Mannen er døv.

Because -en is the definite ending in Norwegian here.

• mann = man
• mannen = the man

So Norwegian often puts the onto the end of the noun instead of using a separate word in front.

In Norwegian, the definite article is usually attached to the noun as a suffix.

So:

• en mann = a man
• mannen = the man

That is why you do not say the mannen or add another separate word here.

A separate definite word can appear when there is an adjective before the noun:

• den døve mannen = the deaf man

This is a very common Norwegian pattern.

Er means is / am / are. It is the present tense of å være = to be.

One useful thing for English speakers: in the present tense, Norwegian does not change this verb for different persons.

• jeg er = I am
• du er = you are
• han er = he is
• vi er = we are

So er stays the same.

Here døv is a predicative adjective: it comes after er and describes the subject.

With a singular common-gender noun like mannen, the basic form is used:

• Mannen er døv. = The man is deaf.

Norwegian adjectives can change, but here the form is correct because:

• common gender singular: døv
• neuter singular: døvt
• plural: døve

For example:

• Barnet er døvt. = The child is deaf.
• Mennene er døve. = The men are deaf.

So døv matches mannen correctly.

That would be:

• en døv mann = a deaf man

This is different from Mannen er døv, because now the adjective is before the noun instead of after er.

Compare:

• Mannen er døv. = The man is deaf.
• en døv mann = a deaf man

And if you want the deaf man, Norwegian uses both a separate definite word and the definite noun ending:

• den døve mannen = the deaf man

Notice that the adjective changes to døve when it stands before a definite noun.

Yes, in this sentence it is very similar to English:

• Mannen = subject
• er = verb
• døv = adjective/complement

So the pattern is:

Subject + verb + adjective

However, Norwegian main clauses generally follow the verb-second rule, which means the finite verb usually comes in the second position. In a simple sentence like this, that gives the same order as English.

The hardest part for many English speakers is ø.

døv

Approximate pronunciation: durveh is not right; it is closer to a single syllable like döv.

A better guide:

• start with d
• make a vowel with your tongue in an eh position
• round your lips as if saying oo
• finish with v

There is no exact English equivalent for ø.

If you know other languages, it is similar to:

• French eu in deux
• German ö in schön

mannen

This is roughly MAHN-nen, with a clear n-n sound.

The noun and adjective both change:

• Mennene er døve. = The men are deaf.

Here:

• mannen → mennene (the man → the men)
• døv → døve because the subject is plural

So this sentence is a good example of adjective agreement in Norwegian.

By itself, mannen usually means the man.

But mann can also relate to husband in some contexts, especially in phrases like:

• mannen min = my husband

So:

• Mannen er døv. will normally be understood as The man is deaf
• but in the right context, mannen could refer to the husband

Context decides the meaning.