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Jeg henger kjøkkenhåndkleet på radiatoren før jeg legger meg.

Jeg henger kjøkkenhåndkleet på radiatoren før jeg legger meg.
I hang the kitchen towel on the radiator before I go to bed.

Breakdown of Jeg henger kjøkkenhåndkleet på radiatoren før jeg legger meg.

jeg
I
på
on
før
before
legge seg
to go to bed
radiatoren
the radiator
henge
to hang
kjøkkenhåndkleet
the kitchen towel
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Questions & Answers about Jeg henger kjøkkenhåndkleet på radiatoren før jeg legger meg.

Why is kjøkkenhåndkleet one long word?

Norwegian (like English) often uses compound nouns, but Norwegian usually writes them as a single word.

  • kjøkken = kitchen
  • håndkle = towel
    So kjøkkenhåndkle = kitchen towel, and kjøkkenhåndkleet = the kitchen towel (see also the definite ending).
What does the -et at the end of kjøkkenhåndkleet mean?

It’s the definite form (roughly the). Norwegian commonly attaches the to the end of the noun.

  • et håndkle = a towel (neuter)
  • håndkleet = the towel
    So kjøkkenhåndkleet = the kitchen towel.
Why is it radiatoren and not en radiator?

Radiatoren is also definite: the radiator.

  • en radiator = a radiator
  • radiatoren = the radiator
    In context, you’re talking about a specific one (often the one in your home).
Why does Norwegian say på radiatoren (on the radiator)?

på is used for something placed on/onto a surface or hanging on something. A radiator is treated as the place/surface you hang it on.
Common alternatives depend on meaning:

  • på radiatoren = on the radiator (very normal)
  • over radiatoren = over/above the radiator (different position)
Does henger mean I’m hanging it right now, or is it a habit?

Norwegian present tense can cover both:

  • what you’re doing now: Jeg henger … = I’m hanging … (right now)
  • a routine/general truth: Jeg henger … før jeg legger meg. = I hang … before I go to bed (habit)

If you want to emphasize “right now”, you can add nå: Jeg henger … nå.

Why is the word order Jeg henger kjøkkenhåndkleet … and not something else?

In a main clause, Norwegian has V2 word order: the finite verb is in the second position. Here it’s straightforward:

  • Jeg (1st position)
  • henger (2nd position, the verb)
  • then the object and other information: kjøkkenhåndkleet på radiatoren …

If you start with something else, the verb still stays second:

  • Før jeg legger meg, henger jeg kjøkkenhåndkleet på radiatoren.
Why is there another jeg after før?

Because før jeg legger meg is a full subordinate clause: before I go to bed. It needs its own subject (jeg) and verb (legger). Norwegian typically keeps this explicit rather than dropping the subject.

Is the word order different in the før-clause?

Yes, it’s a subordinate clause introduced by før. The basic order is still Subject–Verb–Object:

  • før jeg legger meg (before I lay myself down / go to bed)

In subordinate clauses, Norwegian often puts certain adverbs (like ikke) before the verb:

  • før jeg ikke legger meg would be unusual meaning-wise, but word-order-wise ikke would come before legger: før jeg ikke legger meg (before I don’t go to bed).
Why does it say legger meg instead of just legger?

Because å legge seg is a reflexive verb meaning to lie down / go to bed.

  • å legge = to lay/put (something)
  • å legge seg = to lie down, go to bed
    So jeg legger meg literally means I lay myself (down) → idiomatically I go to bed.
Why is it meg and not min or selv?

meg is the object pronoun (me) used with reflexive verbs:

  • jeg = I (subject form)
  • meg = me (object form)

You don’t use min (my) here because you’re not expressing possession. selv can be added for emphasis, but it’s not required:

  • Jeg legger meg. = I go to bed.
  • Jeg legger meg selv. = I put/lay myself down (emphatic; often sounds odd unless contrast is intended).
Could I also say før jeg går og legger meg?

Yes, and it’s common in speech. It adds the idea of the process go and do it:

  • før jeg legger meg = before I go to bed
  • før jeg går og legger meg = before I go and go to bed / before I turn in

Both are correct; the shorter version is more direct.

How would pronunciation/stress typically work in this sentence?

A few common points:

  • Stress in compounds usually falls strongly on the first part: KJØkkenhåndkleet (main stress on kjøkken-)
  • radiatoren has stress typically on the last syllable: ra-di-a-TO-ren (varies slightly by dialect)
  • Norwegian r and the pitch accent will vary by region, so pronunciation will differ between e.g. Eastern Norwegian and Western Norwegian, but the sentence remains the same in writing.