ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Modern Norwegian

Modern Norwegian is a way of speaking and writing that people in Norway use every day. It's like a code that they use to communicate with each other, just like how you have your own way of talking with your friends and family.

In modern Norwegian, there are two ways of writing and speaking: Bokmål and Nynorsk. These are like two different dialects that people can choose to use depending on where they come from or what they prefer. Some people use both Bokmål and Nynorsk.

When people talk in modern Norwegian, they use special words called "pronouns" to refer to themselves and others. For example, instead of saying "I" like you might in English, they say "jeg" (pronounced like "yay"). And instead of saying "you," they say "du" (pronounced like "doo").

People in Norway also use different verb endings depending on who they are talking to and what they are saying. These are like little clues that help the listener know what the speaker means. For example, if someone says "jeg liker," it means "I like." But if they say "vi liker," it means "we like."

In modern Norwegian, they also use punctuation marks like periods and commas to show when a sentence starts and ends, and when there is a pause or a change in tone. This helps make the language easier to read and understand.

Overall, modern Norwegian is just a way that people in Norway communicate with each other. It's like a secret language that you can learn if you want to talk like they do.