Fotokurset begynner i dag.

In Norwegian, compound nouns are normally written as one word. So fotokurs means photo course / photography course, and fotokurset means the photo course.

This is very common in Norwegian:

• fotokurs = photo course
• språkkurs = language course
• sommerkurs = summer course

English often uses separate words where Norwegian prefers a compound.

The ending -et marks the noun as definite singular for a neuter noun.

So:

• et fotokurs = a photo course
• fotokurset = the photo course

Unlike English, Norwegian usually adds the definite article to the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like the.

You learn it from the indefinite form: et fotokurs. The article et tells you it is neuter.

Norwegian nouns have grammatical gender:

• en for many masculine/feminine nouns
• et for neuter nouns

Because it is et fotokurs, the definite form becomes fotokurset.

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

So:

• a course = et kurs
• the course = kurset

In this sentence, fotokurset already means the photo course, so no separate word is needed.

Begynner is the present tense of the verb å begynne (to begin).

Examples:

• å begynne = to begin
• begynner = begin / begins / am beginning / is beginning / are beginning, depending on context

Norwegian verbs do not change form for different persons:

• jeg begynner
• du begynner
• han begynner
• vi begynner

The verb form stays the same.

Yes. Norwegian present tense often covers both the simple present and the present progressive, depending on context.

So begynner can correspond to:

• begins
• is beginning

In this sentence, English would most naturally be begins today or starts today.

Often, yes. Å starte and å begynne can both mean to start / to begin, and in many everyday contexts they overlap.

For example:

• Fotokurset begynner i dag.
• Fotokurset starter i dag.

Both are natural.

Very roughly:

• begynne = begin
• starte = start

But in common speech, both are frequently used for courses, events, work, school, and so on.

Because i dag is a fixed expression meaning today.

Literally:

• i = in
• dag = day

But together i dag means today.

Other useful time expressions are similar:

• i morgen = tomorrow
• i går = yesterday

Both are correct. The difference is mainly focus.

• Fotokurset begynner i dag.
  This starts with the subject, so it feels neutral: The photo course begins today.

• I dag begynner fotokurset.
  This puts emphasis on today: Today, the photo course begins.

Norwegian follows a verb-second pattern in main clauses. That means if you move i dag to the front, the verb usually comes next:

• I dag begynner fotokurset.

Not:

• I dag fotokurset begynner.

Yes. Fotokurset is the subject, and begynner is the verb.

So the sentence structure is:

• Fotokurset = subject
• begynner = verb
• i dag = time expression

This is a very typical Norwegian sentence pattern.

A simple learner-friendly approximation is:

FOO-toh-kur-set buh-YNN-er ee dahg

A few notes:

• foto sounds roughly like FOO-toh
• kurs has a u sound that is not exactly like English oo or ir, so learners often need practice with it
• begynner has the Norwegian y, which does not exist in standard English
• dag has a long vowel in careful speech

You do not need perfect pronunciation at first; focus on hearing the rhythm and recognizing the words.

Because Norwegian does not use an extra helping verb here. The main verb begynner is enough.

English sometimes uses:

• The course begins today
• The course is beginning today

Norwegian simply uses:

• Fotokurset begynner i dag

So the sentence is grammatically complete with just one verb.

You would use the indefinite form:

Et fotokurs begynner i dag.

Compare:

• Et fotokurs = a photography course
• Fotokurset = the photography course

So the main change is definite vs. indefinite:

• et fotokurs
• fotokurset