Robotstøvsugeren bruker elektrisk strøm.

Because Norwegian usually writes compound nouns as a single word.

So:

• robot
  • støvsuger = robotstøvsuger
• robotstøvsugeren = the robot vacuum cleaner

This is very common in Norwegian. Where English often uses several words, Norwegian often combines them into one noun.

Examples:

• bokhylle = bookcase
• kaffekopp = coffee cup
• mobiltelefon = mobile phone

The ending -en makes the noun definite singular, meaning the.

So:

• en robotstøvsuger = a robot vacuum cleaner
• robotstøvsugeren = the robot vacuum cleaner

In Norwegian, the definite article is often attached to the end of the noun instead of being a separate word like English the.

Because robotstøvsuger is a common gender noun in Norwegian.

Norwegian nouns usually belong to:

• common gender: takes en
• neuter gender: takes et

So the forms are:

• en robotstøvsuger
• robotstøvsugeren

This is something you usually just have to learn with each noun.

Bruker is the present tense of the verb å bruke, which means to use.

So:

• å bruke = to use
• bruker = uses / is using

In this sentence, Robotstøvsugeren bruker elektrisk strøm, the verb means uses.

No, this is a very normal Norwegian main-clause word order:

• Robotstøvsugeren = subject
• bruker = verb
• elektrisk strøm = object

So it follows the basic pattern:

Subject + Verb + Object

That is very similar to English: The robot vacuum uses electric power.

Because elektrisk is describing an indefinite singular noun of common gender: strøm.

For an adjective before an indefinite singular common-gender noun, Norwegian usually uses the basic form:

• elektrisk strøm

You would often get -e in other situations, such as:

• plural
• definite nouns
• many adjective phrases after determiners

Examples:

• elektriske biler = electric cars
• den elektriske bilen = the electric car

But here, strøm is singular and indefinite, so elektrisk is correct.

Here, strøm means electricity or electrical power/current, depending on context.

In everyday Norwegian, strøm is very often used for the electricity people use in homes and devices.

So elektrisk strøm is understandable as electric current/electric power, though in natural everyday Norwegian, people might sometimes simply say strøm if the context is clear.

Yes, absolutely. Robotstøvsugeren bruker strøm sounds natural and is probably more common in everyday speech.

Adding elektrisk makes it a bit more explicit or technical:

• bruker strøm = uses electricity / power
• bruker elektrisk strøm = uses electric current/power

Both are correct, but the shorter version is often the more idiomatic everyday choice.

The indefinite version would be:

En robotstøvsuger bruker elektrisk strøm.

That means A robot vacuum cleaner uses electric power.

Compare:

• En robotstøvsuger = a robot vacuum cleaner
• Robotstøvsugeren = the robot vacuum cleaner

The letter ø is a vowel that does not exist in standard English.

A rough guide:

• it is somewhat similar to the vowel in French deux or German schön
• it is pronounced with rounded lips

In støvsuger, the støv part contains that ø sound.

Even if you cannot say it perfectly at first, it is worth practicing, because ø is a separate vowel in Norwegian and can change the meaning of a word.

Because Norwegian usually expresses the by adding an ending to the noun.

So instead of a separate article before the noun, Norwegian often uses a suffix:

• en stol = a chair
• stolen = the chair

The same thing happens here:

• en robotstøvsuger = a robot vacuum cleaner
• robotstøvsugeren = the robot vacuum cleaner

This is one of the big structural differences between English and Norwegian.