Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Ryktet sier at supermarkedet åpner tidligere på søndager. - The rumor says that the supermarket opens earlier on Sundays.

Ryktet is the definite form of the neuter noun rykte, meaning “rumor.” In Norwegian you add -et to a neuter noun to make it definite singular:
rykte → ryktet (“the rumor”).

Why is there an at after sier in the sentence?

The word at is a conjunction (a complementizer) that introduces a subordinate clause, equivalent to English that in reported speech. When you link what someone “says” to what is said, you use sier at:
Ryktet sier at … (“The rumor says that …”).

Why is the verb åpner immediately after the subject in the subordinate clause, instead of at the end like in German?

In Norwegian subordinate clauses introduced by at, the finite verb stays right after the subject (SVO order). Unlike German, Norwegian does not move the verb to the end in subordinate clauses. So you get:
at + subject + verb + (rest of clause).

Why is supermarkedet in the definite form (with -et)?

The suffix -et marks the definite form of a neuter noun. supermarkedet means “the supermarket,” indicating a specific or known supermarket. If you wanted to say “a supermarket,” you’d use the indefinite form et supermarked.

What does tidligere mean and what is its word class?

Tidligere is an adverb meaning “earlier.” It modifies the verb åpner to indicate that the opening time is earlier than before.

Why is it på søndager in plural, and why do you need the preposition på?

To talk about a habitual or recurring event on a day of the week, Norwegian uses på + [day in plural]: på søndager means “on Sundays” (repeatedly). If it were a single specific Sunday, you’d use the singular: på søndag (“on Sunday/this Sunday”).

Why does the sentence use the present tense åpner for something happening in the future?

Norwegian (like English) often uses the simple present to express future scheduled or timetabled events. Here, åpner functions like a timetable statement: “the supermarket opens (at its regular time).”

What’s the difference between Ryktet sier at… and Det ryktes at…?

Ryktet sier at… literally “the rumor says that…” – a concrete statement.
Det ryktes at… means “it is rumored that…” – an impersonal, passive‐like construction. Both express rumors, but the latter is more detached.

Can you omit at after sier in casual speech?

In fast or very colloquial speech some Norwegians might drop at (e.g. “Ryktet sier supermarkedet åpner…”), but in standard written and careful spoken Norwegian you should include at.

Could you replace sier at with another expression like har hørt at?

Yes. Instead of Ryktet sier at… you might say Jeg har hørt at supermarkedet åpner tidligere på søndager, meaning “I’ve heard that the supermarket opens earlier on Sundays.” That shifts the source from “the rumor” to “I.”