Pronunciation – Reductions

In Course 1 you read about «silent letters», i.e. consonants that are written, but do not represent a sound.

In some cases, also the humble vowel «e» is written, but not pronounced.

In this step, we are going to see how and when the vowel «e» is written but not pronounced.

If the «e» occurs in an unstressed syllable between /t, d, n, l, s/ and /n/, the /e/ is not pronounced.

The final /n/ constitutes the second syllable and must be pronounced clearly.

When you pronounce the words listed below you go straight from /t, d, n, l, s/ in the end of one syllable to the /n/ of the next.

Click on this audio to hear the pronunciation:

This rule is for instance applied:

• For numbers 13 – 19: tretten, fjorten, femten, seksten, sytten, atten, nitten

• When masculine nouns ending in /t, d, n, l, s/ in basic form are put in singular definite form:

Click on this audio to listen

• All nouns in masculine, feminine and neuter form in plural definite form:

Click on this audio to listen

hattene

bodene

vinene

bilene

bussene

This is our last Pronunciation step on this course.

We wanted to show you how to add a little bit more flow to your spoken Norwegian.

Because language is not just about grammar, on the contrary!

It’s very much about rhythm and understanding how natives talk.

So try this out on your own, in front of the mirror or when driving your car, whit a chat pal or a study buddy, you name it…

Have fun with Norwegian!