Samfunnet endrer seg.

Samfunn means society in the indefinite form.
Samfunnet is the definite form and means the society or, in many contexts, just society in a general sense.

In Norwegian, it is very common to use the definite form where English might use no article at all. So Samfunnet endrer seg is a natural way to say Society is changing.

• et samfunn = a society
• samfunnet = the society / society

The ending -et is the definite article for many neuter nouns in Norwegian.

So:

• et samfunn = a society
• samfunnet = the society

Unlike English, Norwegian often attaches the to the end of the noun instead of putting it in front.

There actually is a present-tense verb here: endrer.

The infinitive is å endre = to change.
The present tense is endrer = changes / is changing.

Norwegian does not usually need a separate word like English is to form the present progressive. Very often, the simple present covers both ideas:

• Samfunnet endrer seg = Society changes / Society is changing

In this sentence, English normally prefers is changing, but Norwegian just uses the present tense endrer.

Seg is a reflexive pronoun. In this sentence, it means something like itself.

So endre seg means to change oneself, but in natural English we usually just say to change.

That is why:

• Samfunnet endrer seg literally = Society changes itself
• natural English = Society is changing

Many Norwegian verbs are commonly used with seg, even when English would not use self.

Because å endre and å endre seg are not exactly the same.

• å endre noe = to change something
  
  • De endrer systemet = They are changing the system.
• å endre seg = to change, to become different
  
  • Samfunnet endrer seg = Society is changing.

So seg shows that the subject itself is undergoing the change, rather than changing something else.

Yes, endre can be used both ways.

1. Without seg: it takes a direct object

   • Jeg endrer planen. = I am changing the plan.

2. With seg: the subject itself changes

   • Planene endrer seg. = The plans are changing.
   • Samfunnet endrer seg. = Society is changing.

So the reflexive version is very common when something develops or becomes different over time.

Norwegian is a V2 language, which means the finite verb usually comes in the second position in main clauses.

In Samfunnet endrer seg:

1. Samfunnet
2. endrer
3. seg

That is the standard word order.

If you put another element first, the verb still stays second:

• I dag endrer samfunnet seg. = Today, society is changing.

Notice that when I dag comes first, endrer still stays in second position.

Yes, but it means something a bit different.

• Samfunnet endrer seg = society is changing / the society is changing
• Et samfunn endrer seg = a society changes / one society changes

Samfunnet sounds more natural if you are talking about society in general.
Et samfunn sounds more like you are talking about any society, or one example of a society.

A rough guide is:

samfunnet ≈ SAHM-fun-net

A few useful points:

• The a in sam- is short.
• The u in funn is not exactly like English u. It is closer to the Norwegian u sound, which English speakers often find difficult.
• The tt sound is pronounced as a normal t sound; doubled consonants usually show that the preceding vowel is short.

The exact pronunciation varies somewhat by dialect, but the spelling and grammar stay the same.

This sentence is Bokmål.

In Nynorsk, you would more naturally write:

• Samfunnet endrar seg.

The main difference here is the present tense form:

• Bokmål: endrer
• Nynorsk: endrar

Yes. The Norwegian present tense often covers both meanings.

So this sentence can mean:

• a general process: Society changes
• something currently happening: Society is changing

The context tells you which meaning is intended. In most real situations, this sentence will be understood as Society is changing.

Yes, very easily. Native speakers often add time words or explanations, for example:

• Samfunnet endrer seg hele tiden. = Society is changing all the time.
• Samfunnet endrer seg raskt. = Society is changing quickly.
• Samfunnet endrer seg mye. = Society is changing a lot.

The basic grammar stays the same:

• subject: Samfunnet
• verb: endrer
• reflexive pronoun: seg