tannlegen. Choose hos or med.
Answer and explanation
Jeg er hos tannlegen. I am at the dentist’s. You mean the dentist’s workplace: use hos.
Prompt
Your sister accompanies you on the bus. Jeg tar bussen ___ søsteren min. Choose hos or med.
Answer and explanation
Jeg tar bussen med søsteren min. I am taking the bus with my sister. Your sister is travelling with you: use med.
The difference
Hos: at someone’s place. Jeg er hos Anna (I am at Anna’s place).
Med: together with someone. Jeg går en tur med Anna (I am going for a walk with Anna).
Hos also works for a professional’s workplace: Jeg er hos tannlegen (I am at the dentist’s). Med tells you who is with you, without saying whose place you are at.
Both can make sense in some sentences with different meanings. These situations make the intended place or company clear. For an appointment, try the dentist guide.
References: NTNU: hos and Bokmålsordboka: med. Practice examples are original.