Snøen hindrer bussen.

the bus

Breakdown of Snøen hindrer bussen.

• snøen: the snow
• hindre: to prevent

Questions & Answers about Snøen hindrer bussen.

Why is it Snøen and not just snø?

Norwegian marks the definite form (the snow) by adding an ending to the noun instead of using a separate word like the.

• snø = snow (indefinite, general)
• snøen = the snow (definite, specific)

In this sentence, we are talking about the snow that is currently there and causing trouble, so Norwegian uses the definite form snøen.

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What exactly does hindrer mean, and how is it different from stopper or forhindrer?

å hindre means to hinder, obstruct, prevent. It suggests something is making it difficult or impossible for something to happen or move freely.

• Snøen hindrer bussen.
  → The snow is hindering/obstructing/preventing the bus.

Nuances compared with other verbs:

• å stoppe = to stop
  Often more direct, like bringing something to a halt.

  • Snøen stopper bussen. → The snow stops the bus (it can’t move at all).

• å forhindrer = to prevent, to stop from happening
  Often more abstract or formal, about preventing an event or action.

  • Snøen forhindrer bussen i å kjøre. → The snow prevents the bus from driving.

Hindre is a good general verb for physical obstruction or practical prevention.

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