Snakkende

Snakkende is the present participle of the Norwegian verb snakke, meaning to speak or talk. In Norwegian grammar, snakkende functions as a present participle and can be used as an adjective to describe someone or something that is talking or characterized by talk. It can also introduce participial phrases that describe concurrent or descriptive action, as in barnegruppen adalah? No, better: “Barna, snakkende og lekende, ventet på foreldrene.” The form is common in both Bokmål and Nynorsk.

Formation and usage: Snakkende is formed from the verb stem snakk- plus the suffix -ende. When used attributively, it describes a noun with the sense of “talking” or “talkative,” for example en snakkende person, et snakkende publikum, snakkende barn. The participle is not a tense like past or present; the corresponding past tense is snakket. In participial constructions, snakkende can introduce phrases that convey ongoing or accompanying action, such as Barna, snakkende og lekende, ventet på foreldrene.

Nuances and examples: The word conveys both literal and figurative meanings of talking. It can describe someone who is currently speaking or someone known for being talkative. In prose, snakkende is often preferred in descriptive passages to highlight behavior without using a finite verb, whereas divisive or direct speech usually relies on forms of snakke in the main clause (snakker, snakket). Its usage is common in everyday Norwegian and is parallel to similar formations in other Scandinavian languages.

See also: snakke, present participle, Norwegian grammar.