Kast den råtne fisken.

Kast is the imperative form of the verb å kaste (to throw).

So:

• å kaste = to throw
• kaster = throw/throws
• kastet = threw / thrown
• kast! = throw!

In commands, Norwegian usually uses the imperative without a subject:

• Kast den råtne fisken. = Throw the rotten fish.

Just like English says Throw it!, not To throw it!

Because this is a command. In Norwegian, as in English, the subject is usually left out in direct commands.

So:

• (Du) kast den råtne fisken. = You throw the rotten fish. / Throw the rotten fish.

The du is understood, so it is normally omitted.

This is because Norwegian normally uses double definiteness when a noun is definite and has an adjective in front of it.

So instead of saying just:

• råtne fisken

Norwegian prefers:

• den råtne fisken

This pattern is very common:

• den store bilen = the big car
• det gamle huset = the old house
• de røde eplene = the red apples

You have:

• den = the
• råtne = rotten
• fisken = the fish

Together: the rotten fish

That is exactly how double definiteness works in Norwegian.

The noun gets the definite ending:

• fisk = fish
• fisken = the fish

But when there is also an adjective, Norwegian usually adds a separate definite word too:

• den råtne fisken

So both parts help mark definiteness:

• den = definite marker before the adjective
• -en in fisken = definite ending on the noun

This may feel redundant to an English speaker, but it is normal Norwegian grammar.

Because adjectives often change form depending on how they are used.

The base adjective is råtten (rotten). But in a definite noun phrase like the rotten fish, the adjective usually takes the -e form:

• en råtten fisk = a rotten fish
• den råtne fisken = the rotten fish

So:

• råtten is the common indefinite singular form
• råtne is used here because the phrase is definite

This is a very common pattern:

• en stor bil = a big car
• den store bilen = the big car

Because the sentence means the rotten fish, not just rotten fish or a rotten fish.

Compare:

• fisk = fish / a fish
• en fisk = a fish
• fisken = the fish

So:

• Kast en råtten fisk. = Throw a rotten fish.
• Kast den råtne fisken. = Throw the rotten fish.

The sentence points to a specific fish, not just any fish.

Here it is singular.

• fisken = the fish (singular)

The plural would be different:

• fiskene = the fish (plural)

So:

• Kast den råtne fisken. = Throw the rotten fish.
• Kast de råtne fiskene. = Throw the rotten fish / Throw the rotten fishes.

In natural English, fish can be singular or plural depending on context, but in Norwegian the form makes the number clearer.

Because fisk is a common-gender noun in Norwegian:

• en fisk = a fish

Common-gender nouns use den in definite phrases with adjectives:

• den råtne fisken

If the noun were neuter, you would use det instead:

• et hus = a house
• det gamle huset = the old house

So the gender of fisk determines den.

Yes, but it means something slightly different.

• Kast fisken. = Throw the fish.
• Kast den råtne fisken. = Throw the rotten fish.

The second sentence includes extra information describing which fish you mean. So if there are several fish, den råtne fisken identifies the rotten one.

It is normal word order for a command:

• Verb + object

So:

• Kast = throw
• den råtne fisken = the rotten fish

This gives:

• Kast den råtne fisken.

In a regular statement, you would usually have a subject:

• Du kaster den råtne fisken. = You throw the rotten fish.

But in commands, Norwegian typically starts directly with the verb.

A simple approximation is:

• råtne ≈ ROHT-neh

A few notes:

• å sounds somewhat like the vowel in British law or more, though not exactly the same.
• The t is pronounced.
• The final e is usually pronounced as a clear eh sound, not silent.

So it is not like English rotten. It sounds more like rawt-neh, with a Norwegian å sound.

Usually yes, but like English throw, it can sometimes be used more broadly depending on context.

In this sentence, the most natural meaning is a direct command to get rid of the fish by throwing it away.

If you specifically want to emphasize throw away/discard, Norwegian can also use expressions like:

• Kast den råtne fisken i søpla. = Throw the rotten fish in the trash.
• Kast den råtne fisken ut. = Throw the rotten fish out.

So in this sentence, kast most naturally means throw away or discard.