How to use the ‘-s’ Genitive in Norwegian | Learn Norwegian A1-A2

Introduction

Norwegian can be a fun language to learn, especially when you get to grips with its unique features, like the genitive case. Don’t worry if that sounds complicated—it’s just a way to show who owns something. In Norwegian, we often do this with an ‘-s’ at the end of a word, similar to using ‘s in English. This guide will help you understand and use this easily in your Norwegian conversations.

What is the Genitive Case in Norwegian?

Simply put, the genitive case shows possession. In Norwegian, we usually add ‘-s’ to a noun to indicate that it belongs to someone or something. For example, “the girl’s book” in Norwegian is “jentas bok,” where ‘jentas’ is ‘jenta’ (the girl) plus an ‘-s’ to show that the book belongs to her.

How to Use the ‘-s’ in Norwegian

1. Adding ‘-s’ to Nouns

   • Just add ‘-s’ to the end of a noun to indicate possession. For example, “Kari’s house” becomes “Karis hus.”
   • If the noun already ends with an ‘s’, ‘x’, or ‘z’, you don’t add another ‘s’. Instead, just use an apostrophe at the end. So, “Lars’ book” becomes “Lars’ bok.”

2. Pronunciation

   • Adding ‘-s’ doesn’t usually change the pronunciation of the word. Therefore, “bil” (car) and “bils” (car’s) sound pretty similar.

3. When Not to Use ‘-s’

   • In Norwegian, the ‘-s’ genitive is not typically used for inanimate objects. Instead, we use prepositions like “av” (of) or “til” (to). For example, instead of saying “the book’s cover” as in English, in Norwegian, you might say “omslaget til boken” (the cover of the book).

Exceptions and Variations

• As with any language, there are exceptions. Some phrases and names might not follow these rules, but these guidelines should give you a good starting point.

Conclusion

Using the ‘-s’ in Norwegian to show possession is quite straightforward once you practice it a bit. Remember to add ‘-s’ to nouns, use an apostrophe for words ending in ‘s’, ‘x’, or ‘z’, and use prepositions for inanimate objects. With regular practice, you’ll soon sound like a native speaker!