Sengetøyet skiftes hver lørdag.

The bed linen is changed every Saturday.

Breakdown of Sengetøyet skiftes hver lørdag.

• hver: every
• lørdagen: the Saturday
• sengetøyet: the bed linen
• skiftes: to be changed

Questions & Answers about Sengetøyet skiftes hver lørdag.

Why is it sengetøyet and not just sengetøy?

Sengetøyet is the definite form: “the bed linen”, while sengetøy is indefinite: “bed linen” in general.

In Norwegian, the definite article is usually attached to the end of the noun:

• sengetøy = bed linen (in general)
• sengetøyet = the bed linen (specific)

In this sentence, we’re talking about the specific bed linen in this room/place, so the definite form sengetøyet is used.

What does the -et ending in sengetøyet mean?

The -et ending is the definite singular ending for neuter nouns.

• et sengetøy = (a) set of bed linen (neuter, indefinite)
• sengetøyet = the bed linen (neuter, definite singular)

So -et here functions like “the” in English, but attached to the noun instead of standing in front of it.

What grammatical form is skiftes? Why does it end in -s?

Skiftes is the present tense passive form of the verb å skifte (to change).

Norwegian has a so‑called s‑passive, formed by adding -s to the verb:

• Vi skifter sengetøyet. = We change the bed linen.
• Sengetøyet skiftes. = The bed linen is changed.

So skiftes = “is changed” (passive, present tense).

Could you also say Sengetøyet blir skiftet hver lørdag? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can say:

• Sengetøyet skiftes hver lørdag.
• Sengetøyet blir skiftet hver lørdag.

Both mean “The bed linen is changed every Saturday.”

Differences:

• skiftes = s‑passive, often a bit more compact/formal/neutral.
• blir skiftet = bli + past participle passive; also common, sometimes feels a bit more explicit or spoken.

In this kind of notice-style sentence (e.g., in a hotel), skiftes is very natural and idiomatic.

What tense is skiftes here, and why does it refer to a repeated action?

Skiftes is present tense passive.

Norwegian present tense is used both for:

1. Current ongoing actions:
   
   • Sengetøyet skiftes nå. = The bed linen is being changed now.
2. Regular/habitual actions:
   
   • Sengetøyet skiftes hver lørdag. = The bed linen is changed every Saturday.

The phrase hver lørdag (“every Saturday”) tells you it’s a habitual/repeated action, even though the verb form itself is just plain present tense.

Why is it hver lørdag and not hver lørdager?

In Norwegian, when you say “every [day/week/month/etc.]”, you use:

hver + singular noun

So:

• hver dag = every day
• hver uke = every week
• hver måned = every month
• hver lørdag = every Saturday

You do not put the noun in plural after hver. So hver lørdager is incorrect.

Can the word order be changed, like Hver lørdag skiftes sengetøyet?

Yes, that’s perfectly correct:

• Sengetøyet skiftes hver lørdag.
• Hver lørdag skiftes sengetøyet.

Both mean the same thing.
Moving hver lørdag to the front just emphasizes the time more.

Norwegian word order rule: if you start the sentence with something other than the subject (here, a time expression), the verb still needs to be in the second position. In Hver lørdag skiftes sengetøyet, the verb skiftes is still in the second slot, which is correct.

What is the difference between hver lørdag and på lørdag?

• hver lørdag = every Saturday (repeated/habitual)
• på lørdag = on Saturday / this coming Saturday (usually one specific upcoming Saturday)

So:

• Sengetøyet skiftes hver lørdag.
  The bed linen is changed every Saturday (regular routine).

• Sengetøyet skiftes på lørdag.
  The bed linen will be changed on Saturday (one particular Saturday, often the next one).

What’s the difference between sengetøy and sengetøyet in usage?

• sengetøy (indefinite) is used for bed linen in general:
  • Jeg må vaske sengetøy. = I have to wash bed linen.
• sengetøyet (definite) is for specific, identified bed linen:
  • Sengetøyet skiftes hver lørdag. = The bed linen (in these rooms) is changed every Saturday.

In hotel or household routines, you usually refer to the bed linen in this place, so the definite form sengetøyet is natural.

Could you say this sentence with an explicit subject, like “We change the bed linen every Saturday”?

Yes, with an explicit subject and active voice:

• Vi skifter sengetøyet hver lørdag.
  = We change the bed linen every Saturday.

Compare:

• Vi skifter sengetøyet hver lørdag. (active: “we change…”)
• Sengetøyet skiftes hver lørdag. (passive: “the bed linen is changed…”)

In notices/signs, the passive Sengetøyet skiftes… is more common because the person doing the action (we/they/staff) isn’t important.

Why is the verb skifte used here and not bytte or endre?

Norwegian has several verbs that translate to “change,” but they’re used in different contexts:

• å skifte = to change (clothes, bed linen, tires, etc.)

  • skifte sengetøy = change bed linen
  • skifte klær = change clothes
  • skifte dekk = change tires

• å bytte = to swap/exchange one thing for another

  • bytte plass = change/swap places
  • bytte jobb = change jobs

• å endre = to alter/modify (more abstract or formal)

  • endre planen = change/alter the plan
  • endre mening = change one’s mind

For bed linen, clothes, diapers, etc., the natural verb is skifte, so Sengetøyet skiftes… is the idiomatic choice.

Is skiftes reflexive, like “changes itself”?

No. Even though it ends in -s, this is not reflexive; it is passive voice.

• Reflexive verbs use seg, for example:

  • Han vasker seg. = He washes himself.

• Passive verbs use -s or bli + past participle:

  • Sengetøyet skiftes. = The bed linen is changed.
  • Sengetøyet blir skiftet. = The bed linen is being changed.

So skiftes here is purely passive, not reflexive.

How is skiftes pronounced, and is the t silent?

Pronunciation (rough guide in English sounds):

• skiftes ≈ “SHIF-tess”
  • sk before i is like English “sh”.
  • ift is close to “ift” in “gift”.
  • -es is pronounced like “ess”.

The t is not silent here: you do pronounce the t in the -ft- cluster.