Svaret avgjør resultatet.

Because Norwegian usually puts the definite article on the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like the.

So here:

• svar → svaret = the answer
• resultat → resultatet = the result / the outcome

The ending -et is the definite singular ending for many neuter nouns.

The indefinite singular forms are:

• et svar = an answer
• et resultat = a result / an outcome

Both are et-words, which means they are neuter nouns. That is why the definite forms become svaret and resultatet.

The dictionary form is å avgjøre, which means to decide, to determine, or to settle.

In the sentence, avgjør is the present-tense form:

• å avgjøre = to determine
• avgjør = determines / decides

This verb is a little irregular, so learners often notice that the present tense is avgjør, not a more predictable form like avgjører.

In a normal main clause, Norwegian often uses the same basic order as English here:

subject + verb + object

So:

• Svaret = subject
• avgjør = verb
• resultatet = object

Norwegian is a verb-second language, which means the finite verb usually comes in the second position in main clauses. In this sentence, the subject comes first, so the sentence looks very similar to English.

Then the usual meaning changes to The result determines the answer.

In a plain, neutral sentence like this, the first noun phrase is normally understood as the subject. So word order is very important for understanding who is doing the action and what is being affected.

Grammatically, it is present tense, but Norwegian present tense is often used for general truths, rules, and even future-like meanings in the right context.

So this sentence can sound like:

• a general statement: The answer determines the outcome
• a context-based future meaning: The answer will determine the outcome

That is very similar to English.

Sometimes, but the nuance is slightly different.

• avgjør often means determines, settles, or decides the outcome
• bestemmer often means decides, chooses, or is in control of

In this sentence, avgjør is the more natural choice if you mean that the answer is what settles or determines the final result.

A rough English-friendly guide is ahv-YUR, but that is only approximate.

A few key points:

• gj before ø sounds roughly like y in yes
• ø is a vowel English does not really have; it is somewhat like the vowel in British bird, but with rounded lips
• the stress is on the gjør part

So avgjør is roughly av + gjør, with the second part carrying the main stress.