Tenåringen ser seg selv i speilet.

to see

Breakdown of Tenåringen ser seg selv i speilet.

• i: in
• speilet: the mirror
• tenåringen: the teenager

Questions & Answers about Tenåringen ser seg selv i speilet.

In English we say “the teenager”. Why is there no separate word for “the” in Tenåringen?

Norwegian usually puts “the” at the end of the noun as a suffix instead of using a separate word.

• en tenåring = a teenager (indefinite)
• tenåringen = the teenager (definite)

So -en on tenåring is the definite article (the).
You do not normally say den tenåringen for simple “the teenager” – that would more often mean “that (specific) teenager”, adding extra emphasis or contrast.

What does seg selv mean, and why do we need both words?

seg selv is a reflexive expression meaning “himself / herself / themselves” (referring back to the subject).

• seg = reflexive object pronoun for 3rd person (he, she, they)
• selv = self, adds emphasis or clarity

In this sentence:

• Tenåringen (the teenager) is the subject.
• seg selv refers back to Tenåringen → the teenager sees himself/herself/themselves.

Using seg selv instead of just seg makes it very clear that the teenager is looking at their own reflection, not at some other person.

Why can’t we say Tenåringen ser ham / henne i speilet instead?