"Gutten"

Translation: The boy

[nate908]

Can someone please explain the difference between "en gutt" and "gutten"?

[TCAC2]

"En gutt" = A boy. "Gutten" = The boy.

[PandaPowerPuff]

"En gutt" can be any random boy, but when saying "gutten" you are talking about a specific boy.

[MicahDoo]

Did I hear a glottal stop?

[Varkatzas]

Yes, that's a thing in norwegian.

[MicahDoo]

Thanks!

[annaa52]

OK, so why two different constructions? Are they interchangeable in any sentence, or are there times when one is proper and the other not? (Takk!)

[andreatveit]

In Norwegian you put the definite article after the noun, not in front like in English, Spanish and French. The definite article here is "-en" which is placed after "gutt", but with neuter nouns it would be "-et". With feminine nouns it would be "-a". Sometimes, when there is an adjective before the noun, you will put "den" or "det" in front of the adjective as well.

[miniummanee]

Just i hear it, or the voice really said "guttn" ? Is it the correct prononcuation?

[PandaPowerPuff]

You can say both, but it will often be pronounced differently depending on where in Norway you are.

[LWD2]

You can say both, but dropping the e would make it less formal.