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Bleien er for våt, så vi må bytte den.

Bleien er for våt, så vi må bytte den.
The diaper is too wet, so we have to change it.
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Questions & Answers about Bleien er for våt, så vi må bytte den.

Why is it bleien and not bleie?

Bleie is the dictionary form (indefinite singular). Bleien is definite singular: the diaper.
Norwegian often uses the definite form where English might use a/the depending on context, but here it clearly means a specific diaper (the one the baby is wearing).

What gender is bleie, and how does that affect the sentence?

Bleie is typically feminine (ei bleie), but many dialects/written usage also allow common gender (en bleie).
In the definite form, you’ll see either bleia (feminine) or bleien (common/masculine ending). This sentence uses bleien, so it’s treating it as common gender.

Why does the adjective look like våt and not vått or våte?

Adjectives agree with the noun in gender/number/definiteness:

  • våt = common gender singular (en bleie/bleien)
  • vått = neuter singular (et ...)
  • våte = plural (... er våte) and also used in many definite contexts

Here the noun is singular common gender, so våt is the right form.

Why is it er for våt—what does for mean here?

for here means too (excessively): for våt = too wet.
So Bleien er for våt = The diaper is too wet.

What is the function of så in the middle of the sentence?

så here means so / therefore, linking cause and result:

  • Bleien er for våt, så vi må bytte den.
    = The diaper is too wet, so we have to change it.

It’s very common in everyday Norwegian.

Why is the word order så vi må ... and not something like så må vi ...?

After så used as “so/therefore” introducing a new clause, Norwegian usually keeps normal main-clause word order: subject first:

  • så vi må ...

You can also see så må vi ... in some styles, but that typically feels more like “then” (sequence) than “so/therefore”, depending on context.

Why do we use må here, and what does it imply?

må means must / have to. It indicates necessity:

  • vi må bytte den = we have to change it

It’s stronger than bør (should), and often used for practical necessities.

What does bytte mean here—does it mean “exchange” or “change”?

bytte can mean exchange/swap, but with things like diapers it naturally means change/replace:

  • bytte bleie = change a diaper

So bytte den means change it (for a new one).

Why is it den at the end, and what does it refer to?

den is the object pronoun it for common gender nouns. It refers back to bleien.

  • common gender: den
  • neuter: det
  • plural: dem

Since bleie/bleien is treated as common gender here, den is correct.

Could I drop den and just say vi må bytte?

In this exact meaning, you normally need an object:

  • vi må bytte den = we must change it
    You can also say:
  • vi må bytte bleie (very common; “we need to change the diaper”)
    But vi må bytte alone sounds incomplete unless context strongly supplies the missing object.
Is Bleien er for våt a typical way to say it, or would Norwegians phrase it differently?

It’s natural and understandable. Very common alternatives include:

  • Bleia er for våt, så vi må bytte den. (feminine definite form bleia)
  • Bleien er våt, så vi må bytte den. (often you don’t need for unless you mean too wet)
  • Vi må skifte bleie. (skifte is also commonly used for changing diapers)
Why is there a comma before så?

A comma is commonly used to separate the two main clauses when så means so/therefore:

  • cause clause, så result clause

In informal writing you may see it without a comma, but the comma is a good, standard choice here.