Håndjernene ligger på bordet.

In Norwegian, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun instead of standing in front of it.

• bord = table

• bordet = the table

• håndjern = handcuffs / handcuff(s)
• håndjernene = the handcuffs

So Norwegian often says the equivalent of table-the and handcuffs-the.

Here, -ene marks the noun as definite plural.

So:

• håndjern = handcuffs / handcuff(s), indefinite base form
• håndjernene = the handcuffs

This is a very common Norwegian pattern. Many nouns add a definite ending instead of using a separate word like English the.

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

• et bord = a table
• bordet = the table

So bordet tells you both:

1. the noun is definite, and
2. the base noun is neuter: et bord

Norwegian often prefers a position verb when talking about where something is located.

Here, ligger comes from å ligge, which means to lie. It is used for things that are resting in a lying or flat position, or more generally for objects that are placed somewhere.

So Håndjernene ligger på bordet sounds natural because the handcuffs are resting on the table.

You can say Håndjernene er på bordet, but that is more neutral and less descriptive. Ligger gives a more natural sense of physical placement.

The dictionary form is å ligge = to lie

In this sentence, ligger is the present tense form:

• å ligge = to lie
• ligger = lies / is lying / are lying

In Norwegian, the present tense form is the same for all persons:

• jeg ligger
• du ligger
• han/hun ligger
• vi ligger
• de ligger

Yes. Norwegian does not usually need a separate progressive form like English are lying.

So ligger can cover both ideas:

• lie
• are lying

The exact meaning depends on context. In a sentence like this, English would often naturally translate it with are lying or simply are.

The form håndjern can be a little tricky for learners.

The base noun is et håndjern. In many contexts, the plural indefinite form is also håndjern, and the definite plural is håndjernene.

So here:

• håndjernene is clearly definite plural

A useful way to think about it is:

• base form: håndjern
• definite plural: håndjernene

Because handcuffs are naturally a paired object, the number can feel a bit different from English, but in this sentence the ending -ene clearly shows plural definite.

Because Norwegian makes compound nouns very freely, much more than English.

håndjern is made from:

• hånd = hand
• jern = iron

Together, they form one compound noun: håndjern

This is extremely common in Norwegian. Where English might use two words, Norwegian often uses one:

• togstasjon = train station
• sykehus = hospital
• håndjern = handcuffs

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

subject + verb + place

• Håndjernene = subject
• ligger = verb
• på bordet = place phrase

So the sentence structure is very straightforward.

Yes. Norwegian often allows another element to come first, but then the verb must still stay in the second position.

For example:

• På bordet ligger håndjernene.

This means the same thing, but now the location is emphasized first.

Notice what happens:

• På bordet comes first
• the verb ligger comes second
• the subject håndjernene comes after the verb

This is a very important Norwegian pattern called V2 word order.

Here, på means on.

So:

• på bordet = on the table

It shows physical position on a surface. This is the normal preposition to use for something resting on top of a table.

Yes, but the meaning would change.

This sentence uses definite nouns:

• håndjernene = the handcuffs
• bordet = the table

That means both are specific and already identifiable in the context.

If you wanted an indefinite version, you would need different forms, for example:

• Håndjern ligger på et bord. = Handcuffs are lying on a table.
• Et håndjern ligger på bordet. = A handcuff is lying on the table.

So the endings matter a lot because they show whether something is specific or not specific.