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B1 verb 5 Min. Lesezeit

uttrykke

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

Alright, let's talk about the Norwegian verb uttrykke. It means 'to express' or 'to convey a thought or feeling in words'. It's a common and useful verb, so pay attention. We'll look at how to use it correctly in sentences, including its grammar and some common prepositions it likes to hang out with.

§ Basic Usage of 'Uttrykke'

Uttrykke is a regular verb in Norwegian, meaning its conjugations follow a predictable pattern. It's often used with an object that specifies what is being expressed.

Verb Conjugation

Present: uttrykker
Past: uttrykte
Present Perfect: har uttrykt
Imperative: uttrykk

Jeg vil gjerne uttrykke min takknemlighet. (I would like to express my gratitude.)

Han uttrykte sine følelser klart. (He expressed his feelings clearly.)

As you can see, you often put the thing you're expressing right after the verb.

§ Using 'Uttrykke' with Prepositions

Sometimes you'll use uttrykke with prepositions, especially when you want to specify *how* or *to whom* something is being expressed. Here are some common ones:

Uttrykke seg (Reflexive): This means 'to express oneself'. It's very common. Remember to use the correct reflexive pronoun (meg, deg, seg, oss, dere, seg).

Det er viktig å kunne uttrykke seg tydelig. (It is important to be able to express oneself clearly.)

Hun hadde vanskelig for å uttrykke seg på norsk i starten. (She had difficulty expressing herself in Norwegian at first.)

Uttrykke noe til noen (Express something to someone): When you're expressing something directly to a person or a group, use 'til'.

Jeg vil uttrykke min bekymring til sjefen. (I want to express my concern to the boss.)

Uttrykke noe gjennom noe (Express something through something): This is used when you express something by means of something else, like art or a specific action.

Kunstnere uttrykker følelser gjennom malerier. (Artists express emotions through paintings.)

§ Common Phrases and Nuances

Let's look at some other ways uttrykke is used that might not involve a direct preposition but are good to know.

Uttrykke glede/sorg/frustrasjon (Express joy/sorrow/frustration): You can directly express various emotions.

Barna uttrykte sin glede med høye rop. (The children expressed their joy with loud shouts.)

Et uttrykk (A phrase/expression): The noun form 'et uttrykk' means 'an expression' or 'a phrase'. This is super useful.

"God påske!" er et vanlig uttrykk i Norge. ("Happy Easter!" is a common expression in Norway.)

§ Summary

So, when you want to talk about expressing something in Norwegian, uttrykke is your go-to verb. Remember these key points:

It's a regular verb, so conjugations are straightforward.
Use it directly with what you're expressing (e.g., uttrykke takknemlighet).
Use the reflexive form uttrykke seg when talking about expressing oneself.
'Til' is used for expressing to someone, and 'gjennom' for expressing through something.

Practice using it in different contexts, and you'll master it quickly. Lykke til! (Good luck!) Just keep it clear and simple, like a proper Norwegian should.

§ Understanding "Uttrykke"

The Norwegian verb "uttrykke" (to express) is a key word for B1 learners. It's about getting your thoughts or feelings out there using words. It's not just about saying something, but about conveying meaning, emotion, or an idea clearly.

DEFINITION: To convey a thought or feeling in words

Jeg vil uttrykke min takknemlighet.

(I want to express my gratitude.)

Han slet med å uttrykke følelsene sine.

(He struggled to express his feelings.)

§ Similar words and when to use "uttrykke" vs. alternatives

Norwegian has several words that can seem similar to "uttrykke," but they have subtle differences. Knowing these will help you speak more precisely.

Si (to say): This is the most basic verb for speaking. Use "si" for general statements or reporting what someone said. It doesn't carry the same weight of conveying deep thoughts or emotions as "uttrykke."
Hva vil du si?
(What do you want to say?)
Hun sa at hun var sliten.
(She said that she was tired.)
Ytre (to utter, to express – often more formal): "Ytre" is quite close to "uttrykke," but it can sound a bit more formal or literary. You might see it in written Norwegian or more elevated speech. It also often implies expressing an opinion or a view, especially in a public context.
Han ville ytre sin mening om saken.
(He wanted to express his opinion on the matter.)
Formidle (to convey, to communicate): "Formidle" implies a transfer of information, a message, or a feeling from one person to another. It's often used when you are an intermediary, or when the focus is on the successful delivery of the message. It can be broader than "uttrykke," as it's not always about personal feelings or thoughts but about information.
Journalisten skulle formidle nyhetene til folket.
(The journalist was to convey the news to the people.)
Han klarte å formidle budskapet sitt.
(He managed to convey his message.)
Meddele (to announce, to inform): This verb is more about giving out information or making something known. It's direct and factual, less about emotional expression. Think of official announcements or informing someone of a fact.
De ville meddele resultatet i morgen.
(They would announce the result tomorrow.)

When to use "uttrykke":

Use "uttrykke" when the focus is on expressing something internal – a feeling, an opinion, a thought, or an idea – that comes from you. It implies a conscious effort to articulate something personal. It's often about feelings, gratitude, concern, or a deep-seated belief.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"Det er viktig å formulere tanker klart og tydelig. (It is important to formulate thoughts clearly and distinctly.)"

Neutral

"Jeg vil gjerne uttrykke min takknemlighet. (I would like to express my gratitude.)"

Informell

"Han sa hva han mente. (He said what he thought.)"

Child friendly

"Kan du fortelle meg en historie? (Can you tell me a story?)"

Umgangssprache

"Han slengte ut noen kommentarer. (He threw out some comments.)"

Wusstest du?

The 'ut-' prefix is similar to the English 'out-', giving 'uttrykke' a sense of 'pressing something out' or 'bringing it out into the open'.

Beispiele nach Niveau

Jeg vil uttrykke min takknemlighet.

I want to express my gratitude.

Hvordan kan jeg uttrykke dette?

How can I express this?

Hun kan uttrykke seg godt.

She can express herself well.

Det er vanskelig å uttrykke følelser.

It is difficult to express feelings.

Han prøvde å uttrykke sin mening.

He tried to express his opinion.

Vi må uttrykke vår støtte.

We must express our support.

Jeg klarer ikke å uttrykke det riktig.

I can't express it correctly.

De uttrykker glede.

They express joy.

Jeg vil uttrykke min takknemlighet.

I want to express my gratitude.

Det er viktig å uttrykke dine følelser.

It is important to express your feelings.

Hvordan kan jeg best uttrykke dette?

How can I best express this?

Hun prøvde å uttrykke sin mening.

She tried to express her opinion.

Ordet kan uttrykke mange ting.

The word can express many things.

Kan du uttrykke det på en annen måte?

Can you express it in another way?

Han er god til å uttrykke seg skriftlig.

He is good at expressing himself in writing.

Vi må uttrykke våre bekymringer.

We must express our concerns.

Han slet med å uttrykke sine følelser på en klar måte.

He struggled to express his feelings clearly.

struggled (slet), to express (å uttrykke), his feelings (sine følelser), clearly (på en klar måte)

Det er viktig å uttrykke takknemlighet når noen hjelper deg.

It is important to express gratitude when someone helps you.

It is important (Det er viktig), to express (å uttrykke), gratitude (takknemlighet), when someone helps you (når noen hjelper deg)

Kunstneren brukte farger for å uttrykke glede i maleriet sitt.

The artist used colors to express joy in her painting.

The artist (Kunstneren), used colors (brukte farger), to express (å uttrykke), joy (glede), in her painting (i maleriet sitt)

Jeg vil gjerne uttrykke min bekymring angående situasjonen.

I would like to express my concern regarding the situation.

I would like (Jeg vil gjerne), to express (uttrykke), my concern (min bekymring), regarding the situation (angående situasjonen)

Måten du kler deg på, kan uttrykke din personlighet.

The way you dress can express your personality.

The way you dress (Måten du kler deg på), can express (kan uttrykke), your personality (din personlighet)

Hun valgte å uttrykke sin misnøye med handlingene deres offentlig.

She chose to express her dissatisfaction with their actions publicly.

She chose (Hun valgte), to express (å uttrykke), her dissatisfaction (sin misnøye), with their actions (med handlingene deres), publicly (offentlig)

Diktet forsøker å uttrykke det uutsigelige i kjærlighet.

The poem attempts to express the inexpressible in love.

The poem (Diktet), attempts (forsøker), to express (å uttrykke), the inexpressible (det uutsigelige), in love (i kjærlighet)

Det er vanskelig å uttrykke hvor mye jeg setter pris på hjelpen din.

It is difficult to express how much I appreciate your help.

It is difficult (Det er vanskelig), to express (å uttrykke), how much (hvor mye), I appreciate (jeg setter pris på), your help (hjelpen din)

Han slet med å uttrykke sine følelser etter tapet av hunden sin.

He struggled to express his feelings after the loss of his dog.

Here, 'uttrykke' takes a direct object ('sine følelser').

Det er viktig å kunne uttrykke seg klart i en faglig sammenheng.

It is important to be able to express oneself clearly in a professional context.

'Uttrykke seg' is reflexive, meaning 'to express oneself'.

Kunstneren brukte farger for å uttrykke sin indre uro.

The artist used colors to express her inner turmoil.

'Uttrykke' with an abstract direct object.

Jeg finner det vanskelig å uttrykke min takknemlighet med ord alene.

I find it difficult to express my gratitude with words alone.

The infinitive 'å uttrykke' functions as the object of 'vanskelig'.

Noen ganger er det vanskelig å uttrykke kompliserte tanker på et fremmedspråk.

Sometimes it is difficult to express complex thoughts in a foreign language.

Another example of 'å uttrykke' with an abstract object.

Hun valgte å uttrykke sin misnøye gjennom en formell klage.

She chose to express her dissatisfaction through a formal complaint.

'Å uttrykke' as the complement of 'valgte'.

Politikerne må uttrykke folkets vilje på en tydelig måte.

Politicians must express the will of the people in a clear manner.

'Uttrykke' with a direct object referring to a collective sentiment.

Hvordan kan man best uttrykke sin sympati i en slik situasjon?

How can one best express one's sympathy in such a situation?

Interrogative sentence using 'uttrykke' with a reflexive pronoun 'sin'.

Tipps

Conjugation of 'uttrykke'

Remember the basic conjugation for uttrykke:

Present tense: uttrykker
Past tense: uttrykte
Past participle: uttrykt

This will help you use it correctly in different contexts.

Use with emotions

Uttrykke is commonly used when talking about expressing emotions. For example, 'Jeg vil uttrykke min glede' (I want to express my joy).

Use with opinions

You can also use uttrykke to talk about expressing an opinion or a view. For example, 'Hun vil uttrykke sin mening' (She wants to express her opinion).

Similar English words

Think of uttrykke as similar to 'to express', 'to convey', or 'to articulate' in English. This can help with recall.

Don't confuse with 'si'

While 'si' means 'to say', uttrykke is more about the act of conveying a feeling or thought, not just speaking words. 'Jeg sier noe' (I say something) vs. 'Jeg uttrykker en følelse' (I express a feeling).

Practice with simple sentences

Try forming simple sentences using uttrykke. For example, 'Han uttrykte sin takknemlighet' (He expressed his gratitude).

Listen for it in conversations

Pay attention to how native speakers use uttrykke in movies, podcasts, or everyday conversations. This will give you a better feel for its natural usage.

Related noun: 'uttrykk'

The related noun is uttrykk, meaning 'expression' or 'idiom'. For example, 'ansiktsuttrykk' (facial expression).

Phrasal verbs with 'uttrykke'

While not a phrasal verb in the strict English sense, remember uttrykke seg, meaning 'to express oneself'. For example, 'Det er viktig å uttrykke seg klart' (It's important to express oneself clearly).

Norwegians and expressing feelings

Generally, Norwegians can be more reserved in expressing strong emotions publicly compared to some other cultures. However, uttrykke is still a vital verb for conveying any kind of feeling or thought.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine you're trying to UTTer a thought, to give it EXPRESSION. 'UTTrykke' sounds a bit like 'utter expression'.

Visuelle Assoziation

Picture a person dramatically gesturing and speaking, trying to 'uttrykke' their strong emotions. They are really trying to get their message across.

Word Web

si (to say) formidle (to convey/communicate) vise (to show) komme til uttrykk (to be expressed/come to expression) uttrykk (expression - noun)

Herausforderung

Try to 'uttrykke' your feelings about today's weather in Norwegian. For example: 'Jeg vil uttrykke min glede over solen i dag.' (I want to express my joy about the sun today.) Or, if it's rainy: 'Jeg må uttrykke min skuffelse over regnet.' (I must express my disappointment about the rain.)

Wortherkunft

Old Norse

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: to express, to press out

Germanic

Kultureller Kontext

When Norwegians use "uttrykke," it often implies a deliberate and considered act of communication. It's not just about speaking, but about making one's thoughts and feelings clear. This can be seen in Norwegian culture's value for directness and clarity in communication.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Expressing opinions or feelings

Hvordan kan jeg uttrykke dette bedre?
Jeg vil uttrykke min takknemlighet.
Det er viktig å uttrykke dine følelser.

Communicating complex ideas

Det er vanskelig å uttrykke denne ideen på norsk.
Hun prøver å uttrykke en kompleks tanke.
Klarer du å uttrykke poenget ditt tydelig?

Artistic expression

Kunstneren bruker farger for å uttrykke glede.
Han uttrykker seg gjennom musikk.
Dikt er en måte å uttrykke dype tanker på.

Expressing condolences or sympathy

Jeg vil uttrykke min dypeste medfølelse.
Vi kom for å uttrykke vår støtte.
Det er vanskelig å uttrykke ord i en slik tid.

Expressing concerns or dissatisfaction

Jeg måtte uttrykke min bekymring.
De uttrykte misnøye med tjenesten.
Det er viktig å uttrykke når noe ikke er bra.

Gesprächseinstiege

"Hva er den beste måten å uttrykke takknemlighet på norsk?"

"Hvordan uttrykker nordmenn ofte følelser i samtaler?"

"Har du noen gang funnet det vanskelig å uttrykke deg på et nytt språk? (Have you ever found it difficult to express yourself in a new language?)"

"På hvilke måter kan musikk uttrykke følelser? (In what ways can music express emotions?)"

"Hva er et tema du synes er lett eller vanskelig å uttrykke meninger om? (What is a topic you find easy or difficult to express opinions about?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Skriv om en gang du måtte uttrykke en vanskelig følelse. Hvordan gjorde du det, og hva var resultatet? (Write about a time you had to express a difficult feeling. How did you do it, and what was the result?)

Tenk på en situasjon der du ønsket å uttrykke din takknemlighet. Hvordan ville du gjort det på norsk? (Think of a situation where you wanted to express your gratitude. How would you do it in Norwegian?)

Beskriv en film, bok eller et kunstverk som uttrykker et budskap du liker. Hva er budskapet? (Describe a movie, book, or artwork that expresses a message you like. What is the message?)

Reflekter over viktigheten av å kunne uttrykke seg tydelig i forskjellige situasjoner (for eksempel på jobb, med venner). (Reflect on the importance of being able to express yourself clearly in different situations (e.g., at work, with friends).)

Hvordan kan du bedre uttrykke din personlighet og tanker når du snakker norsk? (How can you better express your personality and thoughts when speaking Norwegian?)

Teste dich selbst 30 Fragen

multiple choice B1

Which sentence correctly uses 'uttrykke'?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Han uttrykte sine tanker klart.

'Uttrykke' means to convey a thought or feeling in words. 'Han uttrykte sine tanker klart' (He expressed his thoughts clearly) is the correct usage.

multiple choice B1

What is the best translation for 'å uttrykke glede'?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: To express joy

'Uttrykke' means to express or convey. 'Glede' means joy. So, 'å uttrykke glede' means 'to express joy'.

multiple choice B1

In which context would you NOT use 'uttrykke'?

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: When talking about buying groceries.

'Uttrykke' relates to conveying thoughts or feelings, not practical tasks like buying groceries.

true false B1

The verb 'uttrykke' is used when someone talks about their emotions.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

'Uttrykke' is commonly used to convey feelings, such as emotions.

true false B1

You can use 'uttrykke' to describe drawing a picture.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Falsch

While a picture can express something, 'uttrykke' specifically refers to conveying thoughts or feelings *in words*.

true false B1

The past tense of 'uttrykke' is 'uttrykket'.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Richtig

The past tense of 'uttrykke' (to express) is 'uttrykte' (expressed). 'Uttrykket' is the past participle or a noun (an expression).

listening B2

The sentence discusses the importance of clear expression.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Det er viktig å kunne uttrykke seg klart.