Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Vaskemaskinen er full, så vi tørker resten i tørketrommelen. - The washing machine is full, so we dry the rest in the dryer.

Here, full means “full/loaded (with clothes).” If you mean the machine has finished running, use ferdig: “Vaskemaskinen er ferdig.” Note that with people, full means “drunk”: “Jeg er full.”

Why is there a comma before "så," and is the word order after it correct?

You’re linking two independent clauses, so Norwegian normally uses a comma. In this use (“so/therefore”), så functions as a connector, and the following clause keeps normal subject–verb order: så vi tørker … is correct.

Could I instead say “…, så tørker vi resten i tørketrommelen”?

Yes, that version with inversion (så tørker vi …) is also common, especially in speech. It treats så more like a sentence adverb (“then/so”), which triggers inversion. In careful writing, …, så vi tørker … (no inversion) is the safer choice; or split into two sentences: “Vaskemaskinen er full. Så tørker vi resten …”

Why is it “i tørketrommelen” and not “på” or “med”?

Because the clothes are dried inside the machine. Use:

i for “in”: “i tørketrommelen” (in the dryer)
på for “on” a surface: “på tørkestativet” (on the drying rack)
med means “with (by means of)”: “med tørketrommelen” is possible but less idiomatic here than “i.”

Why is “tørketrommelen” definite? Could I use the indefinite?

It’s definite because the dryer is specific/known (yours). Indefinite is fine if it’s non‑specific: “i en tørketrommel” = in a dryer. The bare form “i tørketrommel” without an article sounds odd; prefer either definite or “en.”

What does “resten” refer to? Do I need to say “resten av …”?

resten = “the rest (of it/them).” Context (the load of laundry) makes it clear. You can make it explicit: resten av klærne (“the rest of the clothes”). Both are correct.

Is “tørke” transitive or intransitive here?

Here it’s transitive (“to dry something”): vi tørker resten = we dry the rest. It can also be intransitive (“to become dry”): Klærne tørker i sola (“The clothes are drying in the sun”).

Can the present tense here mean a near‑future plan?

Yes. Norwegian often uses the present for planned/near‑future actions: vi tørker resten ≈ “we’ll dry the rest.” You can also say vi skal tørke (plan/intention) or vi kommer til å tørke (prediction).

Why isn’t it “Vaskemaskinen er fullt”?

Adjectives agree with the noun’s gender/number. vaskemaskinen is common gender (en), so you use full. Neuter nouns take fullt (e.g., “Huset er fullt”), and plural takes fulle (“Maskinene er fulle”).

How do I pronounce the tricky parts?

vaskemaskinen ≈ VAHS-ke-ma-SHEE-nen (the “sk” in “maskin” before i sounds like “sh”)
så ≈ saw (long vowel)
tørker and tørketrommelen: ø like French “eu” in “peur” (TUR-ker; TUR-ke-TRUM-me-len)
resten: REH-sten
i: “ee”

Can I front “resten” for emphasis?

Yes. Norwegian main clauses are V2 (the finite verb is in the second position): Resten tørker vi i tørketrommelen.

Is there a difference between “så” and “derfor” here?

Both can express consequence, but derfor (“therefore”) is more formal/explicit and behaves like a sentence adverb that triggers inversion: “Vaskemaskinen er full; derfor tørker vi resten i tørketrommelen.” så is more neutral/conversational.

Is “vaskemaskina” acceptable instead of “vaskemaskinen”?

In Bokmål, many speakers use the feminine definite ending -a in everyday language: vaskemaskina. It’s common and fine in informal contexts. vaskemaskinen is the neutral, standard written form.