Signification
Speaking honestly.
Contexte culturel
Norwegians value 'direkte tale' (direct speech). Saying the truth is often preferred over being polite but vague. In Norwegian workplaces, admitting a mistake ('å si sannheten om en feil') is seen as a sign of strength and reliability, not weakness. The Norwegian legal system relies heavily on the principle of truth-telling without the same level of aggressive cross-examination seen in the US. There is a trend called 'ufiltrert' (unfiltered) where people 'sier sannheten' about their lives to combat perfect Instagram aesthetics.
Use it as a softener
Start a difficult sentence with 'For å si sannheten...' to show you are being sincere rather than mean.
Don't forget the -en
Saying 'si sannhet' sounds like a robot or a very old book. Always add the '-en'.
Signification
Speaking honestly.
Use it as a softener
Start a difficult sentence with 'For å si sannheten...' to show you are being sincere rather than mean.
Don't forget the -en
Saying 'si sannhet' sounds like a robot or a very old book. Always add the '-en'.
Honesty over Politeness
In Norway, being honest is often considered more polite than giving a fake compliment.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'å si' in the past tense.
Han ___ sannheten til politiet i går.
The sentence refers to 'i går' (yesterday), so we need the past tense 'sa'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct version:
The definite form 'sannheten' is the standard way to express this collocation.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural phrase.
A: Liker du maten? B: ___, den er litt for salt.
'For å si sannheten' is a common sentence starter meaning 'To be honest'.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Where would you hear 'Lover du å si sannheten, bare sannheten og ingenting annet enn sannheten?'
This is the traditional legal oath used in trials.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesHan ___ sannheten til politiet i går.
The sentence refers to 'i går' (yesterday), so we need the past tense 'sa'.
Choose the correct version:
The definite form 'sannheten' is the standard way to express this collocation.
A: Liker du maten? B: ___, den er litt for salt.
'For å si sannheten' is a common sentence starter meaning 'To be honest'.
Where would you hear 'Lover du å si sannheten, bare sannheten og ingenting annet enn sannheten?'
This is the traditional legal oath used in trials.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsYes, it is perfectly correct and very common. 'Si' is slightly more common for short statements, while 'fortelle' is used for more detailed accounts.
In Norwegian, abstract concepts like 'truth' or 'love' often take the definite form when referred to generally.
Almost. 'Å snakke sant' means 'to speak truthfully'. It's more informal and used more in daily conversation.
Use 'For å si sannheten...' or 'Sannheten er at...'
It can be. If you say 'Si sannheten!' it sounds like an accusation. Use 'Kan du være ærlig med meg?' for a softer approach.
Expressions liées
Å snakke sant
synonymTo speak truthfully
Å være ærlig
similarTo be honest
Å lyve
contrastTo lie
Å legge kortene på bordet
idiomaticTo lay the cards on the table
