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Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Steinen synker i vannet. - The stone sinks in the water.

Hardcore Norwegian
/Digitising old family photographs
/Steinen synker i vannet.

Steinen synker i vannet.

Word

Steinen synker i vannet.

Meaning

The stone sinks in the water.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Norwegian

Lesson

Digitising old family photographs

Breakdown of Steinen synker i vannet.

Questions & Answers about Steinen synker i vannet.

Why is it steinen and not just stein?

Because steinen is the definite singular form: the stone.

In Norwegian, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun:

en stein = a stone
steinen = the stone

So steinen synker means the stone sinks.

Why is it vannet and not vann?

Vannet is the definite form of vann, so it means the water.

Compare:

vann = water
vannet = the water

Norwegian often uses the definite form where English also uses the, especially when talking about a specific situation or a specific body of water already understood from context.

What is the basic form of synker?

The basic form is synke, which means to sink.

Synker is the present tense:

å synke = to sink
synker = sinks / is sinking

This is very common in Norwegian: many verbs form the present tense by adding -r.

Is synker present tense only, or can it also describe something happening right now?

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It does both.

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

the stone sinks
the stone is sinking

So Steinen synker i vannet can describe:

a general fact, or
something happening right now

The context tells you which one is meant.

Why is there no separate word for the, like in English?

Because Norwegian usually puts the definite article at the end of the noun instead of using a separate word before it.

So:

the stone = steinen
the water = vannet

This is one of the biggest differences from English noun structure.

Why is it i vannet?

I usually means in.

So i vannet means in the water.

In this sentence, it shows where the sinking happens. The stone is sinking in the water.

Could you also say Steinen synker i vann?

Yes, but it means something slightly different.

i vannet = in the water → a specific body of water or a specific situation
i vann = in water → water as a substance, more general

So Steinen synker i vannet sounds more like a concrete scene, while Steinen synker i vann sounds more general, like a scientific fact.

What gender are stein and vann?

stein is masculine: en stein → steinen
vann is neuter: et vann / vannet

That is why their definite endings are different:

masculine singular often ends in -en
neuter singular often ends in -et

What is the word order here?

The basic word order is:

Steinen + synker + i vannet
subject + verb + prepositional phrase

This is a normal Norwegian main-clause pattern, just like in English:

The stone
- sinks
  - in the water

How do you pronounce synker?

A learner will often notice the y sound. It is not the same as English y in yes.

In synker, the y is a rounded front vowel, something English does not really have. A rough learner-friendly idea is:

say ee
but round your lips

So synker sounds roughly like SÜN-ker, though that is only an approximation.

Why does stein become steinen instead of steinet?

Because stein is a masculine noun, and masculine nouns normally take -en in the definite singular:

en stein
steinen

If it were a neuter noun, you would more often expect -et instead.

Can this sentence be used as a general truth?

Yes. It can work very naturally as a general statement, like in science or everyday observation.

For example, it could be used in a context like:

Steinen synker i vannet, men trestykket flyter.

So the sentence is good both for a specific event and for a general fact, depending on context.

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