Legen undersøker tungen.

In Norwegian, the is usually attached to the end of the noun instead of standing as a separate word in front.

So:

• en lege = a doctor
• legen = the doctor

and

• en tunge = a tongue
• tungen = the tongue

That is one of the first big differences English speakers notice.

Lege is the basic dictionary form, meaning doctor.

In the sentence, it is legen, which is the definite singular form: the doctor.

So:

• lege = doctor
• en lege = a doctor
• legen = the doctor

For the same reason: tungen is the definite singular form.

• tunge = tongue
• en tunge = a tongue
• tungen = the tongue

Since the sentence is talking about a specific tongue, Norwegian uses tungen.

Also, with many nouns that already end in -e, the definite form often just adds -n:

• lege → legen
• tunge → tungen

Undersøker is the present tense of å undersøke (to examine).

So:

• å undersøke = to examine
• undersøker = examines / is examining

Norwegian present tense is often formed by adding -r to the infinitive.

It can mean both.

Norwegian usually uses the simple present where English might use either:

• examines
• is examining

So Legen undersøker tungen can mean either The doctor examines the tongue or The doctor is examining the tongue, depending on context.

Norwegian does not use a special progressive form as often as English does.

Because this is a basic main clause with normal subject–verb–object order:

• Legen = subject
• undersøker = verb
• tungen = object

So the structure is very straightforward.

However, Norwegian also follows the V2 rule in main clauses, which means the verb must stay in the second position. For example:

• I dag undersøker legen tungen. = Today, the doctor is examining the tongue.

That is something English speakers usually need to get used to.

Because this is referring to a specific tongue — usually the patient’s tongue in a medical context.

Norwegian often uses the definite form for body parts when the context makes it clear whose body part is meant.

For example:

• Han vasker hendene. = He washes his hands.
  • literally: He washes the hands

So tungen sounds natural here.

Yes, sometimes.

The noun tunge can be treated as a feminine noun in Bokmål, so you may see:

• ei tunge = a tongue
• tunga = the tongue

But Bokmål also allows many feminine nouns to use the common-gender pattern:

• en tunge
• tungen

So both tunga and tungen can be correct, depending on style, dialect, and personal preference. In this sentence, tungen is perfectly normal.

Yes, Doktoren undersøker tungen is understandable and natural in many contexts.

But legen is usually the more neutral and standard word for doctor in Norwegian. Doktor is also common, but it can feel a bit more conversational or title-like in some situations.

So for learners, legen is often the safer default.

The letter ø is a vowel that does not exist in standard English.

A rough way to think of it is:

• similar to German ö
• similar to French eu in deux
• somewhat like the vowel in British English bird, but with rounded lips

So undersøker has that rounded ø sound in the middle.

If you cannot say it perfectly at first, that is very normal — ø takes practice for English speakers.

This sentence is Bokmål.

In Nynorsk, you would more likely see:

• Lækjaren undersøkjer tunga.

So Legen undersøker tungen is the Bokmål version.