← All Grammar
A1📐Word Order
Negation with 'ikke'
Nektelse med 'ikke'
In Norwegian, negation is formed by placing 'ikke' (not) after the verb. Unlike English, no helper verb like 'do' is needed. 'Jeg liker ikke kaffe' means 'I do not like coffee'.
Rule
Subject + Verb + ikke + Object
Examples
Jeg liker ikke fisk.
I don't like fish.
Hun snakker ikke norsk.
She doesn't speak Norwegian.
Det regner ikke i dag.
It's not raining today.
Common Mistake
✗
Jeg ikke liker fisk.
✓
Jeg liker ikke fisk.
In Hindi, the negation 'nahi' comes before the verb. In Norwegian, 'ikke' must come after the verb in main clauses.
English vs Norwegian
| English | Norsk |
|---|---|
| I don't like fish. | Jeg liker ikke fisk. |
| She doesn't speak Norwegian. | Hun snakker ikke norsk. |
| It's not raining today. | Det regner ikke i dag. |
English
I don't like fish.
Norsk
Jeg liker ikke fisk.
English
She doesn't speak Norwegian.
Norsk
Hun snakker ikke norsk.
English
It's not raining today.
Norsk
Det regner ikke i dag.