Publikumsinngangen er ved scenen.

Because Norwegian normally writes compound nouns as one word, where English often uses two or more.

So:

• publikum = audience / public
• inngang = entrance

Together they become publikumsinngang = audience entrance / public entrance

In the sentence, it appears as publikumsinngangen, which is the definite form: the audience entrance.

This is very common in Norwegian:

• togstasjon = train station
• barneskole = primary school
• bussjåfør = bus driver

If you split compounds incorrectly in Norwegian, it can look unnatural or even change the meaning.

The -s- is a linking element used in some Norwegian compounds.

Here the structure is:

• publikum
• -s-
• inngangen

So:

• publikumsinngang = audience entrance
• publikumsinngangen = the audience entrance

This -s- often feels a bit like an English possessive idea, as in the audience’s entrance, but in Norwegian it is just part of how some compounds are formed. It does not mean the noun is separately marked as possessive in the sentence.

You will see this in many compounds, but not all:

• arbeidsdag = workday
• byliv = city life
• dødsfall = death

Unfortunately, whether a compound takes a linking sound like -s- often has to be learned word by word.

Because inngangen is the definite singular form of inngang.

• en inngang = an entrance
• inngangen = the entrance

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

So:

• publikumsinngang = audience entrance
• publikumsinngangen = the audience entrance

In this sentence, the speaker is referring to a specific entrance, so the definite form is used.

For the same reason: scenen is the definite singular form of scene.

• en scene = a stage
• scenen = the stage

So:

• ved scene would sound incomplete or unnatural in this sentence
• ved scenen means by the stage or at the stage

Norwegian often uses the definite form where English also uses the.

Ved usually means by, near, beside, or sometimes at, depending on context.

In this sentence, ved scenen means something like:

• by the stage
• near the stage
• at the stage area

It does not usually mean directly on or inside the stage. It gives a sense of location next to or close to it.

Some examples:

• Hun sitter ved vinduet. = She is sitting by the window.
• Hotellet ligger ved stranden. = The hotel is by the beach.

Because Norwegian usually expresses the by adding an ending to the noun.

In this sentence:

• inngangen = the entrance
• scenen = the stage

This is one of the biggest differences from English. Instead of saying something like the entrance with a separate article, Norwegian often uses a suffix:

• en bil = a car
• bilen = the car

With feminine nouns in Bokmål, you may also see:

• ei bok = a book
• boka / boken = the book

So in Publikumsinngangen er ved scenen, both main nouns are definite through their endings.

This sentence has very straightforward Norwegian main-clause word order:

• Publikumsinngangen = subject
• er = verb
• ved scenen = place expression

So it is:

Subject + verb + adverbial

That is very similar to English:

• The audience entrance is by the stage.

Nothing unusual is happening here. It is a standard declarative sentence.

Yes, that is possible.

• er ved scenen = is by the stage
• ligger ved scenen = is located by the stage

Both are natural, but they can feel slightly different:

• er is more neutral and simple
• ligger emphasizes physical location a bit more

In signs, directions, or simple statements, er is often perfectly fine.

Publikum means the audience or the public, depending on context.

In publikumsinngangen, it refers to the entrance used by the audience or by visitors, not by performers or staff.

So the compound suggests a contrast such as:

• audience entrance
• stage door
• staff entrance

A useful thing to remember is that publikum is often treated as a collective noun, similar to English audience.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

poo-blee-KOOMS-inng-ang-en

A few helpful notes:

• u in publikum is not exactly like English oo, but oo is a useful approximation
• the ng in inngang sounds like the ng in sing
• Norwegian compounds usually have their main stress early in the word, often on the first part

You do not need perfect pronunciation right away, but it helps to hear native audio because long compounds can be hard to guess from spelling alone.

Yes, it is natural Norwegian.

Publikumsinngangen er ved scenen. sounds like a normal statement giving directions or location information.

Depending on context, a native speaker might also say things like:

• Inngangen for publikum er ved scenen.
• Publikumsinngangen ligger ved scenen.

These are slightly different in style, but your original sentence is completely normal and correct.