Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Han snakker rolig.

Here it functions as an adverb of manner: it tells you how he speaks. Many Norwegian adjectives can be used adverbially without any ending. As an adjective, rolig would describe a noun: Han er rolig (He is calm).

Why isn’t it roligt with a -t ending?

In Bokmål, adjectives ending in -ig/-lig keep the same form when used adverbially, so it’s rolig, not roligt. The form roligt is Swedish. In Nynorsk the adverb would be roleg.

Where do I put rolig in the sentence?

After the verb (and after any object):

No object: Han snakker rolig.
With an object: Han snakker norsk rolig. (You can also say: Han snakker rolig på norsk.) Avoid Han rolig snakker, which is unidiomatic in Norwegian.

How do I negate this?

Place ikke after the verb: Han snakker ikke rolig. With a fronted element, it still follows the verb: I dag snakker han ikke rolig.

Does snakker mean both “speaks” and “is speaking”?

Yes. Norwegian present tense covers both simple and progressive: Han snakker rolig = “He speaks calmly” or “He is speaking calmly.” Context decides. You can add nuance with constructions like Han står og snakker rolig (He’s standing and speaking calmly).

How is snakke conjugated?

Infinitive: å snakke
Present: snakker
Preterite (past): snakket
Past participle: snakket
Present perfect: har snakket Same form for all persons (no subject–verb agreement).

What’s the pronunciation?

Approximate:

Han: HAHN [hɑn]
snakker: SNAK-ker [ˈsnɑkːər] (double k = short a and a long/strong k)
rolig: ROO-lee [ˈruːli] (the g is often not pronounced; r is tapped/trilled)

Does rolig mean “quietly” or “slowly”?

It mainly means “calmly/unhurriedly/steadily.” For volume, use lavt or lavmælt (soft-spoken): Han snakker lavt. For speed, use sakte or langsomt: Han snakker sakte. Stille often means “quiet(ly)” in the sense of little/no noise, but in this context lavt/lavmælt is clearer.

Could I use another verb than snakker?

prater = chats/talks (more informal): Han prater rolig.
sier = says (takes what is said as an object/quote): Han sier rolig at …
taler = speaks (formal/public speaking): Han taler rolig.

How do I intensify or compare rolig?

Intensifiers: veldig/ganske/svært: Han snakker veldig rolig.
Too: for: Han snakker for rolig.
Comparative/superlative: roligere/roligst: Han snakker roligere enn før.

How would I change the subject to a woman or be gender‑neutral?

Woman: Hun snakker rolig.
Gender‑neutral (increasingly used): Hen snakker rolig.

How does this combine with a language like “Norwegian”?

Common patterns:

Han snakker norsk rolig. (S–V–object–manner)
Han snakker rolig på norsk. (manner + prepositional phrase) Avoid Han snakker rolig norsk, which can sound like “calm Norwegian” (adjective + noun).

What happens to word order if I start with a time word?

Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule (the finite verb is in second position):

I dag snakker han rolig.
Nå snakker han rolig.

What’s the Nynorsk version?

Han snakkar roleg. (Present snakkar, adverb roleg.)

How do I turn it into a yes/no question?

Invert subject and verb:

Snakker han rolig?

Why is it rolig here but rolig(e) elsewhere?

As an adjective:

Indefinite singular: rolig (en rolig mann)
Definite singular/plural: rolige (den rolige mannen / rolige mennesker) As an adverb of manner (our sentence), it stays rolig: Han snakker rolig.

Is rolig a false friend with Swedish?

Yes. In Norwegian, rolig = calm; in Swedish, rolig typically means “funny.” Norwegian “funny” is morsom.