Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vinduet hans er stort, men likevel vil jeg ikke kikke inn. - His window is large, but I still don't want to peek inside.

Vinduet hans translates to “his window.” In Norwegian, vindu means “window,” and when you add the ending -et, it becomes the definite form (“the window”). The possessive pronoun hans (meaning “his”) follows the definite noun. This postpositive placement is common in Norwegian when the noun is already marked as definite.

Why is the adjective stort used instead of stor in this sentence?

In Norwegian, adjectives must agree with the noun’s gender and number. Since vindu is a neuter noun, its definite form is vinduet, and the neuter singular form of the adjective stor (big) becomes stort. Thus, stort correctly matches the neuter noun vinduet.

What is the function of the phrase men likevel in this sentence?

The word men means “but,” and likevel means “nevertheless” or “still.” When combined as men likevel, they introduce a contrasting idea. In this sentence, despite the fact that his window is big, the speaker emphasizes that they still do not want to look in. It sets up an unexpected or contrasting attitude relative to the first clause.

Why does the second clause use the order vil jeg ikke kikke inn instead of jeg vil ikke kikke inn?

Norwegian follows a verb-second (V2) rule. Since the sentence or clause begins with an element like men likevel, the finite verb (vil) moves to the second position, resulting in inversion. That’s why vil comes before the subject jeg. Essentially, the initial adverbial element forces the verb to precede the subject in that clause.

How does the negation ikke function in this sentence, particularly regarding its placement?

Ikke is the standard negation particle in Norwegian. In the clause vil jeg ikke kikke inn, even with the inversion, ikke is placed immediately after the subject/modal combination to clearly negate the entire verb phrase. This placement follows Norwegian sentence structure rules, ensuring that the speaker’s intent (“I do not want to look in”) is unambiguously conveyed.

What is the role of the separable verb kikke inn, and why is the particle inn at the end?

The verb kikke means “to peek” or “to look,” and when combined with the particle inn, it forms the separable phrasal verb kikke inn, meaning “to look/peek in.” In Norwegian, separable verbs are structured so that the particle often appears at the end of the clause, especially when other elements (like negation) intervene. This structure clarifies the meaning by keeping the particle associated with the verb while allowing modifiers such as ikke to be positioned correctly under the language’s word order rules.