adjektivA1
Uregelmessige adjektiv
[Irregular Adjectives]Complete reference for irregular and invariable adjectives in Norwegian: declension of «liten», «annen», invariable adjectives, and irregular comparison forms.
1. Declension of the Adjective «liten» (small)
The adjective 'liten' is the most common irregular adjective in Norwegian. It completely changes its stem across genders, definiteness, and plural:
Form / Gender
Hankjønn (Maskulin)(Masculine (en))
Indefinite form
en liten hund(a small dog)
Definite form
den lille hunden(the small dog)
Form / Gender
Hunkjønn (Feminin)(Feminine (ei))
Indefinite form
ei lita jente(a little girl)
Definite form
den lille jenta(the little girl)
Form / Gender
Intetkjønn (Nøytrum)(Neuter (et))
Indefinite form
et lite hus(a small house)
Definite form
det lille huset(the small house)
Form / Gender
Flertall (Plural)(Plural (flere))
Indefinite form
små hunder(small dogs)
Definite form
de små hundene(the small dogs)
| Form / Gender | Indefinite form | Definite form |
|---|---|---|
Hankjønn (Maskulin)Masculine (en) | en liten hunda small dog | den lille hundenthe small dog |
Hunkjønn (Feminin)Feminine (ei) | ei lita jentea little girl | den lille jentathe little girl |
Intetkjønn (Nøytrum)Neuter (et) | et lite husa small house | det lille husetthe small house |
Flertall (Plural)Plural (flere) | små hundersmall dogs | de små hundenethe small dogs |
In definite singular, 'lille' is used for all genders (den lille gutten, det lille huset). In plural, 'små' is always used (små barn, de små barna).
2. Declension of «annen / annet / andre» (other / another)
The word 'annen' behaves like an adjective and has dedicated forms for masculine, neuter, and plural:
Gender / Number
Hankjønn / Hunkjønn(Masculine / Feminine)
Indefinite form
en annen dag(another day)
Definite form
den andre dagen(the other day)
Gender / Number
Intetkjønn (et)(Neuter)
Indefinite form
et annet sted(another place)
Definite form
det andre stedet(the other place)
Gender / Number
Flertall (flere)(Plural)
Indefinite form
andre mennesker(other people)
Definite form
de andre menneskene(the other people)
| Gender / Number | Indefinite form | Definite form |
|---|---|---|
Hankjønn / HunkjønnMasculine / Feminine | en annen daganother day | den andre dagenthe other day |
Intetkjønn (et)Neuter | et annet stedanother place | det andre stedetthe other place |
Flertall (flere)Plural | andre menneskerother people | de andre menneskenethe other people |
3. Invariable Adjectives (Never Change Endings)
Certain Norwegian adjectives are invariable — they never add -t in neuter nor -e in plural and definite form:
Group / Type
Adjektiv på -a (farger)(Words ending in -a (colors))
Example words
rosa, lilla, ekstra, bra(pink, purple, extra, good)
Example sentence
et rosa hus / rosa biler(a pink house / pink cars)
Group / Type
Adjektiv på -e(Words ending in -e)
Example words
stille, moderne, øde, sakte(quiet, modern, deserted, slow)
Example sentence
et moderne kjøkken / moderne byer(a modern kitchen / modern cities)
Group / Type
Adjektiv på -s(Words ending in -s)
Example words
gratis, stakkars, felles, forgjeves(free, poor, shared, in vain)
Example sentence
en gratis avis / to gratis kaffe(a free newspaper / two free coffees)
| Group / Type | Example words | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
Adjektiv på -a (farger)Words ending in -a (colors) | rosa, lilla, ekstra, brapink, purple, extra, good | et rosa hus / rosa bilera pink house / pink cars |
Adjektiv på -eWords ending in -e | stille, moderne, øde, saktequiet, modern, deserted, slow | et moderne kjøkken / moderne byera modern kitchen / modern cities |
Adjektiv på -sWords ending in -s | gratis, stakkars, felles, forgjevesfree, poor, shared, in vain | en gratis avis / to gratis kaffea free newspaper / two free coffees |
4. Irregular Comparison (Full Reference List)
These adjectives form comparative and superlative irregularly (often changing their root vowel or using a new stem):
Positive
god / bra(good)
Comparative
bedre(better)
Superlative
best(best)
Positive
dårlig / vond(bad)
Comparative
verre(worse)
Superlative
verst(worst)
Positive
stor(big)
Comparative
større(bigger)
Superlative
størst(biggest)
Positive
liten(small)
Comparative
mindre(smaller)
Superlative
minst(smallest)
Positive
gammel(old)
Comparative
eldre(older)
Superlative
eldst(oldest)
Positive
ung(young)
Comparative
yngre(younger)
Superlative
yngst(youngest)
Positive
tung(heavy)
Comparative
tyngre(heavier)
Superlative
tyngst(heaviest)
Positive
lang(long)
Comparative
lengre(longer)
Superlative
lengst(longest)
Positive
mange(many (count))
Comparative
flere(more)
Superlative
flest(most)
Positive
mye(much (uncount))
Comparative
mer(more)
Superlative
mest(most)
Positive
få(few)
Comparative
færre(fewer)
Superlative
færrest(fewest)
Positive
nær(near)
Comparative
nærmere(closer)
Superlative
nærmest(closest)
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
god / bragood | bedrebetter | best |
dårlig / vondbad | verreworse | verstworst |
storbig | størrebigger | størstbiggest |
litensmall | mindresmaller | minstsmallest |
gammelold | eldreolder | eldstoldest |
ungyoung | yngreyounger | yngstyoungest |
tungheavy | tyngreheavier | tyngstheaviest |
langlong | lengrelonger | lengstlongest |
mangemany (count) | fleremore | flestmost |
myemuch (uncount) | mermore | mestmost |
fåfew | færrefewer | færrestfewest |
nærnear | nærmerecloser | nærmestclosest |