Rotta er under bordet.

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.

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

Because Norwegian usually puts the idea at the end of the noun.

Compare:

• English: the rat, the table
• Norwegian: rotta, bordet

This is one of the biggest differences from English. Instead of a separate article before the noun, Norwegian often attaches definiteness to the noun itself.

Er means is / am / are, depending on the subject.

It is the present tense of å være = to be.

Examples:

• Jeg er = I am
• Du er = you are
• Rotta er = the rat is

Norwegian does not change the present-tense form the way English does. It stays er for all persons.

This is the normal Norwegian word order for a simple statement:

• subject + verb + other information

So here:

• Rotta = subject
• er = verb
• under bordet = prepositional phrase telling location

That makes the structure very similar to English:

• The rat is under the table

Yes, under here works very much like English under.

• under bordet = under the table

It is a preposition showing location.

Other similar examples:

• under senga = under the bed
• under stolen = under the chair

So this part is fairly easy for English speakers.

Because bordet already includes the meaning the table.

So:

• under bordet literally looks like under table-the
• but naturally means under the table

This is completely normal in Norwegian. Prepositions are often followed by a noun with a definite ending when the meaning is definite.

Yes. Rotte is commonly treated as a feminine noun, which gives:

• ei rotte
• rotta

But in Bokmål, many feminine nouns can also be used with masculine/common-gender forms:

• en rotte
• rotten

So depending on the speaker or writing style, both systems may appear. If your sentence has rotta, it is using the feminine form.

Yes, in Bokmål that can also be correct.

• rotta = feminine definite form
• rotten = masculine/common-gender definite form

Both can mean the rat, but they reflect different gender choices for the noun. Which one sounds most natural can depend on dialect, habit, and the type of Bokmål a person uses.

That would be:

• Ei rotte er under et bord.

Or, with masculine/common-gender for rat:

• En rotte er under et bord.

Here the nouns are indefinite:

• ei/en rotte = a rat
• et bord = a table

So the original sentence is definite on both nouns:

• rotta = the rat
• bordet = the table

A rough pronunciation guide for an English speaker could be:

• Rotta ≈ ROT-tah
• er ≈ air or a short ehr, depending on dialect
• under ≈ OON-der
• bordet ≈ BOOR-deh

A few notes:

• The r in Norwegian is usually clearer than in many English accents.
• The tt in rotta is pronounced as a clear t sound.
• Pronunciation varies by dialect, sometimes quite a lot.

Yes. In normal English translation, both are possible.

• under the table
• underneath the table

Norwegian under covers that basic meaning. Usually, context tells you whether it is literal physical position or something more figurative, but in this sentence it is naturally understood as physical location.

Yes—this sentence shows three very important Norwegian basics at once:

1. Definite nouns use endings

   • rotta = the rat
   • bordet = the table

2. The verb in the present tense is simple

   • er = is

3. Word order is straightforward

   • subject + verb + place

So even though the sentence is short, it teaches a lot of core Norwegian grammar.