Padlekurset begynner i dag.

Because Norwegian usually forms compound nouns by joining words together.

Here, padlekurset is made from:

• padle = paddle
• kurs = course
• -et = the

So the basic noun is padlekurs = paddling course, and padlekurset = the paddling course.

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

-et is the definite ending for a neuter noun in the singular.

The noun here is et kurs = a course.
When it becomes definite, kurs becomes kurset = the course.

So:

• et padlekurs = a paddling course
• padlekurset = the paddling course

In Norwegian, the definite article is often attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word like English the.

Because in Norwegian, the is usually built into the noun as an ending.

English:

• the course

Norwegian:

• kurset

So instead of a separate article before the noun, Norwegian often adds a definite ending:

• en bil = a car

• bilen = the car

• et hus = a house
• huset = the house

That is what is happening in padlekurset.

Because Norwegian often uses the present tense for something happening now or in the near future, just like English can.

Begynner is the present tense of å begynne = to begin.

So Padlekurset begynner i dag literally has a present-tense verb, but it naturally refers to an event that starts today.

This is normal Norwegian usage.

Yes, absolutely.

Both begynner and starter can work here.

• begynner = begins / starts
• starter = starts

In many situations they are interchangeable.
Begynner can sound a little more general, while starter can sometimes feel a little more direct or concrete, but in this sentence both are natural.

The infinitive is å begynne = to begin.

A few useful forms are:

• å begynne = to begin
• begynner = begin / begins
• begynte = began
• har begynt = have/has begun

So in the sentence, begynner is the present-tense form.

Norwegian often expresses today as i dag, which literally means in day or more naturally today.

This is the standard everyday expression.

Examples:

• Jeg jobber i dag. = I’m working today.
• Vi reiser i dag. = We are travelling today.

So i dag is simply the normal way to say today.

Yes. You can say:

I dag begynner padlekurset.

That is also correct.

When a time expression comes first in a Norwegian main clause, the verb usually stays in second position. That is why you get:

• Padlekurset begynner i dag.
• I dag begynner padlekurset.

You do not say I dag padlekurset begynner in a normal main clause.

Yes. It follows the basic pattern:

subject + verb + time expression

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

This is a very standard and natural sentence structure in Norwegian.

A helpful approximate pronunciation is:

PAHD-leh-koor-set

A few notes:

• padle has a clear d+l sequence, though in natural speech it may sound smoother than an English speaker expects.
• u in kurs is not exactly like English oo, but koors is a decent rough guide.
• The r is Norwegian, so it may sound different depending on the speaker’s accent.

The stress is mainly at the start of the compound: PAD-le-kur-set.

By itself, å padle is a verb meaning to paddle.

But in padlekurs, padle is being used as the first part of a compound noun. This is very common in Norwegian.

So:

• å padle = to paddle
• et padlekurs = a paddling course

English does something similar in phrases like swimming lesson or driving school, where a verb-related idea becomes part of a noun phrase.

No. It is very common at the end, but it can also appear first for emphasis or style.

Both are natural:

• Padlekurset begynner i dag.
• I dag begynner padlekurset.

The first is a neutral statement.
The second puts more focus on today.

This sentence is standard Bokmål.

In Nynorsk, you would more likely see:

Padlekurset byrjar i dag.

The meaning is the same, but the verb form is different:

• Bokmål: begynner
• Nynorsk: byrjar