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Sammensatte ord (fuge-s og fuge-e)
[Compound Nouns (Fuge-s and Fuge-e)]In Norwegian, compound words are always written as a single word. The final noun determines the gender. Words are often joined with linking letters: fuge-s or fuge-e.
1. Golden Rule: Single Word Compounding
If two words describe a single combined concept, they must be merged into one word. The last word dictates gender and inflection:
Examples:
en sjokolade + en kake = en sjokoladekake (kaka er kake, laget av sjokolade)chocolate + cake = chocolate cake
en sol + briller = solbriller (briller mot sol)sun + glasses = sunglasses
et barn + en hage = en barnehage (hage er hankjønn → barnehagen)child + garden = kindergarten
Watch out for compound splitting errors! 'Kyllinglever' is chicken liver. 'Kylling lever' means the chicken is alive!
2. Rules for Linking Fuge-s
The linking -s- is inserted in predictable morphological contexts:
First Element Suffix
-dom
Example
ungdom + skole = ungdomsskole(youth + school = lower secondary school)
Meaning
ungdomsskole(lower secondary school)
First Element Suffix
-het
Example
kjærlighet + brev = kjærlighetsbrev(love + letter = love letter)
Meaning
kjærlighetsbrev(love letter)
First Element Suffix
-else
Example
fødsel + dag = fødselsdag(birth + day = birthday)
Meaning
fødselsdag(birthday)
First Element Suffix
-ing
Example
parkering + plass = parkeringsplass(parking + space = parking lot)
Meaning
parkeringsplass(parking lot)
First Element Suffix
-sjon
Example
stasjon + bygning = stasjonsbygning(station + building = station building)
Meaning
stasjonsbygning(station building)
First Element Suffix
-tet
Example
universitet + plass = universitetsplass(university + square = university square)
Meaning
universitetsplass(university square)
First Element Suffix
-skap
Example
ekteskap + lov = ekteskapslov(marriage + law = marriage law)
Meaning
ekteskapslov(marriage law)
First Element Suffix
Første ledd er allerede sammensatt(First element is already a compound)
Example
fotball + kamp = fotballskamp(football + match = football match)
Meaning
fotballskamp(football match)
| First Element Suffix | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
-dom | ungdom + skole = ungdomsskoleyouth + school = lower secondary school | ungdomsskolelower secondary school |
-het | kjærlighet + brev = kjærlighetsbrevlove + letter = love letter | kjærlighetsbrevlove letter |
-else | fødsel + dag = fødselsdagbirth + day = birthday | fødselsdagbirthday |
-ing | parkering + plass = parkeringsplassparking + space = parking lot | parkeringsplassparking lot |
-sjon | stasjon + bygning = stasjonsbygningstation + building = station building | stasjonsbygningstation building |
-tet | universitet + plass = universitetsplassuniversity + square = university square | universitetsplassuniversity square |
-skap | ekteskap + lov = ekteskapslovmarriage + law = marriage law | ekteskapslovmarriage law |
Første ledd er allerede sammensattFirst element is already a compound | fotball + kamp = fotballskampfootball + match = football match | fotballskampfootball match |
3. Rules for Linking Fuge-e
The linking -e- is common after short monosyllabic roots, especially referring to animals, humans, or bodily parts:
First Word
et barn(a child)
Compound Word
barn + e + seng = barneseng(child + bed = crib)
Meaning
barneseng(crib / child's bed)
First Word
en hund(a dog)
Compound Word
hund + e + mat = hundemat(dog + food = dog food)
Meaning
hundemat(dog food)
First Word
en jente(a girl)
Compound Word
jent + e + kveld = jentekveld(girls + night = girls' night)
Meaning
jentekveld(girls' night)
First Word
en hest(a horse)
Compound Word
hest + e + hale = hestehale(horse + tail = ponytail)
Meaning
hestehale(ponytail)
First Word
en jul(Christmas)
Compound Word
jul + e + tre = juletre(Christmas + tree = Christmas tree)
Meaning
juletre(Christmas tree)
| First Word | Compound Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
et barna child | barn + e + seng = barnesengchild + bed = crib | barnesengcrib / child's bed |
en hunda dog | hund + e + mat = hundematdog + food = dog food | hundematdog food |
en jentea girl | jent + e + kveld = jentekveldgirls + night = girls' night | jentekveldgirls' night |
en hesta horse | hest + e + hale = hestehalehorse + tail = ponytail | hestehaleponytail |
en julChristmas | jul + e + tre = juletreChristmas + tree = Christmas tree | juletreChristmas tree |