barnas

Barnas is a possessive determiner used in Norwegian to indicate ownership by children. It is formed from the definite plural noun bar­na, meaning the children, by adding the possessive suffix -s. The result, barnas, means “the children’s” and is used before the noun that denotes what belongs to the children.

In everyday usage, barnas accompanies the possessed noun, as in barnas klær (the children’s clothes) or barnas lekser (the children’s homework). The form is common in both Bokmål and Nynorsk variants of Norwegian. While barnas is the standard way to show possession by the children, speakers may also use bar­na sine or bar­na sine + noun to emphasize ownership, with sine functioning as a possessive pronoun indicating the children’s own items.

Etymology and grammar: barn is the base noun for “child,” and the addition of -s creates a possessive form attached to the definite plural bar­na. This pattern mirrors Norwegian possessive constructions where the possessor noun takes a suffix to mark ownership.

Usage notes: The choice between barnas and other possessive forms like barna sine can convey nuance about ownership or emphasis, but both can refer to items belonging to the children. In most standard contexts, barnas preceding the possessed noun is widely understood.

See also: Norwegian grammar, possessive forms, barne (child) and bar­na (the children).