Prinsen sitter på tronen.

Prinsen is the definite form of prins, so it means the prince.

• prins = a prince
• prinsen = the prince

In Norwegian, the definite article is often added to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word in front, as in English.

For the same reason: tronen is the definite form and means the throne.

• en trone = a throne
• tronen = the throne

So the sentence has two definite nouns:

• prinsen = the prince
• tronen = the throne

Sitter is the present tense of å sitte, which means to sit.

So:

• å sitte = to sit
• sitter = is sitting / sits

In this sentence, sitter describes the prince’s position: he is seated on the throne.

In Norwegian, the present tense of most verbs is formed by adding -r to the infinitive stem.

For example:

• å sitte → sitter
• å snakke → snakker
• å bo → bor

So sitter is simply the present tense form.

Norwegian normally says sitte på en stol, sitte på en benk, and sitte på tronen—using på for sitting on a seat or surface.

So:

• på tronen = on the throne

Using i would usually suggest being inside something, which does not fit a throne.

Not always. På often means on, but prepositions do not match perfectly between Norwegian and English.

Depending on the context, på can also correspond to English expressions like:

• at
• in
• on

But in på tronen, on the throne is the natural translation.

The word order is very straightforward:

• Prinsen = subject
• sitter = verb
• på tronen = prepositional phrase

So the pattern is:

Subject + Verb + Place

This is the normal word order in a simple Norwegian statement.

Yes, but it means something slightly different.

• Prinsen sitter på tronen = The prince is sitting on the throne
• Prinsen er på tronen = The prince is on the throne

The second sentence can mean physical location, but it can also mean he holds royal power or occupies the throne in a broader sense.
The version with sitter is more clearly about the physical act of sitting.

No. Å sitte can also be used in Norwegian for things that are positioned, located, or fitted in a certain way.

For example, Norwegian may use sitte where English would use expressions like:

• is located
• is placed
• fits

But in Prinsen sitter på tronen, it has the ordinary human meaning: the prince is sitting.

Trone is usually a common gender noun in Bokmål:

• en trone
• tronen

Yes, gender matters because it affects the article and definite ending.

For common gender nouns:

• indefinite: often en
• definite singular: often -en

That is why we get tronen.

Prins is also a common gender noun:

• en prins
• prinsen

Again, the common gender definite singular ending is typically -en, which gives prinsen.

Yes. Norwegian present tense often covers both meanings.

So Prinsen sitter på tronen can correspond to:

• The prince sits on the throne
• The prince is sitting on the throne

In many contexts, English prefers is sitting, but Norwegian simply uses the present tense form sitter.

You would say:

En prins sitter på en trone.

Compare:

• Prinsen sitter på tronen. = The prince is sitting on the throne.
• En prins sitter på en trone. = A prince is sitting on a throne.

This shows the difference between:

• en prins / en trone = indefinite
• prinsen / tronen = definite

A rough English-friendly approximation is:

PRIN-sen SITT-er paw TROO-nen

A few notes:

• rs in many Norwegian accents can sound different from English rs
• på has a long vowel
• the o in tronen is not exactly like English oh, but this approximation is close enough for a beginner

Exact pronunciation depends somewhat on accent and dialect.

Yes. In Norwegian questions, the verb often comes before the subject.

Statement:

• Prinsen sitter på tronen.

Question:

• Sitter prinsen på tronen? = Is the prince sitting on the throne?

This verb-first pattern is very common in yes/no questions.