Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Til slutt sitter vi alle i stuen; økonomien, jobbsøknaden og skolearbeidet føles plutselig lettere. - Finally we all sit in the living room; the finances, the job application and the schoolwork suddenly feel lighter.

Til slutt literally means “in the end” or “at the end (of a process).” It simply indicates that something happens after everything else. Endelig also translates as “finally,” but it carries a sense of relief or excitement (like “at last!”). So use til slutt for a neutral sequence-ending (“in the end we did X”) and endelig when you want to emphasize emotional relief (“I can finally rest!”).

Why is the finite verb sitter placed before the subject vi alle?

Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 (verb-second) rule: the finite verb must be the second element in the sentence. Here til slutt occupies the first position, so sitter comes second and the subject vi alle follows.

How is the definite form stuen formed from stue?

Stue is a common-gender noun meaning “living room.” To make it definite singular, you add -en, giving stuen (“the living room”). (In some dialects or informal speech you might hear stua, but in written Bokmål stuen is standard.)

What does the semicolon (;) indicate in Norwegian, and can I replace it with a comma or period?

A semicolon links two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction, much like in English. You can replace it with a period to make two sentences:
“Til slutt sitter vi alle i stuen. Økonomien, jobbsøknaden og skolearbeidet føles plutselig lettere.”
Or use a comma plus og (“and”):
“Til slutt sitter vi alle i stuen, og økonomien, jobbsøknaden og skolearbeidet føles plutselig lettere.”

Why is the passive/impersonal verb form føles used, and how does it differ from føler or from using være?

Føles is the passive form of å føle (to feel), meaning “is felt.” In this sentence the things themselves (“økonomien…”) are what “feel lighter,” so you use føles. Active jeg føler is for when a person feels something internally (“I feel tired”). You could also use virker lettere (“seems lighter”) or a construction with være plus adjective (er lettere), but føles emphasizes the sensation.

Why is lettere the comparative form of lett, and how do you form comparatives in Norwegian?

Lett means “light” or “easy.” To form the comparative you normally add -ere, giving lettere (“lighter/easier”). This -ere pattern is used for most adjectives (e.g. stor – større, vanskelig – vanskeligere). You rarely use mer + adjective when the -ere ending exists.

Why are økonomien, jobbsøknaden, and skolearbeidet in the definite form, and how are such compounds formed?

These are specific, context-definite items (“the economy,” “the job application,” “the schoolwork”). In Norwegian you add a suffix for the definite singular: -en for common gender (økonomi → økonomien, jobbsøknad → jobbsøknaden) and -et for neuter (skolearbeid → skolearbeidet). Compounds like jobb + søknad or skole + arbeid take the definite suffix on the whole word.

Why is plutselig placed between føles and lettere, and what are the rules for adverb placement?

Plutselig means “suddenly.” In main clauses adverbs typically come after the finite verb or directly before the adjective they modify. Here it sits between the passive verb and the comparative adjective—føles plutselig lettere—which is the natural spot for a manner adverb.

What is the overall grammatical subject of the second clause, and why is it structured as a list?

The subject of the clause is the entire list økonomien, jobbsøknaden og skolearbeidet. All three things together “feel lighter.” In Norwegian, as in English, you can coordinate multiple subjects with commas and og before the last item.