Understanding the Definite Article in Norwegian

What are Definite Articles in Norwegian?

In Norwegian, the definite article is used to specify a specific item or person that is already known to the listener. Unlike English, where the article "the" is placed before the noun, Norwegian uses a suffix added directly to the noun.

The Suffix Method

In Norwegian, the most common definite articles are
-en, -a, and -et. These suffixes depend on the gender and the number of the noun:

• Masculine singular: -en
• Feminine singular: -a
• Neuter singular: -et
• Plural: -ene

Examples of Usage

Determining the Correct Article Suffix

Norwegian nouns are categorized into three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The gender of the noun affects which article is used:

• Masculine: Usually use -en. E.g., katten (the cat)
• Feminine: Use -a. E.g., boka (the book)
• Neuter: Use -et. E.g., huset (the house)

Exceptions and Irregularities

Some words may not follow the typical pattern due to historical linguistic changes or because the word is borrowed from another language. It's important to learn these exceptions, as they are frequent in daily conversation.

Forming Plurals in Definite Form

In the plural form, Norwegian adds -ene to the end of the noun, regardless of gender, to indicate definiteness.