substantivA2
Intetkjønnsord (et)
[Neuter Nouns (et-words)]Neuter nouns take the article 'et'. Most single-syllable nouns take zero ending in indefinite plural (et hus → to hus), whereas multi-syllable nouns usually take -er (et problem → problemer).
1. Single-Syllable Neuter Nouns
The primary rule for monosyllabic neuter nouns is that the indefinite plural has no suffix:
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et hus(a house)
Definite Sing.
huset
Indefinite Plur.
hus (to hus)
Definite Plur.
husene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et barn(a child)
Definite Sing.
barnet
Indefinite Plur.
barn (tre barn)
Definite Plur.
barna / barnene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et bord(a table)
Definite Sing.
bordet
Indefinite Plur.
bord
Definite Plur.
bordene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et år(a year)
Definite Sing.
året
Indefinite Plur.
år
Definite Plur.
årene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et land(a country)
Definite Sing.
landet
Indefinite Plur.
land
Definite Plur.
landene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et språk(a language)
Definite Sing.
språket
Indefinite Plur.
språk
Definite Plur.
språkene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et brev(a letter)
Definite Sing.
brevet
Indefinite Plur.
brev
Definite Plur.
brevene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et rom(a room)
Definite Sing.
rommet
Indefinite Plur.
rom
Definite Plur.
rommene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et glass(a glass)
Definite Sing.
glasset
Indefinite Plur.
glass
Definite Plur.
glassene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et tog(a train)
Definite Sing.
toget
Indefinite Plur.
tog
Definite Plur.
togene
| Indefinite Sing. (with translation) | Definite Sing. | Indefinite Plur. | Definite Plur. |
|---|---|---|---|
et husa house | huset | hus (to hus) | husene |
et barna child | barnet | barn (tre barn) | barna / barnene |
et borda table | bordet | bord | bordene |
et åra year | året | år | årene |
et landa country | landet | land | landene |
et språka language | språket | språk | språkene |
et breva letter | brevet | brev | brevene |
et roma room | rommet | rom | rommene |
et glassa glass | glasset | glass | glassene |
et toga train | toget | tog | togene |
2. Multi-Syllable Neuter Nouns
Neuter nouns with two or more syllables typically take the regular plural ending –er:
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et problem(a problem)
Definite Sing.
problemet
Indefinite Plur.
problemer
Definite Plur.
problemene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et vindu(a window)
Definite Sing.
vinduet
Indefinite Plur.
vinduer
Definite Plur.
vinduene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et eple(an apple)
Definite Sing.
eplet
Indefinite Plur.
epler
Definite Plur.
eplene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et minutt(a minute)
Definite Sing.
minuttet
Indefinite Plur.
minutter
Definite Plur.
minuttene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et sekund(a second)
Definite Sing.
sekundet
Indefinite Plur.
sekunder
Definite Plur.
sekundene
Indefinite Sing. (with translation)
et teater(a theater)
Definite Sing.
teatret / teateret
Indefinite Plur.
teatre
Definite Plur.
teatrene
| Indefinite Sing. (with translation) | Definite Sing. | Indefinite Plur. | Definite Plur. |
|---|---|---|---|
et problema problem | problemet | problemer | problemene |
et vindua window | vinduet | vinduer | vinduene |
et eplean apple | eplet | epler | eplene |
et minutta minute | minuttet | minutter | minuttene |
et sekunda second | sekundet | sekunder | sekundene |
et teatera theater | teatret / teateret | teatre | teatrene |
Compound neuter nouns ending in '-mål' (e.g. et spørsmål) accept both zero-ending and -er: 'to spørsmål' is the standard conversational choice.
3. Exceptions to Syllable Rules, Dual Forms, and -um Nouns
A. Syllable exceptions (1-syllable taking –er, and 2-syllable taking zero):
Pattern
1 stavelse FÅR –er (unntak!)(1 syllable takes –er)
Indefinite Sing.
et sted(a place)
Definite Sing.
stedet
Indefinite Plur.
steder (IKKE to sted)
Definite Plur.
stedene
Pattern
2 stavelser UTEN –er (nullendelse)(2 syllables take zero)
Indefinite Sing.
et avsnitt(a paragraph)
Definite Sing.
avsnittet
Indefinite Plur.
avsnitt (flere avsnitt)
Definite Plur.
avsnittene
Pattern
2 stavelser UTEN –er (nullendelse)(2 syllables take zero)
Indefinite Sing.
et eventyr(a fairytale / adventure)
Definite Sing.
eventyret
Indefinite Plur.
eventyr (mange eventyr)
Definite Plur.
eventyrene
Pattern
2 stavelser UTEN –er (nullendelse)(2 syllables take zero)
Indefinite Sing.
et uttrykk(an expression)
Definite Sing.
uttrykket
Indefinite Plur.
uttrykk (faste uttrykk)
Definite Plur.
uttrykkene
Pattern
2 stavelser UTEN –er (nullendelse)(2 syllables take zero)
Indefinite Sing.
et opptak(a recording / admission)
Definite Sing.
opptaket
Indefinite Plur.
opptak (lydopptak)
Definite Plur.
opptakene
| Pattern | Indefinite Sing. | Definite Sing. | Indefinite Plur. | Definite Plur. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 stavelse FÅR –er (unntak!)1 syllable takes –er | et steda place | stedet | steder (IKKE to sted) | stedene |
2 stavelser UTEN –er (nullendelse)2 syllables take zero | et avsnitta paragraph | avsnittet | avsnitt (flere avsnitt) | avsnittene |
2 stavelser UTEN –er (nullendelse)2 syllables take zero | et eventyra fairytale / adventure | eventyret | eventyr (mange eventyr) | eventyrene |
2 stavelser UTEN –er (nullendelse)2 syllables take zero | et uttrykkan expression | uttrykket | uttrykk (faste uttrykk) | uttrykkene |
2 stavelser UTEN –er (nullendelse)2 syllables take zero | et opptaka recording / admission | opptaket | opptak (lydopptak) | opptakene |
B. Dual optional plural forms (zero ending or –er):
Several multi-syllable neuter nouns accept either zero-ending or –er in the indefinite plural:
et begrep → begrepet → begrep / begreper → begrepenea concept → the concept → concepts (both valid) → the concepts
et problem → problemet → problem / problemer → problemenea problem → the problem → problems (problem or problemer) → the problems
Gjelder også: et program, et tema, et bibliotek, et apotek, et kjøretøy, et essay.Also applies to: program, theme, library, pharmacy, vehicle, essay.
C. Latin loanwords in –um (drop –um before inflectional endings):
et studium → studiet → studier → studienea study → the study → studies → the studies
et jubileum → jubileet → jubileer → jubileenean anniversary → the anniversary → anniversaries → the anniversaries
Gjelder også: et museum (museet, museer), et akvarium, et kranium, et kollokvium.Also applies to: museum, aquarium, cranium, colloquium.