Pekefingeren legges på biometrikiosken.

Because -en is the definite singular ending for many masculine nouns in Norwegian.

• en pekefinger = an index finger
• pekefingeren = the index finger

Norwegian usually adds definiteness to the end of the noun, instead of putting a separate word like the in front.

Pekefinger means index finger or forefinger.

It is built from:

• peke = to point
• finger = finger

So literally it is the pointing finger.

Legges is the present passive form of legge.

• å legge = to lay / place / put
• legger = places / puts
• legges = is placed / is being placed / should be placed depending on context

In this sentence, it sounds like an instruction or procedure:
The index finger is placed on the biometric kiosk.

In English, instructions often use the imperative, like Place your index finger..., but Norwegian often uses this passive style in formal instructions.

Because Norwegian instructions, signs, and official directions often use a passive form to sound neutral and impersonal.

Compare:

• Du legger pekefingeren på biometrikiosken.
  = You place your index finger on the biometric kiosk.
  This is more direct.

• Pekefingeren legges på biometrikiosken.
  = The index finger is placed on the biometric kiosk.
  This sounds more formal, instructional, and procedural.

This kind of passive is very common in manuals, medical instructions, forms, and official notices.

No. This is a very common learner confusion.

• å legge = to lay / put / place something somewhere
• å ligge = to lie / be located somewhere

So:

• Pekefingeren legges på biometrikiosken.
  = The index finger is placed on the biometric kiosk.

• Pekefingeren ligger på biometrikiosken.
  = The index finger is lying/resting on the biometric kiosk.

The first describes the action of placing it there.
The second describes its position.

Because Norwegian usually forms compound nouns as a single word.

So:

• biometri = biometrics
• kiosk = kiosk / terminal
• biometrikiosk = biometric kiosk
• biometrikiosken = the biometric kiosk

This is very normal in Norwegian. Where English often uses two words, Norwegian often joins them into one compound noun.

For the same reason as pekefingeren: it is definite singular.

• en biometrikiosk = a biometric kiosk
• biometrikiosken = the biometric kiosk

In this sentence, it refers to a specific kiosk, probably the one in front of the person reading the instruction.

På often means on, and that is the natural preposition here.

• på biometrikiosken = on the biometric kiosk

The idea is that the finger is physically placed onto the surface, scanner, or touch area of the kiosk.

In English you might sometimes say on the scanner or against the scanner, depending on the device, but på is the normal Norwegian choice in a sentence like this.

Norwegian instructions often leave that out when it is obvious.

So instead of saying:

• Din pekefinger legges på biometrikiosken

it is often more natural in an instructional context to say:

• Pekefingeren legges på biometrikiosken

The meaning is still understood as your index finger because the sentence is directed at the person following the instruction.

This kind of omission is common in formal or procedural language.

Yes, that is grammatically possible, but it is usually less natural in this kind of instruction.

Norwegian has more than one way to make the passive:

1. s-passive
   • legges
2. bli-passive
   • blir lagt

In formal instructions, the s-passive is often preferred because it is shorter and more concise:

• Pekefingeren legges på biometrikiosken.

The bli-passive is also correct, but it can sound a bit heavier here.

Yes, it is understandable and fairly natural, especially in formal or official instructions.

That said, depending on the exact situation, a Norwegian speaker might also say something more direct, such as:

• Legg pekefingeren på biometrikiosken.
  = Place your index finger on the biometric kiosk.

This imperative version is often what you would hear in everyday spoken language or on a screen giving simple instructions.

The original sentence sounds more formal and procedural.

The basic structure is:

• Pekefingeren = subject
• legges = verb
• på biometrikiosken = prepositional phrase

So literally:

The index finger + is placed + on the biometric kiosk

This is straightforward Norwegian word order. The subject comes first, then the verb, then the rest of the sentence.

It would be:

• En pekefinger legges på en biometrikiosk.

But that sounds odd in normal use, because it means something like an index finger is placed on a biometric kiosk, which is very general and unnatural in an instruction.

The definite forms are more natural here because the sentence refers to:

• a specific finger being used in the procedure, and
• a specific kiosk the person is interacting with.

So pekefingeren and biometrikiosken make much more sense in context.