Padlevesten sitter godt.

Because Norwegian usually writes compound nouns as a single word.

So:

• padle = paddle
• vest = vest

Together they form padlevest = paddling vest.

Then padlevesten is the definite form: the paddling vest.

This is very normal in Norwegian. English often uses two words where Norwegian uses one.

The ending -en marks the definite singular for many masculine nouns in Bokmål.

• en vest = a vest
• vesten = the vest

The same happens with the whole compound:

• en padlevest = a paddling vest
• padlevesten = the paddling vest

So Norwegian often puts the at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like English does.

In Norwegian, sitte is often used about how something is positioned or how clothing fits on the body.

So Padlevesten sitter godt does not mean the vest is literally sitting down. It means something like:

• The paddling vest fits well
• The paddling vest sits well
• The paddling vest feels secure / comfortable

This use of sitte is very common with clothes and equipment:

• Jakka sitter bra. = The jacket fits well.
• Brillene sitter godt. = The glasses sit/fit well.

Here godt means well.

It comes from the adjective god = good, but in this sentence it is used adverbially, describing how the vest sits.

• god = good
• godt = well / nicely

So:

• Padlevesten sitter godt = The paddling vest fits well.

This is similar to English good vs well, even though the details are not always exactly the same.

Not quite.

They are similar, but there is a difference in focus:

• sitter godt = it sits well on the body; it feels right when worn
• passer godt = it fits / is suitable / is the right size

For clothing and gear, sitter godt often emphasizes comfort, position, and how it stays on you.

A vest might:

• passe = be the correct size
• but not sitte godt = not feel secure or comfortable when you wear it

So in this sentence, sitter godt is a very natural choice.

Yes, that is the literal translation, and it helps show how Norwegian is built.

But in natural English, you would usually say:

• The paddling vest fits well
• The paddling vest feels comfortable
• The paddling vest sits well (possible, but less common depending on context)

So the literal translation is useful for learning, but the most natural English version is usually fits well.

The basic order is:

• Padlevesten = subject
• sitter = verb
• godt = adverb

So it follows the normal Norwegian pattern for a simple statement:

subject + verb + adverb

Norwegian main clauses also follow the V2 rule, which means the finite verb normally stays in the second position. For example:

• Padlevesten sitter godt.
• I dag sitter padlevesten godt.

Notice that in the second sentence, when I dag comes first, sitter still stays in second position.

You would use the indefinite form:

• En padlevest sitter godt.

Compare:

• En padlevest = a paddling vest
• Padlevesten = the paddling vest

So the sentence changes like this:

• En padlevest sitter godt. = A paddling vest fits well.
• Padlevesten sitter godt. = The paddling vest fits well.

This is a useful contrast to learn, because Norwegian marks definiteness directly on the noun.