Handelen øker.

Because handel is a noun, and -en is the usual definite singular ending for a masculine noun in Bokmål.

• en handel = an/one trade, a trade, commerce
• handelen = the trade, the commerce

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

That depends on the noun’s gender.

• masculine nouns usually take -en in the definite singular
• neuter nouns usually take -et

So since handel is masculine, you get handelen.

Norwegian often uses a singular collective noun where English might prefer a plural expression.

So handelen can refer to trade, commerce, business activity, or sales as a whole. It does not have to mean just one single trade. It can describe an entire area of economic activity.

Usually, Handelen øker is the more natural sentence.

Using bare handel without the definite ending sounds more abstract, like talking about trade as a concept in general. Handelen sounds more like the trade sector / commerce / business activity that is being discussed in context.

So:

• Handelen øker = natural in most ordinary contexts
• Handel øker = much less natural as a standalone sentence

Øker is the present tense of the verb å øke.

• å øke = to increase
• øker = increases / is increasing

A useful thing for learners: in Norwegian, the present tense form is the same for all persons.

• jeg øker
• du øker
• han/hun øker
• vi øker

There is no extra -s ending like English he increases.

It can mean either, depending on context.

Norwegian does not usually make the same strong grammar distinction that English makes between:

• increases
• is increasing

So Handelen øker can be understood as either a general present statement or something currently happening now. Context tells you which is meant.

Yes.

In Handelen øker, it is intransitive, meaning the subject changes by itself:

• Handelen øker = trade is increasing

But å øke can also be transitive, where something increases something else:

• Bedriften øker prisene = the company increases the prices

That is a very common pattern in Norwegian.

Handelen øker is the normal word order for a plain statement:

• subject + verb

So:

• Handelen = subject
• øker = verb

If you say Øker handelen?, that becomes a question: Is trade increasing?

Also remember that Norwegian main clauses follow the verb-second rule. For example:

• Handelen øker
• I år øker handelen

Even when another element comes first, the finite verb still stays in second position.

The letter ø is a front rounded vowel that English does not really have.

A rough way to approach it:

1. Say the vowel of bed
2. While keeping your tongue forward, round your lips

That gets you closer to ø.

So øker starts with that rounded vowel sound. If you know some other European languages, it is similar to:

• German ö
• French eu in some words

There is no perfect English equivalent, so it usually takes a bit of practice.