Han skriver hilsenen.

In Norwegian, the definite article is usually added to the end of the noun instead of appearing as a separate word before it.

• hilsen = greeting
• hilsenen = the greeting

So -en is the definite ending here.

Because hilsen is a common gender noun in Norwegian. Common gender nouns usually take:

• en hilsen = a greeting
• hilsenen = the greeting

If it were a neuter noun, you would expect endings like et / -et instead.

The dictionary form is hilsen.

You would normally learn it as:

• en hilsen = a greeting

Then the definite singular form is made by adding -en:

• hilsenen = the greeting

skriver is the present tense of å skrive, which means to write.

So han skriver can mean:

• he writes
• he is writing

Norwegian often uses the same present-tense form for both ideas, and the context tells you which one is meant.

Norwegian does not usually separate the simple present and present continuous the way English does.

So:

• Han skriver can mean He writes or He is writing

If needed, Norwegian can use extra wording to emphasize an ongoing action, but in ordinary sentences the simple present often covers both meanings.

This is the normal basic word order for a main clause in Norwegian:

• subject + verb + object

So here:

• Han = subject
• skriver = verb
• hilsenen = object

That gives Han skriver hilsenen.

Han means he.

It is the subject pronoun used for a male person or sometimes for a masculine personal reference in context. In this sentence, it is simply the subject: he.

Related pronouns:

• jeg = I
• du = you
• hun = she
• vi = we
• de = they

Yes, it is grammatically natural. Hilsen can mean a greeting, regards, or a salutation, depending on context.

For example, it can refer to:

• a spoken greeting
• a written greeting in a card or letter
• a message of greeting sent to someone

So Han skriver hilsenen suggests that he is writing the greeting or salutation.

You would say:

• en hilsen = a greeting

So compare:

• Han skriver en hilsen = He is writing a greeting
• Han skriver hilsenen = He is writing the greeting

You usually place ikke after the verb in a simple main clause:

• Han skriver ikke hilsenen. = He is not writing the greeting.

So the pattern is:

• Han
  • skriver
    • ikke
      • hilsenen

In Norwegian main-clause questions, the verb usually comes before the subject:

• Skriver han hilsenen? = Is he writing the greeting? / Does he write the greeting?

This is a common pattern in Norwegian yes/no questions.

A rough guide for an English speaker is:

• Han ≈ hahn
• skriver ≈ SKREE-ver
• hilsenen ≈ HIL-se-nen

A few useful notes:

• sk before r is pronounced as a hard sk
• i in skriver is a long ee sound
• the r sound can vary by dialect

Pronunciation differs across Norway, but this approximation is good enough for a beginner.