Jeg har en rød genser.

I have a red sweater.

Breakdown of Jeg har en rød genser.

• jeg: I
• ha: to have
• en: a
• genseren: the sweater
• rød: red

Questions & Answers about Jeg har en rød genser.

Why is the indefinite article en used before rød genser, and what does it tell me?

en is the indefinite article for common-gender nouns in Norwegian (equivalent to a or an in English). Since genser (“sweater”) is common gender, you use en to indicate “a” red sweater: en rød genser = “a red sweater.”

What is the basic word order in Jeg har en rød genser?

Norwegian follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order, just like English.
• Jeg (Subject)
• har (Verb)
• en rød genser (Object)

How do you conjugate the verb å ha (“to have”) in the present tense?

In the present tense, å ha is irregular:
• jeg har – I have
• du har – you have
• han/hun har – he/she has
• vi har – we have
• dere har – you (pl.) have
• de har – they have

Why is the adjective rød placed between the article and the noun?

In Norwegian, when you use an indefinite article, the adjective goes immediately after the article and before the noun:
[indefinite article] + [adjective] + [noun]
Hence en + rød + genser.

Why doesn’t rød change to rødt or røde here?

Adjectives in Norwegian agree in gender and definiteness:
• Indefinite, common gender, singular → no ending: rød genser
• Indefinite, neuter, singular → add -t: et rødt hus (“a red house”)
• Plural (both genders) or any definite noun → add -e: røde gensere, den røde genseren

How would you say “I have the red sweater” (definite)?

Make both the adjective and the noun definite:
• Use the demonstrative den for common-gender definite
• Adjective takes -e (definite form)
• Noun takes its definite ending -en
Result: Jeg har den røde genseren.

How do you form the plural of en rød genser in the indefinite and definite?

Indefinite plural:
• Drop en, adjective takes -e, noun takes plural ending -er → røde gensere
• “I have red sweaters.” → Jeg har røde gensere.
Definite plural:
• Use de (the) + adjective -e + noun -ne → de røde genserne
• “I have the red sweaters.” → Jeg har de røde genserne.

How would I ask “Do you have a red sweater?” in Norwegian?

Invert subject and verb for a yes/no question:
Har du en rød genser?
• Har (Have)
• du (you)
• en rød genser (a red sweater)

How do you pronounce the ø in rød?

The Norwegian ø is a mid-front rounded vowel. Try this:

1. Shape your lips as if saying “oo” in “food.”
2. Say “eh” (as in “bed”) with those rounded lips.
   You should get something like [øː] – between “bed” and “bird.”