Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Den urolige katten koser seg ikke lenger i støyen. - The uneasy cat no longer enjoys itself in the noise.

Å kose seg means “to enjoy oneself,” often with a nuance of feeling cozy/comfortable. Seg is a reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject. In other persons it changes:

Jeg koser meg
Du koser deg
Han/hun/den/det koser seg
Vi koser oss
Dere koser dere
De koser seg

Is kose seg the same as like?

Not quite. Å like expresses a general preference (to like something). Å kose seg describes the experience of enjoying oneself in the moment. You can also say:

kose med [noen/noe] = to cuddle/pet
kose seg med [noe] = to enjoy something while doing it (e.g., kose seg med en bok)

Why is the negation after the verb: koser seg ikke lenger?

Norwegian main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb comes in second position. After the verb, sentence adverbs like ikke usually come. The reflexive pronoun seg sticks to the verb, so the core order here is: Subject – Verb – seg – ikke – lenger – (place).

Main clause: Den urolige katten koser seg ikke lenger i støyen.
Subordinate clause: … at den urolige katten ikke lenger koser seg i støyen. (Here, adverbs like ikke come before the verb phrase.)

Why is it ikke lenger and not lenger ikke?

The idiomatic, default expression is ikke lenger (“no longer”). Lenger ikke is rare and usually only for special emphasis or in very formal/poetic styles. Use ikke lenger.

Can I say koser ikke seg?

No. The reflexive pronoun belongs tightly with the verb and normally comes immediately after it in main clauses. Say koser seg ikke, not koser ikke seg.

What’s the difference between lenge, lenger, and lengre?

lenge = for a long time (How long?) E.g., Ikke lenge.
lenger = longer/any longer (adverb). Fixed in ikke lenger = no longer.
lengre = an alternative comparative form often used adjectivally (the longer X). Tip: Use lenger for the adverb; use lengre when it directly modifies a noun (e.g., den lengre veien). In practice, many Norwegians use lenger widely; ikke lenger is the standard set phrase.

Why is it Den urolige katten with both den and the -en ending on katten?

That’s Norwegian double definiteness. With an adjective in front of a definite noun, you use both a definite article (den/det/de) and the definite suffix on the noun:

Definite without adjective: katten = the cat
Definite with adjective: den urolige katten = the restless cat
Indefinite: en urolig katt

Why does the adjective end with -e in urolige?

In the definite form (and in all plurals), adjectives take -e. So:

Indefinite singular: en urolig katt
Definite singular: den urolige katten
Plural: urolige katter / de urolige kattene

What’s the nuance of urolig? Could I use nervøs?

Urolig can mean restless, fidgety, or uneasy/anxious depending on context. Nervøs leans more toward nervous/anxious. Both can fit, but urolig is slightly broader (can also suggest physical restlessness). Synonyms: rastløs, engstelig (more anxious).

Why i støyen and not another preposition?

I means “in/inside/amid,” which fits an environment: i støyen = “in the noise.” Other options:

med støyen = with the noise (sounds like the noise is your companion/tool; odd here)
av støyen = from/because of the noise (cause: Han får hodepine av støyen) Common synonyms for støy: bråk, larm. Using the definite form (støyen/bråket/larmen) points to a specific, known noise.

Can I move i støyen to the front?

Yes. If you front an adverbial, V2 still applies, so the verb stays second:

I støyen koser den urolige katten seg ikke lenger.

How do I say this in the past or future?

Past (preterite): Den urolige katten koste seg ikke lenger i støyen.
Present perfect: Den urolige katten har ikke lenger kost seg i støyen. Colloquially you’ll also hear kosa seg / har kosa seg (accepted in many styles).
Future: Den urolige katten kommer ikke til å kose seg i støyen (lenger).

Is ikke mer a valid alternative to ikke lenger?

Yes, ikke mer often works and is common in speech: … koser seg ikke mer i støyen. Note that mer also means “more,” so context must make it clear you mean “no longer,” not “no more (quantity).” Ikke lenger is unambiguous for time/continuation.

Any quick pronunciation tips for key words?

urolig(e): roughly “oo-ROO-lee(-eh)”; the -g is soft, often not a hard [g]
koser: “KOO-ser”
seg: like English “say” with a hard g at the end in many accents (“sai-g”), but often very light
ikke: “IK-keh” (clear k sound)
støyen: “STØY-en”; øy like the vowel in English “boy,” but with rounded lips (Norwegian ø)