rettsordenen

Rett­sordenen is a Norwegian linguistic term referring to the canonical arrangement of words in a sentence, often described as the “right” or standard word order in Norwegian syntax. The word combines rett (right, correct) and orden/ordenen (order).

In modern Norwegian, rettsordenen is most closely associated with the typical sentence structure in main clauses, where the usual order is subject–finite verb–object (SVO). Norwegian is characterized by a verb-second (V2) property in many declarative main clauses, meaning the finite verb commonly occupies the second position after the first element. Variations can occur with fronted adverbials or other elements, which may shift the perceived position of the verb while preserving the general SVO core.

In subordinate clauses, the basic tendency is often described as SVO within the clause, though fronting and other syntactic adjustments can affect perceived order. The concept is used in grammar education and linguistic analysis to illustrate how Norwegian tends to organize information in clauses and to compare it with related languages that exhibit different word-order patterns.

Rett­sordenen is not a formal prescriptive rule but a descriptive notion that helps explain regularities and exceptions in Norwegian syntax. It is frequently invoked in discussions of sentence structure, readability, and language learning, as well as in cross-dialect comparisons where word order may vary.

Historically, the term appears in Scandinavian linguistic literature as a practical label for discussing canonical word order, without implying exclusive rigidity. See also Norwegian syntax, word order, and verb-second languages.