Han unngår straffen.

• Han = he
• unngår = avoids
• straffen = the punishment or, in some contexts, the sentence

So the sentence is literally He avoids the punishment.

Unngå is the infinitive form, equivalent to to avoid.

In Han unngår straffen, the verb is conjugated for the present tense:

• å unngå = to avoid
• unngår = avoids / is avoiding

So after a subject like han, you need the finite verb form:

• Han unngår straffen = He avoids the punishment

Not:

• Han unngå straffen

Yes, it is irregular.

Some useful forms are:

• infinitive: å unngå
• present: unngår
• past: unngikk
• past participle: unngått

Examples:

• Han unngår straffen. = He avoids the punishment.
• Han unngikk straffen. = He avoided the punishment.
• Han har unngått straffen. = He has avoided the punishment.

Because straffen is the definite form, meaning the punishment.

In Norwegian, definiteness is often added as an ending:

• en straff = a punishment
• straffen = the punishment

So:

• Han unngår straff can mean He avoids punishment in a more general sense
• Han unngår straffen means He avoids the punishment, referring to a specific punishment

Straff is a masculine noun in Bokmål.

Its forms are:

• en straff = a punishment
• straffen = the punishment
• straffer = punishments
• straffene = the punishments

Because it is masculine, the definite singular ends in -en.

Yes, depending on context.

Most basically, straff means punishment. But in legal contexts, it can also refer to a sentence or penalty imposed by the law.

So Han unngår straffen could mean:

• He avoids the punishment
• He avoids the sentence

The exact meaning depends on the situation.

This is the normal Norwegian word order for a simple statement:

subject + verb + object

• Han = subject
• unngår = verb
• straffen = object

So:

• Han unngår straffen.

This is very similar to English:

• He avoids the punishment.

You would say:

Han unngår ikke straffen.

In a normal main clause, ikke usually comes after the finite verb:

• Han = subject
• unngår = finite verb
• ikke = not
• straffen = object

So the pattern is: subject + verb + ikke + object

A learner-friendly approximation is something like UNN-gor.

A few things to notice:

• å is pronounced like a long vowel somewhat similar to the vowel in British law
• the r is pronounced in Norwegian, though how strongly depends on dialect
• unngå and unngår are spoken smoothly, without stressing every letter separately

If you are learning Bokmål, remember that spelling does not always map perfectly to English-style pronunciation, so it helps to hear native audio.

Norwegian present tense often covers both simple present and present progressive meanings.

So Han unngår straffen can mean:

• He avoids the punishment
• He is avoiding the punishment

The exact English translation depends on context. Norwegian usually does not need a separate form like English is avoiding.

You can say Han slipper straffen, but it is not exactly the same.

• Han unngår straffen = He avoids the punishment
• Han slipper straffen = He escapes / gets off from the punishment

The difference is subtle:

• unngår focuses on avoiding it
• slipper often suggests that he is let off, escapes it, or does not have to face it

In many contexts they are close, but not always fully interchangeable.