Bløffen virker.

-en is the usual definite ending for many masculine nouns in Norwegian, so bløffen means the bluff.

• en bløff = a bluff
• bløffen = the bluff

In this sentence, Norwegian uses the definite form because it is talking about a specific bluff: the bluff works.

Bløffen is a noun. The base word is bløff, and here it appears in the singular definite form.

So the structure is:

• bløff = noun stem
• -en = definite ending

Together: bløffen = the bluff

Virker is the present tense of the verb å virke.

So:

• å virke = to work / to have an effect / to seem depending on context
• virker = works / is working / seems

In Bløffen virker, it means something like works or is effective, not seems.

Norwegian usually does not use a helping verb like do/does in ordinary present-tense statements.

English:

• The bluff works

Norwegian:

• Bløffen virker

That is a complete sentence by itself. Norwegian present tense is often simpler than English in this way.

No. Å virke is very flexible. It can mean:

• to function
• to work
• to have an effect
• to seem

In Bløffen virker, it means the bluff is effective or the bluff works. So it is about the bluff having the intended effect, not about a physical object functioning.

Sometimes, but virker is more natural here.

• fungerer often suggests functions properly
• virker can mean has the desired effect

A bluff is not really a machine or system, so Bløffen virker sounds more idiomatic for the bluff works.

A rough guide is:

• bløff sounds a bit like bluff, but with the Norwegian ø, which is not the same as English u
• -en is a short ending, roughly like -en in taken, but shorter and lighter

Very roughly: BLUFF-en, but with Norwegian ø instead of English u.

The hardest sound for English speakers is usually ø. It is a front rounded vowel, somewhat similar to the vowel in French deux or German schön.

It is capitalized because it is the first word of the sentence, not because it is a noun.

Unlike German, Norwegian does not capitalize all nouns.

So:

• Bløffen virker.
• Jeg tror bløffen virker.

In the second sentence, bløffen is not capitalized because it is no longer sentence-initial.

This is the normal Norwegian pattern:

• subject + verb

So:

• Bløffen = subject
• virker = verb

That gives:

• Bløffen virker.

It is a very basic declarative sentence, similar to English The bluff works.

Yes. Depending on context, bløff can refer to:

• a bluff
• a deception
• a fake
• a hoax
• empty talk or something not genuine

So Bløffen virker could, in the right context, mean that a trick, deception, or false claim is successfully fooling people. The exact nuance depends on the situation.