Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Servitøren legger dessertskjeen på bordet. - The waiter puts the dessert spoon on the table.

servitøren means “the waiter.” In Norwegian, the definite singular article is usually a suffix attached to the noun. For masculine and many feminine nouns, that suffix is -en (servitør → servitøren).

What does dessertskjeen mean and how is it formed?

dessertskjeen means “the dessert spoon.” It’s a compound of dessert + skje (“spoon”) with the definite suffix -en attached to skje (skje → skjeen), giving dessertskjeen.

Why is the verb legger used here and what is its basic meaning?

legger is the present tense of legge, which means “to lay” or “to put (something flat).” In this sentence it simply means “lays” or “puts” down.

Why do we say på bordet for “on the table” instead of another preposition?

In Norwegian, på is used when something rests on a surface, much like English “on.” Other prepositions like i mean “in,” so på bordet is the correct choice for “on the table.”

What is the difference between legge and sette when translating “to put”?

legge implies placing something in a horizontal position (“to lay”), while sette implies placing something more upright or setting it in position (“to set”).

Why does Norwegian attach the definite article as a suffix rather than use a separate word like in English?

This is simply how Scandinavian languages work: instead of saying den or det before a noun, you add -en, -et or -a to the noun itself. It’s a grammatical feature rather than a choice.

How strict is the word order in this sentence, and what happens if you add a time expression?

Norwegian follows the V2 rule: the finite verb must be in the second position. If you start the sentence with a time expression, you invert subject and verb. For example:
I går la servitøren dessertskjeen på bordet. (Yesterday the waiter laid the dessert spoon on the table.)