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Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Klatregrepet er grønt. - The climbing hold is green.

Hardcore Norwegian
/Trying indoor bouldering with friends
/Klatregrepet er grønt.

Klatregrepet er grønt.

Klatregrepet er grønt.

The climbing hold is green.

Breakdown of Klatregrepet er grønt.

the climbing hold

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Questions & Answers about Klatregrepet er grønt.

Why is klatregrepet written as one word?

Because Norwegian usually writes compound nouns as a single word.

Here, klatregrepet comes from:

klatre = climb
grep = grip, hold

So the basic noun is klatregrep = climbing hold.

This is very common in Norwegian. Where English often uses two words, Norwegian often uses one compound word.

Where is the word for the?

It is built into the end of the noun.

The base form is:

et klatregrep = a climbing hold

The definite form is:

klatregrepet = the climbing hold

The ending -et is the neuter singular definite ending. So Norwegian often expresses the by adding an ending to the noun instead of using a separate word.

What is the gender of klatregrep, and how do we know?

Klatregrep is a neuter noun, so its indefinite form is et klatregrep.

We know this because in Norwegian compounds, the last part usually decides the gender and inflection. The last part here is grep, and grep is neuter:

et grep
grepet

So the compound follows the same pattern:

et klatregrep
klatregrepet

Why is the adjective grønt and not grønn?

Because the noun it refers to is neuter singular.

In Norwegian, adjectives agree with the noun in gender and number. With grønn, the main forms are:

grønn for common gender singular
grønt for neuter singular
grønne for plural

So:

Bilen er grønn = the car is green
Huset er grønt = the house is green
Bilene er grønne = the cars are green

Since klatregrepet is neuter singular, grønt is the correct form.

Why isn't it grønne, since klatregrepet is definite?

Because grønt here is a predicative adjective: it comes after er and describes the subject.

Predicative adjectives in Norwegian agree with gender and number, but not with definiteness.

So:

det grønne klatregrepet = the green climbing hold
- adjective before the noun
- definite form grønne

but:

klatregrepet er grønt = the climbing hold is green
- adjective after er
- neuter singular form grønt

This is a very common pattern in Norwegian.

How would I say a climbing hold is green instead?

You would say:

Et klatregrep er grønt.

That is the same sentence pattern, but now the noun is indefinite:

et klatregrep = a climbing hold
er grønt = is green

How would I say the climbing holds are green?

You would say:

Klatregrepene er grønne.

Here both the noun and the adjective change:

klatregrepene = the climbing holds
grønne = green, plural form

So the singular/plural contrast is:

Klatregrepet er grønt. = the climbing hold is green
Klatregrepene er grønne. = the climbing holds are green

How would I say the green climbing hold instead of The climbing hold is green?

Then you need the adjective before the noun:

det grønne klatregrepet = the green climbing hold

Compare:

Klatregrepet er grønt. = The climbing hold is green.
Det grønne klatregrepet = the green climbing hold

So the first is a full sentence, while the second is just a noun phrase.

Is klatre still acting like a verb here?

Not really. It comes from the verb å klatre, but inside klatregrep it is simply the first part of a compound noun.

So in this sentence, the whole word klatregrepet is a noun, and klatre is not being conjugated or used as a verb by itself.

How is grønt pronounced?

The tricky part is the vowel ø. It does not have an exact English equivalent.

A rough guide:

grønt is approximately /ɡrœnt/
the ø is somewhat like the vowel in bird, but with rounded lips
the final t is pronounced

A rough English-style approximation might be grurnt, but that is only approximate.

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