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Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vi støtter handelen. - We support trade.

Hardcore Norwegian
/Getting a hearing aid fitted
/Vi støtter handelen.

Vi støtter handelen.

Vi støtter handelen.

We support trade.

Breakdown of Vi støtter handelen.

commerce; trade

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Questions & Answers about Vi støtter handelen.

Why is it vi and not vi er?

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.

What does støtter mean, and what form is it?

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.

Why does handelen end in -en?

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

Why isn’t there a separate word for the?

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.

Is handel the same as store/shop?

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

What gender is handel, and does that matter here?

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.

Could this sentence also mean We support commerce?

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.

How do you pronounce Vi støtter handelen?

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.

What is the infinitive form of støtter?

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

Could I say Vi støtter handel without -en?

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.

Is the word order anything special here?

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

Can vi mean something broader than just we?

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.

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