naboen

Naboen is a common noun used in Norwegian and Danish to mean “the neighbor.” It is the definite singular form of the indefinite noun nabo, which means “a neighbor.” In usage, naboen refers to a specific neighbor that is known to the speaker or has been introduced in the conversation. The plural form is naboene, and the possessive form is naboens.

In Norwegian, naboen is used in everyday speech to denote the neighbor next door or any neighbor when the neighbor is understood from context. In Danish, naboen serves the same grammatical function and is used similarly in definite contexts. The word forms a typical pattern in both languages, where the indefinite nabo becomes the definite naboen with a suffix that marks definiteness.

Examples of usage include sentences such as “Naboen kom med brødet” in Norwegian or Danish, meaning “The neighbor brought the bread.” The expression can appear in a wide range of contexts, from casual conversation to reporting on neighborly actions or relations. For learners, distinguishing naboen (the neighbor) from nabo (a neighbor) is a key aspect of proper definite usage in these languages.

See also: nabo, naboene, grannen (Swedish cognate terms and related neighbor words in other Scandinavian languages), Nachbar (German).