Symbolrekken gir bokstavkoden.

The sequence of symbols provides the letter code.

Breakdown of Symbolrekken gir bokstavkoden.

• gi: to give
• bokstavkoden: the letter code
• symbolrekken: the sequence of symbols

Questions & Answers about Symbolrekken gir bokstavkoden.

Why are symbolrekken and bokstavkoden written as one word each?

Because Norwegian forms compound nouns very freely.

• symbol + rekke → symbolrekke = symbol sequence
• bokstav + kode → bokstavkode = letter code

Then the definite ending is added:

• symbolrekke → symbolrekken = the symbol sequence
• bokstavkode → bokstavkoden = the letter code

This is very normal in Norwegian. Where English often uses several words, Norwegian often packs the idea into one compound noun.

What does the -en ending mean in symbolrekken and bokstavkoden?

The ending -en usually marks the noun as definite singular, meaning the.

So:

• en bokstavkode = a letter code
• bokstavkoden = the letter code

And similarly:

• en symbolrekke = a symbol sequence
• symbolrekken = the symbol sequence

Unlike English, Norwegian often adds definiteness to the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like the.

Why is there no separate word for the?