Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jeg må hente medisinen på apoteket i dag. - I must pick up the medicine at the pharmacy today.

må is a modal verb meaning “must” or “have to.” It expresses obligation or necessity in the present tense. In English you’d say “I must pick up the medicine.”

Why is hente not preceded by å? Shouldn’t it be å hente?

After a modal verb like må, the next verb takes the bare infinitive form (no å). So you say må hente, not må å hente.

Why is medisinen used instead of medisin?

medisinen is the definite form (the medicine). In Norwegian, adding -en makes it “the medicine.” Using medisin (indefinite) would be “medicine” in general.

Why do we say på apoteket? Couldn’t we use i apoteket?

In Norwegian, på is used with many public places, shops and institutions (på apoteket, på skolen, på butikken), to mean “at the pharmacy,” “at school,” “at the shop.” i is used more for being inside a building or container in a literal sense.

Can you place i dag at the beginning? Does it affect word order?

Yes. Placing a time adverbial in first position triggers inversion (verb–subject swap).
Example:
I dag må jeg hente medisinen på apoteket.

Is it okay to say Jeg må hente medisin på apoteket i dag (without -en)?

You can, but it changes the nuance. medisin (indefinite) means medicine in general, while medisinen (definite) refers to a specific prescription or package you need to pick up.

How do you pronounce the å in må?

The letter å is pronounced [oː], similar to the “o” in the English word more. So må sounds like “mo” (long o).