Stolryggen støtter korsryggen.

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Breakdown of Stolryggen støtter korsryggen.

• stolryggen: the back of the chair
• korsryggen: the lower back

Questions & Answers about Stolryggen støtter korsryggen.

Why is there no separate word for the in stolryggen and korsryggen?

In Norwegian, the definite article is often attached to the end of the noun.

• stolrygg = chair back / backrest

• stolryggen = the chair back / the backrest

• korsrygg = lower back
• korsryggen = the lower back

So instead of writing a separate word like English the, Norwegian often adds -en, -a, or -et to the noun.

What does stolryggen literally consist of?

It is a compound noun:

• stol = chair
• rygg = back

So:

• stolrygg = chair-back
• stolryggen = the chair-back

This is very common in Norwegian. Instead of using a phrase like the back of the chair, Norwegian often prefers one compound word.

Why do both nouns end in -en?

Because both are singular definite nouns of the common gender class in Bokmål.

The pattern is:

• en stolrygg = a chair back

• stolryggen = the chair back

• en korsrygg = a lower back
• korsryggen = the lower back

So -en here marks definite singular.