C1 adjective 3 Min. Lesezeit

anstendig

When we say someone or something is anstendig, we mean they are respectable or decent. Think of it as behaving in a way that is proper and generally accepted. For example, a person who always tries to do the right thing and is well-mannered can be described as anstendig. It’s about having good conduct and being honorable.

When we call something or someone anstendig, we mean they are respectable or decent. It's about behaving in a proper way, following good manners and showing good character. For example, a person who is honest and fair in their dealings can be described as anstendig. It also suggests a certain level of appropriateness in how one acts or speaks.

When we call someone 'anstendig', it means they are respectable and behave in a decent way. This word describes someone who acts appropriately and follows good manners. For example, you might say 'Han er en anstendig mann' (He is a respectable man). It's about having good character and being proper in one's conduct.

You've learned that anstendig means respectable or decent in behavior. Now let's look at how to use this word correctly in Norwegian sentences. Understanding its grammatical role and common constructions will help you sound more natural and precise.

§ Anstendig as an Adjective

Anstendig is an adjective, which means it describes a noun. Like many Norwegian adjectives, its form can change depending on the gender and number of the noun it modifies, and whether it's in the definite or indefinite form. However, anstendig is one of those adjectives that remains largely the same across forms, making it a bit easier to use.

Here's how it generally works:

  • Indefinite singular (masculine/feminine/neuter): anstendig
  • Definite singular: anstendige
  • Plural: anstendige

§ Examples with 'Anstendig'

Let's see some practical examples of anstendig in different sentence structures.

Han er en anstendig mann.

Translation hint
He is a respectable man.

Det var en anstendig oppførsel.

Translation hint
It was a decent behavior.

Notice how in the indefinite singular, anstendig doesn't change form whether it's describing a masculine noun (mann) or a neuter noun (oppførsel).

De er anstendige mennesker.

Translation hint
They are decent people.

Here, with a plural noun (mennesker), anstendig takes the -e ending.

Den anstendige holdningen hans imponerte alle.

Translation hint
His respectable attitude impressed everyone.

In this definite singular example, anstendig also takes the -e ending.

§ 'Anstendig' with Verbs of Being

You'll often find anstendig used with verbs like være (to be) or bli (to become) to describe a state or quality.

Det er viktig å være anstendig.

Translation hint
It is important to be decent/respectable.

Hun prøver å oppføre seg anstendig.

Translation hint
She tries to behave decently/respectably.

§ Common Prepositions and Phrases

While anstendig itself doesn't demand specific prepositions, it often appears in contexts with common Norwegian prepositions depending on the overall sentence meaning.

  • Med anstendig oppførsel: With decent behavior
  • En person med anstendige verdier: A person with decent values
  • For anstendighets skyld: For decency's sake (a fixed expression)

Vi bør alltid handle med anstendig oppførsel.

Translation hint
We should always act with decent behavior.

For anstendighets skyld sa han unnskyld.

Translation hint
For decency's sake, he apologized.

This expression, for anstendighets skyld, is a common idiomatic phrase to mean 'just to be decent' or 'out of respect for proper conduct'.

§ Key Takeaways for Using 'Anstendig'

  • It's an adjective that describes nouns or can function as an adverb describing verbs.
  • Its form is fairly consistent, often staying as anstendig or taking an -e ending for definite singular and plural.
  • Pay attention to the context: is it describing a noun directly, or modifying how an action is performed?

Practicing with these sentence structures will help you master the use of anstendig in your Norwegian conversations and writing. Keep an eye out for it in Norwegian texts and listen for it in spoken language to solidify your understanding.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"Hun oppførte seg alltid sømmelig i sosiale sammenhenger."

Neutral

"Det var en skikkelig jobb han gjorde."

Informell

"Han er en ganske grei fyr."

Child friendly

"Vær snill gutt og spis opp maten din."

Umgangssprache

"Han er en ganske chill type."

Wusstest du?

The word 'anstendig' shares roots with the English word 'stand,' implying something that 'stands up' to scrutiny or is upright.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

short

Schreiben 1/5

short

Sprechen 1/5

short

Hören 1/5

short

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

god (good) bra (good) riktig (right, correct)

Als Nächstes lernen

skikkelig (proper, decent) sømmelig (decorous, proper)

Fortgeschritten

moral (morality) etikk (ethics) ære (honor)

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Han er en anstendig mann.

He is a respectable man.

2

Det var en anstendig handling.

That was a decent act.

3

Hun har anstendig oppførsel.

She has decent behavior.

4

De lever et anstendig liv.

They live a respectable life.

5

Han prøver å være anstendig.

He tries to be decent.

6

Er du anstendig?

Are you decent?

7

Vi må være anstendige.

We must be respectable.

8

Det er ikke anstendig.

That is not decent.

1

Han er en anstendig mann.

He is a respectable man.

2

Det var en anstendig handling.

That was a decent act.

3

Hun kler seg alltid anstendig.

She always dresses decently.

4

Vi forventer anstendig oppførsel.

We expect decent behavior.

5

De har et anstendig hjem.

They have a respectable home.

6

Vær så anstendig å vente på tur.

Be decent enough to wait your turn.

7

Han tjener en anstendig lønn.

He earns a decent salary.

8

Det er viktig å være anstendig mot alle.

It is important to be decent to everyone.

1

Hun er en anstendig person som alltid behandler andre med respekt.

She is a respectable person who always treats others with respect.

2

Det er viktig å kle seg anstendig når man går i kirken.

It is important to dress decently when going to church.

3

Han tjener en anstendig lønn, nok til å forsørge familien sin.

He earns a decent salary, enough to support his family.

4

Et anstendig samfunn tar vare på de svakeste.

A decent society takes care of the weakest.

5

De oppførte seg anstendig under hele seremonien.

They behaved respectably throughout the ceremony.

6

Det er en anstendig film som passer for hele familien.

It's a decent movie suitable for the whole family.

7

Vi forventer anstendig oppførsel fra alle våre ansatte.

We expect decent behavior from all our employees.

8

Et anstendig måltid trenger ikke være dyrt.

A decent meal doesn't have to be expensive.

Grammatikmuster

Adjektiv i bestemt form: den anstendige mannen Adjektiv i ubestemt form: en anstendig person Adjektiv i komparativ: mer anstendig Adjektiv i superlativ: mest anstendig Bruk med 'å være': å være anstendig Bruk med 'å oppføre seg': å oppføre seg anstendig

Satzmuster

B2

En anstendig person gjør X.

En anstendig person respekterer andres meninger. (A respectable person respects others' opinions.)

B2

Det er viktig å oppføre seg anstendig.

Det er viktig å oppføre seg anstendig i offentlige rom. (It is important to behave decently in public spaces.)

C1

Du bør alltid strebe etter å være anstendig.

Du bør alltid strebe etter å være anstendig, selv når ingen ser på. (You should always strive to be decent, even when no one is watching.)

C1

Hennes oppførsel var ikke anstendig.

Hennes oppførsel var ikke anstendig etter den krangelen. (Her behavior was not decent after that argument.)

C1

Vi forventer anstendig oppførsel fra alle.

Vi forventer anstendig oppførsel fra alle som deltar. (We expect decent behavior from everyone participating.)

C1

Han er kjent for sin anstendige holdning.

Han er kjent for sin anstendige holdning til arbeid. (He is known for his respectable attitude towards work.)

C1

Å handle anstendig er avgjørende for tillit.

Å handle anstendig er avgjørende for å bygge tillit i et forhold. (Acting decently is crucial for building trust in a relationship.)

C1

Sørg for å ha et anstendig rykte.

Sørg for å ha et anstendig rykte i samfunnet. (Make sure to have a respectable reputation in the community.)

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'anstendig' as someone who is 'on steady' ground, reliable, and respectable. Or, 'an stand-y' person is a decent, respectable person.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a well-dressed, polite Norwegian person at a formal event, behaving impeccably. This person embodies 'anstendig' behavior.

Word Web

skikkelig (proper) sømmelig (decorous) ordentlig (orderly/proper) respektabel (respectable) moralsk (moral)

Herausforderung

Describe a person you admire for their 'anstendig' qualities. Write a sentence about a situation where 'anstendig' behavior is expected. For example: 'På middagsbordet er det viktig å være anstendig.'

Wortherkunft

Old Norse

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: fitting, proper

Germanic

Kultureller Kontext

The concept of 'anstendig' is deeply ingrained in Norwegian culture, emphasizing modesty, fairness, and a strong work ethic. Being considered 'anstendig' means you are trustworthy and adhere to societal norms without being ostentatious. It's often used to describe someone who is well-behaved, responsible, and generally a good citizen. It might be less about strict adherence to rules and more about exhibiting a general sense of propriety and consideration for others.

Teste dich selbst 42 Fragen

listening A2

What is important to be?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Det er viktig å være anstendig.
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening A2

How did she behave?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Hun oppførte seg anstendig.
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening A2

What does a respectable person do?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: En anstendig person snakker pent.
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking A2

Read this aloud:

Jeg vil være anstendig.

Focus: an-sten-dig

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking A2

Read this aloud:

Vær anstendig.

Focus: vær an-sten-dig

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking A2

Read this aloud:

Han er en anstendig mann.

Focus: an-sten-dig mann

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing A2

Write a short sentence describing someone who is 'anstendig'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Hun er en anstendig person og oppfører seg alltid bra. (She is a respectable person and always behaves well.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing A2

Complete the sentence: 'Det er viktig å være ___.' (It is important to be ___.)

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Det er viktig å være anstendig. (It is important to be decent.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
writing A2

Describe a 'anstendig' handling in one short sentence.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Å hjelpe en gammel dame over veien er en anstendig handling. (Helping an old lady across the street is a decent action.)

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
reading A2

Hva betyr 'anstendig' i denne teksten?

Read this passage:

Per er alltid høflig og snakker pent til alle. Han hjelper folk hvis de trenger det. Han er en anstendig mann.

Hva betyr 'anstendig' i denne teksten?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Respektabel (Respectable)

Per is described as polite and helpful, which are traits of a respectable person.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Respektabel (Respectable)

Per is described as polite and helpful, which are traits of a respectable person.

reading A2

Hva gjorde barna for å være anstendige?

Read this passage:

Barna lærte å være anstendige. De ryddet opp etter seg og sa 'takk' og 'vær så snill'.

Hva gjorde barna for å være anstendige?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: De ryddet og var høflige (They tidied up and were polite)

The passage states they tidied up and said 'thank you' and 'please', showing polite behavior.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: De ryddet og var høflige (They tidied up and were polite)

The passage states they tidied up and said 'thank you' and 'please', showing polite behavior.

reading A2

Hvorfor er anstendige klær viktige for et jobbintervju?

Read this passage:

Det er viktig å ha anstendige klær til jobbintervjuet. Det viser respekt.

Hvorfor er anstendige klær viktige for et jobbintervju?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Fordi de viser respekt (Because they show respect)

The passage directly states that it shows respect.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Fordi de viser respekt (Because they show respect)

The passage directly states that it shows respect.

sentence order A2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Han er en anstendig person

The correct order is 'Han er en anstendig person', meaning 'He is a respectable person'.

sentence order A2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: De bør oppføre seg anstendig

The correct order is 'De bør oppføre seg anstendig', meaning 'They should behave decently'.

sentence order A2

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Det er et anstendig arbeid

The correct order is 'Det er et anstendig arbeid', meaning 'It is a decent job'.

listening B1

The offer was good.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Det var et anstendig tilbud, så jeg takket ja.
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening B1

She has good character.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Hun er en veldig anstendig person.
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening B1

What kind of behavior is expected?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Vi forventer anstendig oppførsel fra alle.
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking B1

Read this aloud:

Kan du beskrive en anstendig jobb?

Focus: anstendig

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking B1

Read this aloud:

Hva betyr 'anstendig' for deg?

Focus: anstendig

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking B1

Read this aloud:

Gi et eksempel på anstendig oppførsel.

Focus: oppførsel

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
sentence order B1

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Han er en anstendig mann

This exercise helps you practice the correct word order in a simple Norwegian sentence.

sentence order B1

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Hun oppfører seg alltid anstendig

This sentence practices the placement of adverbs like 'alltid' (always) in relation to the verb.

sentence order B1

Tippe auf die Wörter unten, um den Satz zu bilden
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Det er viktig å være anstendig

This exercise focuses on the impersonal 'Det er' construction and the infinitive 'å være'.

listening C1

What is important to do in public spaces?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Det er viktig å oppføre seg anstendig i offentlige rom.
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening C1

How was she viewed in society?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Hun ble sett på som en anstendig kvinne i samfunnet.
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
listening C1

What kind of behavior is expected from participants?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Vi forventer anstendig oppførsel fra alle deltakere.
Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking C1

Read this aloud:

Han er alltid anstendig og høflig mot alle han møter.

Focus: anstendig

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking C1

Read this aloud:

Forventer du anstendig oppførsel fra barna dine?

Focus: oppførsel

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
speaking C1

Read this aloud:

Det er viktig å ha et anstendig rykte i arbeidslivet.

Focus: rykte

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
fill blank C2

Til tross for hans rikdom, manglet han den nødvendige ___ for å bli akseptert i de øvre sosiale lag.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: anstendighet

The sentence implies a lack of proper conduct despite wealth, making 'anstendighet' (decency/respectability) the most suitable fit.

fill blank C2

Hun insisterte alltid på at hennes barn skulle oppføre seg ___ i offentligheten, uansett situasjon.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: anstendig

The context of children's behavior in public suggests the need for 'anstendig' (decent/respectable) conduct.

fill blank C2

Det ble ansett som en ___ handling å tilby hjelp til de nyankomne flyktningene.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: anstendig

Offering help to refugees is generally considered a 'anstendig' (decent) and respectable act.

fill blank C2

En ___ oppførsel er forventet av alle ansatte som representerer selskapet utad.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: anstendig

Employees representing a company are expected to exhibit 'anstendig' (decent/respectable) behavior.

fill blank C2

Han prøvde å opprettholde en ___ fasade selv når han sto overfor store personlige utfordringer.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: anstendig

Maintaining a 'anstendig' (respectable/decent) facade suggests an effort to appear proper despite difficulties.

fill blank C2

Det er viktig å vise ___ respekt for eldres visdom og erfaringer i samfunnet vårt.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: anstendig

Showing 'anstendig' (decent/respectable) respect for elders is a societal expectation.

/ 42 correct

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