Vi støtter handelen.

Because støtter is already the main verb: to support.

So:

• Vi støtter handelen = We support the trade
• Vi er = We are

In Norwegian, you only use er when to be is actually the verb you need. Here, the action is support, so støtter does the job by itself.

Støtter means support or supports.

It is the present tense of the verb å støtte = to support.

Examples:

• Jeg støtter = I support
• Du støtter = You support
• Vi støtter = We support

A useful thing to know is that Norwegian verbs usually do not change depending on the subject the way English verbs do. So the same støtter works with jeg, du, vi, de, and so on.

Because handelen is the definite singular form of handel.

• handel = trade, commerce, trading (indefinite)
• handelen = the trade (definite)

In Norwegian, the definite article is often attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word like English the.

So:

• en handel = a trade
• handelen = the trade

Because in Norwegian, the is usually built into the noun.

Instead of saying a separate word like English the trade, Norwegian often says:

• handel = trade
• handelen = the trade

This is very common in Norwegian:

• bil = car
• bilen = the car
• bok = book
• boka / boken = the book

So handelen already includes the meaning of the trade.

Not exactly. Handel usually means trade, commerce, or business activity involving buying and selling.

It can sometimes relate to shopping or commercial activity, but in this sentence handelen most naturally means the trade or commerce, not a physical shop.

For shop/store, Norwegian more commonly uses:

• butikk = shop/store

So:

• Vi støtter handelen = We support trade / the trade
• not We support the shop

Handel is typically a masculine noun:

• en handel
• handelen

Yes, gender matters because it affects the indefinite article and the definite ending.

For masculine nouns:

• indefinite singular: often en
• definite singular: often -en

That is why you get handelen.

Yes, depending on context.

Handelen can be translated in different ways in English, such as:

• the trade
• trade
• commerce
• sometimes business activity

The best English translation depends on the wider context. If this is about economics, policy, or international business, We support trade or We support commerce could both fit well.

A simple learner-friendly guide would be something like:

• Vi ≈ vee
• støtter ≈ STUHT-ter with a rounded vowel that does not exist naturally in English
• handelen ≈ HAN-del-en

A few pronunciation notes:

• ø is a special Norwegian vowel. It is not the same as English o.
• The tt in støtter is pronounced as a clear t sound.
• The final -en in handelen is usually unstressed.

If you want a rough full approximation:

• Vee STUHT-ter HAN-del-en

But the hardest part for English speakers is definitely ø.

The infinitive is å støtte = to support.

Some useful forms are:

• å støtte = to support
• støtter = support / supports
• støttet = supported / has supported in certain constructions

So this sentence uses the present tense form:

• Vi støtter = We support

Yes, but it changes the feel and meaning slightly.

• Vi støtter handelen = We support the trade / We support trade with a more definite or specific sense
• Vi støtter handel = We support trade in a more general sense

In real usage, context decides which sounds more natural. The version with handelen may sound like it refers to trade as a known sector, system, or activity already being discussed.

No, this is normal Norwegian word order for a simple main clause:

• Vi = subject
• støtter = verb
• handelen = object

So it follows the common pattern:

Subject + Verb + Object

Exactly like English:

• We support the trade

Yes. Vi usually means we, but exactly who is included depends on context.

It could mean:

• we as a group
• we as a company
• we as a government
• we as a country
• we as an organization

So in a sentence like Vi støtter handelen, vi could refer to many different kinds of groups depending on who is speaking.