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Norwegian features tricky verb pairs that confuse even native speakers: intransitive "å ligge/å sitte" (describing states) versus transitive "å legge/å sette" (describing a change of state). These verb pairs follow different rules but look similar.

• Transitive verbs (å legge, å sette) require objects afterward and describe actions or changes.
• Intransitive verbs (å ligge, å sitte) describe states and don't take objects.
• To say "I lie down" in Norwegian, you must use the reflexive construction "Jeg legger meg".
• Similarly, "I sit down" becomes "Jeg setter meg" - you must include the reflexive pronoun.
• In Norwegian, objects can only "stand" (stå) or "lie" (ligge) - they cannot "sit" because they lack a "butt".
• When you place a cup on a table, the result is "koppen står på bordet" (the cup stands on the table).

* Comments after listening to the epsiode:

1. I am sorry, I mistakenly said that "å stå" can be both transitive and intransitive. that is wrong. It is always intransitive, which means that it can not have an object attached to it (like "boka" or "meg"). But it can be used in two ways, with two meanings, just like sette/sitte, legge/ligge: it can both talk about the state of standing and the change into this state.

2. I use the word "object" with two different meanings: one is the equivalent of "thing", and the aother is the grammatical term "object", meaning a word (noun or pronoun) recieving the action of a verb (for instance: in the sentence "Jeg spiser mat", "mat" would be the grammatical object, "jeg" would be the grammatical "sucject",).

3. I just realized I did not know how to conjugate the English verb "to lie (down)" properly! And that is not a lie. Now I know it's "I lay" and not "I lied". See, there are a million ways to learn languages - one can be to make a podcast ;) And you will never stop learning :P

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While English speakers casually "put" things anywhere, Norwegians must choose between three specific verbs—å legge, å sette, and å putte—depending on an object's final position. This episode breaks down this unique linguistic feature with clear examples and memorable rules that will transform your understanding of Norwegian.

You'll discover the clever "creature with a head" technique that helps determine whether an object is "standing" or "lying"—even when it's not obvious. Find out why a plate is considered "standing" even when it appears flat on a table, and why objects can never "sit", only stand or be lying down.

This quirky feature of Norwegian offers more than just grammar knowledge—it provides a window into how language shapes perception.

Support the show

Do you like the podcast? :)

Feel free to buy me a coffee :)

buymeacoffee.com/thenorwegianpuzzle

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This podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube, Deezer and Podcast Addict.

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Transcript available here: https://the-norwegian-puzzle.buzzsprout.com

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Questions? Feedback? Get in touch!

norskmedsilje@gmail.com

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Other places to find me:

www.norsk-med-silje.com

www.facebook.com/norskmedsilje

www.instagram.com/norskmedsilje

www.linkedin.com/in/silje-linn-moss

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Norway's Constitution Day transforms the entire country into a sea of red, white, and blue flags, joyous celebrations, and the rhythmic march of children's parades. Through this unique listening comprehension episode, you'll get to know "Syttende Mai" (May 17th) while strengthening your Norwegian language skills through carefully crafted repetition and translation.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is its three-part structure. First, you'll hear each Norwegian sentence followed by its English translation and then repeated in Norwegian. Next, the entire text is presented in standard Eastern Norwegian without translations to test your comprehension. Finally, you'll experience the same content in Bergen dialect (Bergensk), exposing you to regional pronunciation differences in an accessible way. The episode concludes with vocabulary practice focusing on some key terms.

Whether you're preparing for your first Syttende Mai celebration or looking to deepen your Norwegian language skills, this immersive listening experience offers both practical vocabulary and cultural understanding. Listen multiple times, challenge yourself to understand more with each repetition, and soon you'll be ready to join in with a hearty "Gratulerer med dagen!" when the big day arrives.

Support the show

Do you like the podcast? :)

Feel free to buy me a coffee :)

buymeacoffee.com/thenorwegianpuzzle

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This podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube, Deezer and Podcast Addict.

....

Transcript available here: https://the-norwegian-puzzle.buzzsprout.com

....

Questions? Feedback? Get in touch!

norskmedsilje@gmail.com

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Other places to find me:

www.norsk-med-silje.com

www.facebook.com/norskmedsilje

www.instagram.com/norskmedsilje

www.linkedin.com/in/silje-linn-moss