Questions & Answers about Rotta er under bordet.
Why is it rotta and not rotte?
Because rotta is the definite form of rotte.
- ei rotte = a rat
- rotta = the rat
In Norwegian, definiteness is often added as an ending on the noun, instead of using a separate word like the in English.
A learner should also know that for many feminine nouns, there are two common patterns:
- ei rotte → rotta
- en rotte → rotten
Both can be seen, depending on dialect, style, and whether someone prefers feminine forms or uses mostly masculine/common-gender forms. In this sentence, rotta shows the feminine definite form.
Why is it bordet?
Bordet is the definite form of bord.
- et bord = a table
- bordet = the table
So just like rotta means the rat, bordet means the table.
This is a very common pattern for neuter nouns:
- et hus → huset
- et eple → eplet
- et bord → bordet
Why doesn’t Norwegian use a separate word for the here?