Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Treningen er viktig for god helse. - Training is important for good health.

In Norwegian, adding -en makes a noun definite. So trening is “exercise” in general (indefinite), while treningen is “the exercise.” When talking about exercise as a concept or habit, Norwegians often use the definite form, which in English we naturally render simply as “exercise.” Thus Treningen er viktig literally says “The exercise is important,” but we understand it as “Exercise is important.”

What does the -en ending on treningen signify?

The -en suffix is the definite article attached to a common-gender noun in Bokmål. Examples: • en bil → bilen (the car)
• et hus → huset (the house)
• trening → treningen (the exercise)

Why is there no article before god helse?

Abstract or mass nouns like helse (health) usually appear without an article when you speak generally. god helse simply means “good health.” Adding an article (for example, den gode helse) would sound odd unless you referred to a specific health state mentioned earlier.

Why isn’t helse in the plural or definite form?

Helse is an uncountable, abstract noun, so it stays singular and indefinite when you talk about it broadly. You can’t say helsene (“the healths”) because health isn’t countable. Using a definite form like den gode helsa only makes sense if you’re pointing back to a particular case of health.