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🔗 Norwegian grammar: Compound words — rule, table and examples
Level B1
The rule
Norwegian compound words are written as one word: “barnehage”, “sykehus”, “arbeidsdag”, “busskort”. The last word decides the gender, the article and the endings: “et hus → et sykehus, sykehuset”, “en dag → en arbeidsdag, arbeidsdagen”. The parts are often joined by a linking -s- or -e-: “arbeidsplass”, “julegave”, “barnehage”; after -ing, -het, -sjon it is usually -s-: “parkeringsplass”. Writing the parts separately (særskriving) is a mistake that can change the meaning: “lammelår” is a leg of lamb, but “lamme lår” means paralysed thighs; “ananasringer” are pineapple rings, but “ananas ringer” means a pineapple is calling. The stress falls on the first part: BARNEhage, SYKEhus.
Table
| Norwegian | English |
|---|---|
| barn + hage → barnehage | child + garden → kindergarten |
| et hus → et sykehus, sykehuset | the last word decides the gender: a hospital, the hospital |
| en dag → en arbeidsdag, arbeidsdagen | a working day, the working day (en, like “dag”) |
| arbeid + s + plass → arbeidsplass | linking -s-: workplace |
| jul + e + gave → julegave | linking -e-: Christmas present |
| lammelår ≠ lamme lår | leg of lamb ≠ paralysed thighs |
| ananasringer ≠ ananas ringer | pineapple rings ≠ a pineapple is calling |
Examples
- Amina jobber som sykepleier på et sykehus i Oslo.
Amina works as a nurse at a hospital in Oslo. - Arbeidsdagen min begynner klokka sju.
My working day starts at seven. - Jeg må fornye busskortet mitt før mandag.
I have to renew my bus pass before Monday. - Barna lager julegaver til besteforeldrene.
The children are making Christmas presents for their grandparents. - På norsk skriver vi «tannlege» i ett ord, ikke «tann lege».
In Norwegian we write “tannlege” as one word, not “tann lege”. - Kjøleskapet er tomt, så vi må lage en handleliste.
The fridge is empty, so we need to make a shopping list.
Try it yourself
1. Lillesøsteren min går i ____ hver dag.
barne hagen · barnehagen · barneshagen · barnhagen
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Answer: barnehagen
2. Ole måtte dra på ____ etter ulykken.
syke huset · sykehusen · sykehuset · sykeshuset
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Answer: sykehuset
3. Vi skal ha ____ til middag på søndag.
lamme lår · lammelår · lammeslår · lammlår
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Answer: lammelår
4. Jeg kjøpte en boks med ____ til pizzaen.
ananas ringer · ananaseringer · ananasringen · ananasringer
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Answer: ananasringer
5. Kari har mistet ____ sitt og må kjøpe nytt.
buss kortet · bussekortet · busskorten · busskortet
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Answer: busskortet
6. Vi trenger ____ handleliste før vi går i butikken.
den · det · en · et
Show the answer
Answer: en
More grammar topics
FAQ
How does “Compound words” work in Norwegian?
Norwegian compound words are written as one word: “barnehage”, “sykehus”, “arbeidsdag”, “busskort”. The last word decides the gender, the article and the endings: “et hus → et sykehus, sykehuset”, “en dag → en arbeidsdag, arbeidsdagen”. The parts are often joined by a linking -s- or -e-: “arbeidsplass”, “julegave”, “barnehage”; after -ing, -het, -sjon it is usually -s-: “parkeringsplass”. Writing the parts separately (særskriving) is a mistake that can change the meaning: “lammelår” is a leg of lamb, but “lamme lår” means paralysed thighs; “ananasringer” are pineapple rings, but “ananas ringer” means a pineapple is calling. The stress falls on the first part: BARNEhage, SYKEhus.
How can I practise “Compound words”?
Open the exercise in Komiks·Lab: 20 fill-in-the-gap tasks with instant feedback, and comics where the rule is used in real dialogues.