Vi spiser pizza, ikke sant?

We eat pizza, right?

Breakdown of Vi spiser pizza, ikke sant?

• spise: to eat
• vi: we
• pizzaen: the pizza
• ikke sant: right? (isn't that so?)

Questions & Answers about Vi spiser pizza, ikke sant?

What does the phrase ikke sant mean in the sentence Vi spiser pizza, ikke sant? and how is it used?

Ikke sant literally translates to “not true”, but it functions as a tag question in Norwegian. In this context, it is used like the English tag “aren’t we?” or “isn’t it?” to seek confirmation or agreement from the listener about the statement.

Is the comma before ikke sant necessary, and what does its punctuation indicate in this sentence?

Yes, the comma is necessary. It separates the main declarative sentence “Vi spiser pizza” (which means “We are eating pizza”) from the tag ikke sant. This comma signals a slight pause and clarifies that the speaker is not asking a completely new question but is instead seeking confirmation of the already stated fact.

Why does Norwegian use a tag like ikke sant at the end of the sentence instead of changing the word order to form a question?

In Norwegian, adding a tag such as ikke sant is an idiomatic way to turn a statement into a confirmation question. Unlike English, where forming a question often involves inversion or the use of auxiliary verbs (for example, “Aren’t we?”), Norwegian typically retains the declarative sentence structure and appends ikke sant to invite agreement.

Can ikke sant be used with other sentences in Norwegian, and is it a universal way to ask for confirmation?