Samtalen var morsom.

The conversation was fun.

Breakdown of Samtalen var morsom.

• være: to be
• samtalen: the conversation
• morsom: fun

Questions & Answers about Samtalen var morsom.

What does Samtalen var morsom literally mean in English?

Break it down word by word:

• samtalen = “the conversation”
• var = “was”
• morsom = “fun” or “amusing”
  So the full sentence means “The conversation was fun.”

Why is samtalen in the definite form and why isn’t there a separate word for “the”?

In Norwegian the definite article is attached to the end of the noun, not placed in front. You have:

• samtale = “a conversation”
• samtalen = “the conversation” (the suffix -en marks definiteness for common-gender nouns)

How do I say “a conversation” in Norwegian (the indefinite form)?

You use the indefinite article en (or optionally ei, since samtale is historically feminine but treated as common gender in Bokmål):

• en samtale (most common)
• ei samtale (also correct, less common)

Why is the adjective morsom and not morsomt?

Adjectives in Norwegian agree in gender and number with the noun when used predicatively (after a linking verb):

• Samtale is a common-gender noun (“utrum”), so the predicative form is morsom.
• If the subject were neuter (e.g. det), you’d use the neuter form morsomt: Det var morsomt.

How do I turn Samtalen var morsom into a question “Was the conversation fun?”

Norwegian follows V2 word order, so invert the verb and the subject:
Var samtalen morsom?

How do I say “a fun conversation” (adjective before noun)?

Use the attributive form of the adjective and the indefinite article:
en morsom samtale

How do I say “the funny conversation” (attributive + definite)?

You need the definite demonstrative den plus the adjective in its definite form (-e ending):
den morsomme samtalen

What’s the difference between morsom and gøy?

• morsom often means “amusing” or “funny” – something that makes you laugh.
• gøy is a more colloquial word for “fun” or “enjoyable,” not necessarily funny.
  Example: Samtalen var gøy = The conversation was fun (enjoyable), not just humorous.

Why is var in the second position, and can I start the sentence with something else?

Norwegian is a V2 language: the finite verb must be the second element. You can start with another element (e.g., an adverb) and the verb still stays in spot two:

• I går var samtalen morsom. (Yesterday the conversation was fun.)

How do I pronounce Samtalen var morsom?

Approximate stress and sounds:

• SAM-ta-len (stress on SAM)
• var (like English “var”)
• MOR-som (stress on MOR)
  So overall: “SAM-ta-len var MOR-som.”