Question 1

Why is there no separate word for “the” before foten?

Accepted Answer

In Norwegian Bokmål the definite article is usually a suffix attached to the noun. Here, fot (foot) + -en (definite common-gender ending) gives foten, which already means the foot. You never need an extra den.

Question 2

What gender is fot, and how does that affect its definite form?

Accepted Answer

fot is a common-gender (sometimes called masculine) noun. In Bokmål common-gender nouns form the definite singular by adding -en, so:
 • fot → foten  
Neuter nouns would use -et instead (e.g. et hus → huset).

Question 3

How is foten pronounced, especially the ø sound?

Accepted Answer

Phonetically foten is [ˈføːtən].  
 • ø is a close-mid front rounded vowel, similar to the “i” in bird (British English) or German “ö.”  
 • The stress is on the first syllable: FØ-ten.

Question 4

Why is the adjective kald not inflected in Foten er kald?

Accepted Answer

Adjectives following a linking verb like er (to be) are in the predicative position and remain in their base form. They do not agree with gender or number. That’s why it’s always kald, never kaldt or kalde, after er.

Question 5

How would you say “a cold foot” in Norwegian?

Accepted Answer

You use the indefinite article en and put the adjective before the noun (attributive position). Since fot is common gender, the adjective stays kald:
 • en kald fot

If it were a neuter noun you’d add -t: et kaldt rum (a cold room).

Question 6

How can you turn Foten er kald into the question “Is the foot cold?”

Accepted Answer

Invert the subject and the verb:
 • Foten er kald. (statement)  
 • Er foten kald? (question)

Question 7

How do you say “my foot is cold” in Norwegian?

Accepted Answer

You have two main constructions:
 1. Min fot er kald. (possessive before the noun)  
 2. Foten min er kald. (possessive after the noun, more colloquial)

Question 8

What’s the difference between attributive and predicative use of kald?

Accepted Answer

• Attributive (before noun): adjective agrees in gender/number:
   – Common: en kald fot  
   – Neuter: et kaldt hjørne  
   – Definite: den kalde foten (adds -e)  
 • Predicative (after er, blir, etc.): no agreement, always base form:
   – Foten er kald., Hjørnet blir kaldt.

Question 9

Can you say fot er kald without an article?

Accepted Answer

No—in Norwegian you generally need an article (indefinite en/et or definite -en/-et/-a) before a singular noun. So you must choose either en fot er kald (a foot is cold) or foten er kald (the foot is cold).

Foten er kald.

Breakdown of Foten er kald.

Questions & Answers about Foten er kald.

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