Kilden er pålitelig.

The source is reliable.

Breakdown of Kilden er pålitelig.

• være: to be
• pålitelig: reliable
• kilden: the source

Questions & Answers about Kilden er pålitelig.

Why is it kilden instead of just kilde?

Because kilden is the definite singular form of kilde.

• en kilde = a source
• kilden = the source

In Norwegian, the idea of the is often added as an ending on the noun rather than written as a separate word.

Could this also be kilda?

Yes, in Bokmål you may also see kilda.

That is because kilde can be treated as a feminine noun:

• en kilde / kilden
• ei kilde / kilda

Both are acceptable in Bokmål. Kilden is very common and often feels a bit more neutral or formal.

What does er mean here?

Er is the present tense of å være = to be.

So:

• er = is / are / am, depending on the subject

In this sentence, kilden er pålitelig literally has the structure the source is reliable.

Why does pålitelig come after er?