Omstendighetene er vanskelige.

Omstendighetene is the definite plural form of omstendighet (circumstance).

• en omstendighet = a circumstance
• omstendigheter = circumstances
• omstendighetene = the circumstances

Norwegian often uses the definite form where English may or may not use the, depending on context. In this sentence, omstendighetene means the circumstances.

The singular form is:

• en omstendighet = a circumstance
• omstendigheten = the circumstance

So the full pattern is:

• singular indefinite: en omstendighet
• singular definite: omstendigheten
• plural indefinite: omstendigheter
• plural definite: omstendighetene

Er is the present tense of å være (to be).

So:

• jeg er = I am
• du er = you are
• han/hun er = he/she is
• de er = they are

In Omstendighetene er vanskelige, er links the subject and the adjective, just like are in English.

Because the noun is plural.

In Norwegian, adjectives often change form depending on what they describe. Here, omstendighetene is plural, so the adjective also takes a plural form:

• en vanskelig omstendighet = a difficult circumstance
• omstendighetene er vanskelige = the circumstances are difficult

This -e ending is very common for adjectives used with plural nouns.

Yes, in standard Norwegian that would be wrong here.

Since omstendighetene is plural, the adjective should also be plural:

• correct: Omstendighetene er vanskelige
• incorrect: Omstendighetene er vanskelig

The form vanskelig is used with singular neuter nouns or sometimes as a general predicate in other constructions, but not with this plural subject.

Yes, but it is a bit more formal or abstract than some very basic everyday vocabulary.

You will often see or hear it in expressions like:

• under de rådende omstendighetene = under the current circumstances
• på grunn av omstendighetene = because of the circumstances

In casual conversation, Norwegians may also use other wording depending on the situation, but omstendigheter is absolutely a normal and useful word.

Vanskelig means difficult or hard. It is a very common adjective.

Some forms:

• vanskelig = difficult
• vanskelige = difficult (plural / definite contexts)
• vanskeligere = more difficult
• vanskeligst = most difficult

Examples:

• Dette er vanskelig. = This is difficult.
• Spørsmålene er vanskelige. = The questions are difficult.

In singular, you could say:

• Omstendigheten er vanskelig. = The circumstance is difficult.

Or with an indefinite noun:

• En omstendighet er vanskelig. = A circumstance is difficult.

But in natural usage, people are often more likely to talk about circumstances in the plural, because that is a more idiomatic idea in both Norwegian and English.

The word order is very straightforward:

• Omstendighetene = subject
• er = verb
• vanskelige = predicate adjective

So it follows the common Norwegian pattern:

subject + verb + complement

Just like:

• Huset er stort. = The house is big.
• Barna er trøtte. = The children are tired.

A rough learner-friendly guide is:

OM-sten-di-he-te-ne

A few tips:

• the stress is usually near the beginning
• the g in -het is not there; the word contains -dig-
• the ending -ene is the common definite plural ending

If you are learning pronunciation, it helps to notice the structure:

omstendig + het + ene

That is not how learners need to memorize it, but it can help you hear the parts.

Yes, that is a perfectly good word-for-word translation.

Structure:

• Omstendighetene = the circumstances
• er = are
• vanskelige = difficult

So the sentence matches English very closely in structure and meaning.

Possibly, depending on context, but not literally.

The literal meaning is The circumstances are difficult. In real translation, English sometimes prefers The situation is difficult if that sounds more natural in context. But if you are learning the Norwegian sentence itself, it is best to understand it first as:

Omstendighetene = the circumstances

That gives you the clearest link between the Norwegian grammar and the meaning.