Hørselstesten begynner nå.

Because Norwegian usually writes compound nouns as a single word.

So English hearing test becomes Norwegian hørselstest, not two separate words.

This is very common in Norwegian:

• bok
  • handel → bokhandel = bookshop
• språk
  • kurs → språkkurs = language course

Then hørselstest can take a definite ending:

• en hørselstest = a hearing test
• hørselstesten = the hearing test

It can be broken down like this:

• hørsel = hearing
• test = test
• -en = the definite ending for a masculine noun

So:

• hørselstest = hearing test
• hørselstesten = the hearing test

You may also notice the -s- inside the compound: hørsels-test. This is a common linking sound in Norwegian compounds. It does not usually change the basic meaning; it just helps form the compound.

In Norwegian, the is often attached to the end of the noun instead of standing alone in front.

So:

• en test = a test
• testen = the test

And in this sentence:

• hørselstesten = the hearing test

This is one of the big differences from English.

A separate determiner like den is usually added when there is an adjective:

• testen = the test
• den nye testen = the new test

Begynner is the present tense of begynne, which means to begin.

Examples:

• å begynne = to begin
• begynner = begin / begins / is beginning

In Norwegian, the present tense is often used where English might use either:

• begins
• is beginning
• sometimes even a near-future sense like is about to begin

So Hørselstesten begynner nå can naturally mean:

• The hearing test begins now
• The hearing test is beginning now

That is a very normal word order in Norwegian.

The basic pattern here is:

• subject: Hørselstesten
• verb: begynner
• time word/adverb: nå

So:

• Hørselstesten begynner nå.

You can also move nå to the front for emphasis:

• Nå begynner hørselstesten.

When something other than the subject comes first in a main clause, Norwegian usually keeps the verb in second position. That is why you get:

• Nå begynner hørselstesten not
• Nå hørselstesten begynner

It is normally treated as a masculine noun in Bokmål:

• en hørselstest = a hearing test
• hørselstesten = the hearing test

That matches the definite ending -en in the sentence.

A useful thing to remember is that the last part of a compound usually determines its gender. Since test is masculine, hørselstest is masculine too.

Yes, that would also sound natural.

• begynner = begins
• starter = starts

In many everyday situations, they are very close in meaning.

So both are fine:

• Hørselstesten begynner nå.
• Hørselstesten starter nå.

Begynner may sound a little more neutral or general, while starter can sound slightly more like something is being launched or set in motion, but in this context the difference is small.

It is neutral standard Norwegian.

It sounds like something you might hear:

• in a clinic
• in a school
• during a recorded announcement
• from a person giving instructions

It is not especially formal, but it is clear and standard.

A few key pronunciation points:

• ø in hørsel- is a rounded vowel that English does not really have. It is similar to the vowel in French peur or German hören.
• y in begynner is also a sound English does not have. It is similar to French u or German ü.
• å in nå sounds roughly like the vowel in law for many English speakers.

A rough learner-friendly guide might be:

• HØR-sel-steh-sten
• beh-YUN-ner or beh-GYUN-ner depending on how carefully you are approximating it
• noh

The most important thing is to learn the vowels ø, y, and å, because they carry a lot of meaning in Norwegian.

It can mean both, depending on context.

Norwegian does not use a progressive form like English is starting as often as English does. The simple present often covers both ideas.

So this sentence can work as:

• an announcement that something starts at this moment
• a statement that the process is now getting underway

In other words, Norwegian is being a bit broader here than English grammar often is.