How do you pronounce the norwegian words "skjont"( the o has a slash across it) and Beskyette ?

Question

I was reading the Norwegian National Anthem and came across these words Skjont(o with slash across it) and Beskyette and wondered as I know that if there is a consonant before "sk" the "sk" is pronounced as "SK" and if there is a vowel before the "SK" its pronounced as "SH"?

Answer 1

skjønt (pretty/adorable) - shunt

beskytte (protect) - behshyttè

Answer 2

Both words are pronounced with a 'sh' Also, I don't know who told you the 'sh' rule, but its not true. There are plenty of words that have vowels before them that are still pronounced 'sk'

For example:

Frosk

Fisk

Systematisk

Answer 3

The rule is that sk is pronounced "sh" in from of the wovels i and y (a wovel in Norwegian), but else as "sk".

Therefore you ned an "j" i skjønt, but not in "beskytte".

These are pronounced with "sk": skal, sko, skue, skøyer, skål, whereas ski and sky are pronounced with "sh".

I was surprised myself to realize that I could not remember any common Norwegian words starting with "ske", but many starting with "skje" og "sje", which both are pronounced "sh". The same is with æ (ae), you will find many words starting with "skjæ", but not with "skæ".