Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Etter en krangel gir vi hverandre en klem og sier unnskyld. - After an argument we give each other a hug and say sorry.

Etter en krangel = after an argument (any argument), general or typical situation.
Etter krangelen = after the argument, a specific, known argument.

In your sentence, it describes what usually happens when we fight, so the indefinite form en krangel fits better as a general/habitual description.

Why is the verb in the present tense (gir, sier) if this sounds like a repeated or general action?

Norwegian, like English, uses the present tense for:

Things happening now: Vi gir hverandre en klem. – We are giving each other a hug.
Habits or typical actions: Etter en krangel gir vi hverandre en klem – After an argument, we (usually) give each other a hug.

So the present tense here is a habitual present, just like in English After an argument, we hug and say sorry.

What does hverandre mean exactly, and how is it used?

Hverandre means each other / one another. It’s used when the action goes both ways between at least two people:

Vi gir hverandre en klem. – We give each other a hug.
De hjelper hverandre. – They help each other.

You don’t change hverandre for gender or number; it stays the same.

Why is it gir vi hverandre and not vi gir hverandre after Etter en krangel?

Norwegian has a V2 word order rule in main clauses: the finite verb (here gir) must be the second element in the sentence.

If the sentence starts with the subject:
Vi (1) gir (2) hverandre en klem.
If you put an adverbial/time expression first, like Etter en krangel, that whole phrase counts as element 1, so the verb must come next:
Etter en krangel (1) gir (2) vi hverandre en klem.

So: Etter en krangel gir vi …, not Etter en krangel vi gir ….

What is the literal meaning of gir vi hverandre en klem?

Literally:

gir = give
vi = we
hverandre = each other
en klem = a hug

So gir vi hverandre en klem is literally “give we each other a hug”, which in natural English is “we give each other a hug.”

Why is it en klem and not just klem?

Norwegian normally needs an article with singular countable nouns, like English:

en klem – a hug
en kopp – a cup
en bil – a car

You can use bare klem in some special set phrases, especially in informal writing/sign-offs:

Klem fra Anna – Hug(s) from Anna.

But in a normal sentence with a verb, you say en klem:
Vi gir hverandre en klem. – We give each other a hug.

Could I say vi klemmer hverandre instead of gir vi hverandre en klem?

Yes, grammatically that works:

Etter en krangel klemmer vi hverandre og sier unnskyld.

However, gi noen en klem is very common and sounds a bit softer and more idiomatic. Å klemme is a straightforward verb to hug / to squeeze. Both are understood; this is mostly a style preference.

What’s the difference between sier unnskyld, unnskyld, and beklager?

All are used to apologize, but with nuances:

sier unnskyld – say sorry. Neutral, descriptive:
Han sier unnskyld. – He says sorry.
Unnskyld! – direct apology, often like sorry / excuse me (bumping into someone, trying to get past, etc.).
Beklager! – also sorry, can sound a bit more formal or serious, like I’m sorry about that.

In your sentence, sier unnskyld focuses on the act of apologizing as part of the routine after an argument.

Why is it en krangel? What gender is krangel, and how do I make the plural?

Krangel (argument, quarrel) is a masculine noun:

Indefinite singular: en krangel – an argument
Definite singular: krangelen – the argument
Indefinite plural: krangler – arguments
Definite plural: kranglene – the arguments

The same pattern applies to en klem (also masculine):

en klem, klemmen, klemmer, klemmene

Is krangel a noun or a verb here? How would I say “we argue”?

In your sentence, en krangel is a noun: an argument.

There is also a verb: å krangle – to argue, to quarrel.

Examples:

Vi krangler ofte. – We argue often.
Vi hadde en krangel i går. – We had an argument yesterday.

Could I say etter at vi har kranglet instead of etter en krangel? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can say:

Etter at vi har kranglet, gir vi hverandre en klem og sier unnskyld.

Differences:

Etter en krangel – focuses on the event as a noun; sounds a bit more compact and general.
Etter at vi har kranglet – focuses on the process/action (verb phrase have argued). It can feel a bit more concrete and personal.

Both are natural; your original sentence is slightly simpler and more idiomatic in many contexts.

How is krangel pronounced, especially the -ng-?

Approximate pronunciation in IPA: [ˈkrɑŋəl].

Key points:

kra-: like krah- (similar to “kra” in “kraft” in many English accents).
-ng-: like the ng in “singer”, not like the ng+g in “finger”.
Final -el: a reduced -uhl sound, similar to the ending in English “subtle” (but with a clearer l).

So it’s roughly KRAHNG-uhl.