Breakdown of Hullete sokker er ubehagelige.
være
to be
sokken
the sock
hullete
holey
ubehagelig
uncomfortable
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Questions & Answers about Hullete sokker er ubehagelige.
What does hullete mean and how does it relate to English?
Hullete is an adjective meaning “full of holes” or “holey.” It comes from the noun hull (“hole”) plus an adjectival ending. In English you might say holey socks or socks with holes.
Why does hullete end with -e instead of appearing as hullet or hullet?
In Norwegian, adjectives take an -e ending when they modify a plural noun (indefinite plural) or any definite noun. Since sokker is plural indefinite, the adjective must also get -e.
How do you form the plural of sokk in Norwegian?
Sokk is a common-gender noun. Its forms are:
• Indefinite singular: en sokk
• Definite singular: sokken
• Indefinite plural: sokker (add -er)
• Definite plural: sokkene
Why is sokker in the indefinite form here (instead of sokkene)?
Because the sentence makes a general statement about “holey socks” as a category, not about specific socks you have in mind. Indefinite plural is used for generic references.
What does ubehagelige mean and why does it also end with -e?
Ubehagelige means “uncomfortable.” It’s formed from the adjective behagelig (“comfortable”) with the negative prefix u-, and it takes -e because it’s describing an indefinite plural noun.
How does the prefix u- work in Norwegian adjectives?
The prefix u- in Norwegian functions like English un-. It negates or reverses the base adjective: behagelig → ubehagelig, vant → uvant, etc.
Why is the verb er used here, and does it change for plural subjects?
Er is the present-tense form of å være (“to be”). It stays the same for all persons and numbers in the present: jeg er, du er, han er, vi er, dere er, de er.
Is the adjective–noun word order in Norwegian the same as in English?
Yes. Adjectives come before nouns just like in English: hullete sokker = holey socks.
Could you express “socks with holes” differently in Norwegian?
Yes. Alternatives include:
• sokker med hull (literally “socks with holes”)
• sokker som har hull (“socks that have holes”)
However, hullete sokker is the most concise and idiomatic way.