Dybdeskarpheten er liten.

Because Norwegian normally writes compound nouns as a single word.

dybdeskarpheten can be broken down like this:

• dybde = depth
• -s- = a linking sound often used in compounds
• skarphet = sharpness
• -en = the definite ending, meaning the

So the whole word literally looks something like the depth-sharpness, which is how Norwegian expresses the depth of field.

It is attached to the end of the noun as -en.

Norwegian often puts the definite article on the noun itself:

• en bil = a car
• bilen = the car

In the same way:

• dybdeskarphet = depth of field
• dybdeskarpheten = the depth of field

So there is no separate word for the here.

Because liten is the correct form of the adjective for a singular common-gender noun used after er.

Here is the agreement:

• liten = singular common gender
• lite = singular neuter
• små = plural

dybdeskarphet is a common-gender noun, so the correct form is liten.

Why not lille? Because lille is usually used before a definite noun, not after er:

• den lille bilen = the small car
• bilen er liten = the car is small

So even though dybdeskarpheten is definite, the predicate adjective after er is still liten, not lille.

Yes. This is a normal and natural way to say it in Norwegian.

English often uses shallow with depth of field, but Norwegian commonly uses liten:

• liten dybdeskarphet = shallow depth of field

So this is a good example of how two languages may choose different adjectives for the same idea.

Because er is the present tense of å være and means is.

The sentence is simply describing a state:

• Dybdeskarpheten er liten. = The depth of field is small/shallow.

If you used blir instead, the meaning would change to becomes or is getting:

• Dybdeskarpheten blir liten. = The depth of field is becoming small.

A rough guide is:

DYB-de-skarp-he-ten

A few helpful points:

• The main stress is on the first syllable: DYB-
• The y is not like English y; it is closer to the vowel in French u or German ü
• skarp is pronounced much like it looks
• The ending -en is unstressed

If pronunciation matters a lot to you, this is definitely a word worth listening to from a native speaker, because the vowel in dybde can be tricky for English speakers.

To make it a yes/no question, put the verb first:

• Er dybdeskarpheten liten? = Is the depth of field small/shallow?

To make it negative, add ikke after the verb:

• Dybdeskarpheten er ikke liten. = The depth of field is not small/shallow.

The indefinite form is dybdeskarphet.

So:

• dybdeskarphet = depth of field
• dybdeskarpheten = the depth of field

Because this is an abstract/technical noun, Norwegian often uses the bare indefinite form when speaking generally:

• Dybdeskarphet er viktig i fotografering. = Depth of field is important in photography.

But when referring to a specific one, you use the definite form:

• Dybdeskarpheten er liten. = The depth of field is small/shallow.