Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Jo flere forslag vi får, jo enklere blir valget. - The more suggestions we get, the easier the choice becomes.

Yes. It’s the Norwegian correlative comparative: Jo + comparative …, jo + comparative …. It matches English “the + comparative …, the + comparative …”: cause in the first half, result in the second.

What exactly does the word “jo” mean here?

Here, jo is a comparative particle that pairs the two halves. It doesn’t translate literally by itself; it signals “the … (X)er …, the … (Y)er …”. Don’t confuse it with the separate particle jo that means “after all/indeed/come on” in other contexts.

Why is there a comma in the sentence?

Because you’re pairing two clauses in the correlative construction. Standard writing separates them with a comma: Jo …, jo ….

Why is the word order “vi får” in the first half but “blir valget” in the second?

The first half behaves like a subordinate clause, so you get normal subject–verb order: vi får.
The second half is a main clause with a fronted element (jo enklere). Norwegian main clauses are verb‑second, so the finite verb comes next: blir valget (verb before subject).

Can I say “jo enklere valget blir” instead of “jo enklere blir valget”?

As the second half (after the comma), you should use inversion: jo enklere blir valget.
However, if that clause comes first (before the comma), it uses subordinate word order: Jo enklere valget blir, jo …

Why is it “blir” (becomes) and not “er” (is)?

Both can work:

blir highlights a change as the number of suggestions increases (dynamic).
er treats it as a state given a certain number (static). So Jo flere forslag vi får, jo enklere blir/er valget are both acceptable, with blir sounding a bit more idiomatic here.

Why is it “flere” and not “mer”?

flere = “more” with countable plural nouns (e.g., forslag = suggestions).
mer = “more” with uncountable/mass nouns (e.g., tid, vann).
Examples:
Jo flere bøker jeg leser …
Jo mer tid vi har …

Why doesn’t “forslag” have a plural ending here?

Because forslag is a neuter noun whose indefinite plural is identical to the singular. Forms:

singular indefinite: forslag
singular definite: forslaget
plural indefinite: forslag
plural definite: forslagene

Why is it “valget” (the choice) and not just “valg”?

You’re referring to the specific decision at hand, so the definite form valget is natural. Plain valg (indefinite) would sound like “a choice” in general rather than “the decision.”

Could I avoid repeating the noun and just say “det”?

Yes. Two idiomatic options:

Jo flere forslag vi får, jo enklere blir det.
Jo flere forslag vi får, jo enklere blir det å velge.

Is “får” necessary? Could I use “har”?

You can use har:

Jo flere forslag vi har, jo enklere … (focuses on the amount you possess)
Jo flere forslag vi får, jo enklere … (focuses on receiving them over time) Both are grammatical; får adds the sense of accumulation.

Can I use “desto” or “dess” instead of the second “jo”?

Yes. Very common:

Jo flere forslag vi får, desto enklere blir valget.
(“desto” is the usual choice; dess is more formal/literary.)

How would I express the opposite (fewer/less … harder)?

Use the comparative of “few” and “little”:

Jo færre forslag vi får, jo vanskeligere blir valget.
Jo mindre tid vi har, jo vanskeligere blir valget.

What’s the pronunciation of the trickier words?

Approximate guides:

jo ≈ “yoo”
flere ≈ “FLEH-reh”
forslag: the “rs” becomes a single “sh”-like sound → “FOR-shlahg”
valget ≈ “VAHL-get”
(Exact sounds vary by dialect.)

Can I generalize the subject with “man”?

Yes: Jo flere forslag man får, jo enklere blir valget. (“The more suggestions one gets, the easier the choice becomes.”)

What forms are “flere” and “enklere”?

flere: comparative of the quantifier mange (many → more).
enklere: comparative of the adjective enkel (simple → simpler → simplest: enkel – enklere – enklest).

Any other natural rephrasings with the same meaning?

Jo flere forslag vi får, jo enklere blir det å ta et valg.
Jo flere forslag vi får, desto enklere blir det å velge.
Jo flere forslag vi får, jo enklere er det for oss å bestemme oss.