Vi bruker skismøring før turen.

Because bruker is the present tense of the verb å bruke (to use).

• å bruke = to use
• bruker = use / are using

In Norwegian, verbs do not change by person the way they do in English. So the same present-tense form is used with all subjects:

• jeg bruker = I use
• du bruker = you use
• vi bruker = we use

So vi bruker simply means we use.

Skismøring is a compound noun, which is very common in Norwegian.

It is made from:

• ski = ski / skis
• smøring = lubrication, waxing, something used for coating

Together, skismøring means ski wax or ski lubricant/preparation, depending on context.

Norwegian usually writes compound nouns as one word, where English often uses two words. So:

• skismøring = ski wax
• not usually ski smøring

This one-word style is an important feature of Norwegian spelling.

Because Norwegian often leaves out the article when speaking about a substance or something in a general sense.

Here, skismøring is being treated a bit like a material or item used for a purpose, similar to how English sometimes says:

• We use butter
• We use soap
• We use ski wax

So Vi bruker skismøring is natural without en.

If you said en skismøring, that would sound more like a ski wax/product, focusing on one specific item or type, which is less natural in this sentence.

Because turen is the definite form of tur.

• en tur = a trip / a tour / an outing
• turen = the trip / the outing

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

So:

• før turen = before the trip

This is one of the most important differences between English and Norwegian nouns.

Because før turen is the normal, simple way to say before the trip.

• før turen = before the trip
• før den turen = before that trip / before the particular trip

Adding den makes it more emphatic or specific. In ordinary sentences, Norwegian usually just uses the noun with the definite ending:

• turen = the trip

So før turen is the natural choice here.

Før means before here. It introduces a time expression.

• før turen = before the trip

So the sentence structure is:

• Vi bruker skismøring = We use ski wax
• før turen = before the trip

Together: We use ski wax before the trip.

This sentence uses the basic Norwegian main-clause word order:

• Subject + Verb + Object + Time expression

So:

• Vi = subject
• bruker = verb
• skismøring = object
• før turen = time expression

That makes the sentence very straightforward and typical.

Yes. You can say:

• Før turen bruker vi skismøring.

That still means the same thing: Before the trip, we use ski wax.

But when a time phrase comes first in a Norwegian main clause, the verb usually comes before the subject:

• Før turen bruker vi ...
• not Før turen vi bruker ...

This is the common V2 word order rule in Norwegian.

Not always. Tur is a very flexible word in Norwegian and can mean things like:

• trip
• outing
• journey
• hike / walk
• excursion

The exact meaning depends on context. In a sentence about skis and ski wax, turen probably refers to the ski trip or the outing.

A useful approximate pronunciation for an English speaker is:

• shee-smeur-ing

A few notes:

• ski in Norwegian is usually pronounced more like shee
• ø is a vowel English does not really have; it is somewhat similar to the vowel in French bleu or German schön
• The r in smøring may sound different depending on dialect

You do not need perfect pronunciation right away, but it helps to remember that ski is usually shee, not English skee.

Normally, no. Standard Norwegian writes this as skismøring, one word and without a hyphen.

Hyphens are only used in special cases, such as clarity, abbreviations, or unusual compounds. For an ordinary compound noun like this, the standard spelling is:

• skismøring

It can do both, depending on context.

1. To use

   • Vi bruker skismøring. = We use ski wax.

2. To usually do / be in the habit of

   • Vi bruker å gå dit om vinteren. = We usually go there in winter.

In your sentence, bruker clearly means use, because it has the object skismøring.

In modern Norwegian, nouns do not have a strong case system like German. So you do not need to worry much about nominative, accusative, dative, etc. in a sentence like this.

Instead, Norwegian mainly shows:

• gender
• singular/plural
• definite/indefinite

So turen is simply:

• singular
• definite
• common gender

That is much simpler than English speakers often expect when coming from other European languages.