Uttrykket er vanlig.

The expression is common.

Breakdown of Uttrykket er vanlig.

• være: to be
• vanlig: common
• uttrykket: the expression

Questions & Answers about Uttrykket er vanlig.

Why is there no separate word for the in uttrykket?

Because Norwegian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun.

• et uttrykk = an expression / a phrase
• uttrykket = the expression / the phrase

So -et is the definite ending here. English uses a separate word (the), but Norwegian often attaches that meaning to the noun itself.

---

What is the base form of uttrykket?

The base form is uttrykk.

Its forms are:

• et uttrykk = an expression
• uttrykket = the expression
• uttrykk = expressions
• uttrykkene = the expressions

So in this sentence, uttrykket is the definite singular form.

---

What gender is uttrykk, and why does that matter?

Uttrykk is a neuter noun in Bokmål, so it takes:

• et in the indefinite singular: et uttrykk
• -et in the definite singular: uttrykket

That is why you do not say en uttrykk.

---

What does er mean here?