kveldene

Kveldene is the definite plural form of the Norwegian noun kveld, meaning "the evenings." The word appears in both Bokmål and Nynorsk usage to refer to evenings as recurring or specific sets of nights. In everyday language it commonly occurs in phrases such as på kveldene ("in the evenings") to describe habitual evening activities.

Etymology traces kveld to Old Norse kvöld (cognate with Icelandic kvöld and related North Germanic forms), with roots in Proto-Germanic and ultimately Proto-Indo-European notions of the end of the day. The pronunciation in modern Norwegian is approximately [ˈkveːldəne].

Culturally, kveldene carry social and literary significance in Norway. They denote times for family gatherings, evening meals, social outings and relaxation after work. Seasonal variations strongly affect how evenings are experienced in Norway: long, light summer evenings during the midnight sun contrast with dark, early kveldene in winter and the polar night, influencing customs, leisure and mood. The concept appears frequently in Norwegian literature, music and religious practice, for example in evening prayers (kveldsbønn) and nocturnes or songs evoking dusk.

Grammatically, kveldene functions as a definite plural and is used when speakers refer to evenings as a known set or recurring period. It aligns with related expressions in other Scandinavian languages, where comparable forms describe similar temporal parts of the day.