Termosflasken holder varmen, om så bare en stund.

to keep

Breakdown of Termosflasken holder varmen, om så bare en stund.

• varmen: the heat
• en stund: for a while
• termosflasken: the vacuum flask

Questions & Answers about Termosflasken holder varmen, om så bare en stund.

Why is it termosflasken and not termosflaske?

Because -en is the definite singular ending.

• en termosflaske = a thermos flask / a vacuum bottle
• termosflasken = the thermos flask

Norwegian often attaches the definite article to the end of the noun instead of using a separate word like English the.

Also, termosflaske is a compound noun:

• termos = thermos
• flaske = bottle

So termosflasken literally means the thermos bottle.

Why is the verb holder here?

Holder is the present tense of å holde.

• å holde = to hold / keep
• holder = holds / keeps

So:

• Termosflasken holder varmen = The thermos keeps the heat / The thermos keeps things warm

Norwegian verbs do not change for person the way English verbs sometimes do. So the same present-tense form is used with all subjects:

• jeg holder
• du holder
• den holder

Why does it say varmen and not just varme?