Jeg liker mat.

I like food.

Breakdown of Jeg liker mat.

• jeg: I
• mat: the food

Questions & Answers about Jeg liker mat.

Why is Jeg capitalized here?

In Norwegian, jeg is the pronoun meaning "I". While in English we always write "I" in uppercase, in Norwegian it’s normally written in lowercase. However, it’s still capitalized when it appears at the start of a sentence, just like any other word at the beginning of a sentence.

Does liker always translate to "like," or can it mean something else?

Generally, liker corresponds closely to "like" in English. It expresses enjoyment or fondness toward something. There are other Norwegian verbs that might have slightly different nuances (for example, elsker for "love"), but liker is the typical choice when you want to say you "like" something.

Do I need to use any articles before mat?

No, you don’t in this particular sentence. Mat (meaning "food") is used in its indefinite form here because you’re referring to food in general. Norwegian typically doesn't require an article when talking about something in a general, non-specific sense.

Is there a difference in meaning if I said Jeg liker maten instead?

Yes. Jeg liker maten means "I like the food," referring to some specific food that has already been mentioned or is otherwise understood in context. Jeg liker mat is more general, meaning "I like food" in a broad sense.

How do you pronounce Jeg liker mat?

A rough guide would be: Jeg sounds like "yai" (rhymes with "eye"), liker is "LEE-ker," and mat is pronounced like "maht" (with a short 'a' sound). Keep in mind that regional accents in Norwegian can cause differences in pronunciation.