Sykkelpumpen virker.

Because Norwegian usually forms compound nouns as one word.

• sykkel = bicycle
• pumpe = pump

Together, sykkelpumpe means bicycle pump.
Then the definite ending is added:

• sykkelpumpe = a bicycle pump
• sykkelpumpen = the bicycle pump

So Norwegian prefers one combined noun, where English often uses two separate words.

The ending -en is the definite article for many masculine nouns in Norwegian. It means the.

So:

• en sykkelpumpe = a bicycle pump
• sykkelpumpen = the bicycle pump

Unlike English, Norwegian often puts the at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word before it.

Yes, it is normally treated as a masculine noun.

That is why you get:

• en sykkelpumpe = a bicycle pump
• sykkelpumpen = the bicycle pump

In Bokmål, many feminine nouns can also be treated as masculine, but sykkelpumpe is commonly masculine anyway.

Here, virker means works or is working.

The verb å virke can have several meanings depending on context, including:

• to work / function
• to seem / appear
• sometimes to have an effect

In Sykkelpumpen virker, the natural meaning is The bicycle pump works.

Because in Norwegian, the definite form is usually built into the noun itself.

Compare:

• English: the bicycle pump
• Norwegian: sykkelpumpen

The the idea is expressed by -en at the end.
So you do not normally say den sykkelpumpen unless you specifically mean something like that bicycle pump or want extra emphasis.

The word order is very simple:

• Sykkelpumpen = subject
• virker = verb

So it follows the normal pattern:

Subject + Verb

This is the same basic order as in English:

• The bicycle pump works.

Because virker already means works / is working in this context. Norwegian does not need a separate helping verb here.

Compare:

• English: The bicycle pump works
• Norwegian: Sykkelpumpen virker

If you wanted is with an adjective, that would be different:

• Sykkelpumpen er ny = The bicycle pump is new

But with virker, the full idea is already in the one verb.

A rough English-friendly guide is:

SIK-kel-PUM-pen

A few points:

• sykkel sounds roughly like SIK-kel
• pumpen sounds roughly like PUM-pen
• The y in sykkel does not sound exactly like English y. It is a rounded vowel that English speakers often need practice with.
• The stress is usually strongest near the first part of each element, especially SYK and PUM

A more accurate pronunciation depends on dialect, but that rough version is a useful start.

Yes. Å virke is a flexible verb.

For example:

• Det virker bra = It seems good / It appears good
• Han virker trøtt = He seems tired

But in Sykkelpumpen virker, the most natural reading is The bicycle pump works, because a pump is something that functions or does not function.

You would say:

Sykkelpumpen virker ikke.

Norwegian usually places ikke after the verb in a simple main clause like this:

• virker = works
• virker ikke = does not work

So:

• Sykkelpumpen virker. = The bicycle pump works.
• Sykkelpumpen virker ikke. = The bicycle pump does not work.

You would switch the order of the verb and the subject:

Virker sykkelpumpen?

This is a common way to form yes/no questions in Norwegian.

Compare:

• Sykkelpumpen virker. = The bicycle pump works.
• Virker sykkelpumpen? = Does the bicycle pump work?

Yes, if the context already makes it clear which pump you mean.

• Sykkelpumpen virker = The bicycle pump works
• Pumpen virker = The pump works

Using sykkelpumpen is more specific. Using pumpen is more general and depends more on context.