Prosjektet var vellykket.

Because -et is the definite ending for many neuter singular nouns in Norwegian.

• et prosjekt = a project
• prosjektet = the project

So instead of using a separate word like the, Norwegian usually adds the definite article to the end of the noun.

You can tell from its indefinite article:

• et prosjekt = a project

In Norwegian, nouns are grouped into grammatical genders. In Bokmål, the main ones are:

• en for many masculine nouns
• ei / en for feminine nouns
• et for neuter nouns

Since the word is et prosjekt, it is neuter. That matters because adjectives often have to match the noun’s gender and number.

Var is the past tense of å være (to be).

• er = is / am / are
• var = was / were

So:

• Prosjektet er vellykket. = The project is successful.
• Prosjektet var vellykket. = The project was successful.

Vellykket is the correct adjective form here. It means successful.

The ending fits the noun prosjekt, which is neuter singular. In this kind of sentence, the adjective often agrees with the noun:

• en vellykket plan = a successful plan
• et vellykket prosjekt = a successful project
• prosjektet var vellykket = the project was successful

So the -et ending matches the neuter noun.

It is often treated like an adjective, but historically it comes from a past participle. For learners, the most useful thing is that it behaves like an adjective meaning successful.

You can use it:

• before a noun: et vellykket prosjekt
• after a verb: prosjektet var vellykket

So in this sentence, it works just like an adjective describing prosjektet.

The word order is very straightforward:

• Prosjektet = subject
• var = verb
• vellykket = subject complement / description

So it follows the same basic pattern as English:

• The project
  • was
    • successful

This is a very common Norwegian sentence pattern.

Yes, grammatically you could, but it means something different.

• Prosjektet var vellykket. = The project was successful.
• Et prosjekt var vellykket. = A project was successful.

The first refers to a specific project already known from context. The second sounds more indefinite and less natural unless you are contrasting it with other projects.

Usually successful is the best translation, but depending on context it can also feel like:

• well-executed
• a success
• successful in outcome

For example:

• Prosjektet var vellykket. = The project was successful.
• It could also imply that the project went well or achieved its goals.

So successful is the standard translation, but the exact nuance depends on context.

You might hear similar structures, but Prosjektet var vellykket is the normal and simplest way to say The project was successful.

• var vellykket describes the project’s state/result
• ble vellykket would sound more like became/turned out successful

So ble is possible in some contexts, but var is the safer and more neutral choice for learners.

You would replace var with er:

• Prosjektet er vellykket. = The project is successful.

So the pattern is:

• er = present
• var = past

Everything else stays the same.

If you want to talk about more than one project, both the noun and the adjective change.

A common plural version is:

• Prosjektene var vellykkede. = The projects were successful.

Here:

• prosjektene = the projects
• vellykkede = plural adjective form

So adjective agreement also matters in the plural.

A learner-friendly approximation is something like VEL-lik-ket.

A few helpful points:

• The stress is on the first syllable: VEL-
• The double kk means the consonant is pronounced short and firm
• The final -et is usually clearly pronounced in careful speech

You do not pronounce it like English well-liked even though it may look a little similar at first glance.

Yes, it is completely natural and idiomatic.

Prosjektet var vellykket is a normal, clear way to say that a project succeeded or had a good outcome. It sounds like standard written and spoken Bokmål.