Vi ser ikke engang nappet.

Because Norwegian does not use do-support the way English does.

English says We do not see..., but Norwegian simply puts ikke after the finite verb:

Vi ser ikke ... = We do not see ...

So the structure is more literally:

We see not even the bite.

That is completely normal in Norwegian.

Ser is the present tense of å se (to see).

So:

• å se = to see
• ser = see / sees / am seeing / are seeing / is seeing, depending on context

In Norwegian, the present tense often covers both the English simple present and present progressive.

In a normal Norwegian main clause, when the subject comes first, the finite verb usually comes second, and ikke comes after that verb.

So:

• Vi = subject
• ser = finite verb
• ikke = negation

This gives:

Vi ser ikke ...

That word order is standard Norwegian syntax.

Ikke engang means not even.

It is a very common expression in Norwegian. In this sentence, it shows that the thing being talked about is so hard to notice that we do not even see the bite.

So you can think of:

ikke engang = not even

Here it is written as engang because it is part of the fixed expression ikke engang.

A useful distinction is:

• en gang = one time / once
• ikke engang = not even

So in this sentence, engang is not about one time. It is part of the meaning not even.

Because ikke engang usually comes right before the word or phrase it focuses on.

Here it focuses on nappet, so the meaning is:

We do not even see the bite.

That is, nappet is the surprising or extreme thing that is not seen.

Here, nappet is a definite singular noun.

The basic noun is:

• et napp = a bite / a tug / a nibble

The definite form is:

• nappet = the bite / the tug

In fishing context, napp often refers to the moment when a fish bites or tugs at the line.

Because Norwegian often marks definiteness by adding an ending to the noun instead of using a separate word.

So:

• et napp = a bite
• nappet = the bite

The ending -et here marks the noun as definite singular.

That is why Norwegian does not need a separate word like English the.

Yes. Nappet can also be a verb form of å nappe in other contexts.

But in this sentence, it is understood as a noun, because the structure ikke engang + noun fits naturally:

Vi ser ikke engang nappet.

So here the context points clearly to nappet = the bite / the tug, not a verb.

Potentially both, depending on context.

Norwegian present tense often does the job of both:

• We see
• We are seeing

So Vi ser ikke engang nappet can naturally correspond to English We do not even see the bite without needing a special progressive form.

Yes. This is a neutral, natural Norwegian sentence.

The basic pattern is:

subject + finite verb + ikke + other elements

So:

Vi + ser + ikke engang + nappet

That makes the sentence sound straightforward and idiomatic. Other word orders are possible for emphasis, but this version is the normal unmarked one.