Måltakingen tar ti minutter.

The ending -en makes the noun definite singular.

• måltaking = measurement / taking measurements (indefinite)
• måltakingen = the measurement / the taking of measurements (definite)

So the sentence is talking about a specific measurement process, not measurement in general.

It is a noun. More specifically, it is a noun that describes an action or process.

It comes from the idea of taking measurements. In English, we often do the same thing with nouns like:

• the measurement
• the inspection
• the interview

So in this sentence, måltakingen is the subject: it is the thing that takes ten minutes.

Yes, tar often means takes in the physical sense, but it is also used just like English takes for duration.

So:

• Måltakingen tar ti minutter = The measuring takes ten minutes
• Det tar lang tid = It takes a long time

This use is very common in Norwegian.

Because after numbers above one, Norwegian usually uses the plural indefinite form of the noun.

• ett minutt = one minute
• to minutter = two minutes
• ti minutter = ten minutes

So minutter is simply the normal plural form here.

Because Norwegian usually puts definiteness at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word.

Compare:

• English: the measurement
• Norwegian: måltakingen

That -en already contains the idea of the, so you do not add a separate article in this sentence.

It is singular.

Even though the action might involve many measurements, the noun refers to one measurement session/process, so the verb is singular too:

• Måltakingen tar ... = The measuring takes ...

If it were plural, the form would be different.

The basic order is:

Subject + verb + time expression

So here:

• Måltakingen = subject
• tar = verb
• ti minutter = how long it takes

That is a very normal Norwegian sentence pattern.

Yes. Det tar ti minutter is also completely natural, but it means It takes ten minutes and does not explicitly say what takes ten minutes.

The original sentence is more specific because it names the activity:

• Måltakingen tar ti minutter = The measuring takes ten minutes
• Det tar ti minutter = It takes ten minutes

It is understandable and correct, especially in practical or professional contexts. It refers specifically to taking measurements.

Depending on the situation, Norwegians might also use other expressions, such as:

• målingen = the measurement
• å ta mål = to take measurements

For example:

• Det tar ti minutter å ta mål = It takes ten minutes to take measurements

So måltakingen is fine, but other phrasings may also be common.

A rough guide for an English speaker:

• mål sounds somewhat like mohl
• ta sounds like tah
• kingen is roughly king-en, but with a lighter Norwegian g sound depending on dialect

So very roughly: MOHL-tah-king-en

A few pronunciation notes:

• å is usually a rounded vowel, somewhat like the vowel in British thought
• stress is mainly on the first part: MÅL...

Not necessarily. Grammatically, it is in the present tense:

• tar = takes

But Norwegian, like English, often uses the present tense for general facts, instructions, or scheduled actions.

So it can mean:

• this process generally takes ten minutes
• the measurement step in a procedure takes ten minutes
• the upcoming measurement will take ten minutes

The exact time sense depends on context.