When you want to say that you own something in Norwegian, you use the verb å eie. It's a regular verb, which makes it easy to learn. You'll find yourself using this word a lot when talking about possessions. It's similar to the English verb 'to own'.
For example, if you want to say 'I own a house', you would say 'Jeg eier et hus'. Or, if you want to ask 'Do you own a car?', you would say 'Eier du en bil?' See, it's quite straightforward!
When using the verb «eie» (to own), you'll often see it followed by a direct object, just like in English. For example, «Jeg eier et hus» means «I own a house».
It can also be used in more abstract senses, like «eie en følelse» (to own an emotion), though this is less common than with physical possessions.
Another common usage is in the phrase «eie seg selv» (to own oneself), which means to be independent or in control of one's own life.
You might also encounter it in expressions like «å eie rommet» (to own the room), meaning to dominate or command attention in a space.
§ Understanding 'eie' vs. 'ha'
Many learners get confused between eie and 'ha'. Both can relate to possession, but they are not always interchangeable. Think of it this way:
- DEFINITION
- eie: to own something legally or as property.
- DEFINITION
- ha: to have something, which can be temporary, or not necessarily imply ownership (e.g., 'to have a cold', 'to have time').
§ Incorrect Usage with Abstract Concepts
You wouldn't use eie with abstract concepts or temporary states. This is a common mistake for English speakers because 'to own' can sometimes be used more broadly in English (e.g., 'to own a feeling'). In Norwegian, stick to 'ha' for these situations.
Incorrect:
Jeg eier en ide. (I own an idea.)
Correct:
Jeg har en ide. (I have an idea.)
§ Conjugation Errors
Like all Norwegian verbs, eie conjugates. Make sure you're using the correct form. It's a regular '-e' verb.
- Presens (Present): eier
- Preteritum (Simple Past): eide
- Perfektum (Present Perfect): har eid
- Infinitiv (Infinitive): å eie
Incorrect:
De eie et stort hus. (They own a big house.)
Correct:
De eier et stort hus. (They own a big house.)
§ Using 'eie' for Relationships
In English, you might say 'I own that relationship' or 'he owns my heart' in a figurative sense. This doesn't translate well to Norwegian with eie. Again, 'ha' is usually the verb you'd use, or a different construction entirely.
Incorrect:
Han eier mitt hjerte. (He owns my heart.)
Correct (more natural):
Han har mitt hjerte. (He has my heart.)
Or, if you want to express a stronger emotional connection:
Mitt hjerte tilhører ham. (My heart belongs to him.)
§ Redundant Use with Possessive Pronouns
You generally don't need to combine eie with possessive pronouns if the ownership is already clear. While not strictly 'wrong' in every context, it can sound clunky or overly formal. Simply stating 'my house' often implies ownership without needing 'I own my house'.
Less common/redundant:
Jeg eier mitt eget hus. (I own my own house.)
More natural:
Jeg eier et hus. (I own a house.)
Or if the house is already established as 'my house':
Det er mitt hus. (It is my house.)
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'eiga' also meant 'to marry' in Old Norse, highlighting the historical connection between ownership and marital unions.
Origine du mot
Old Norse: 'eiga'
Sens originel : to have, to possess
North GermanicContexte culturel
Owning property or land has historically been a significant marker of status and security in Norway, much like in many other cultures. This verb is fundamental for expressing possession, a core concept in daily Norwegian life and legal understanding. The simplicity of 'eie' reflects the directness often found in Norwegian communication regarding possessions and responsibilities.
Teste-toi 36 questions
Which word means 'to own'?
'Eie' means to own. The other words mean to eat, to sleep, and to speak.
What is the correct translation of 'Jeg eier en bil'?
'Jeg' means I, 'eier' is the present tense of 'to own', and 'en bil' means a car.
Which sentence correctly uses 'eie'?
'Vi eier et hus' means 'We own a house'. The other options do not make sense.
'Eie' means 'to sing'.
'Eie' means 'to own', not 'to sing'. 'Synge' means 'to sing'.
If you 'eier' something, you possess it.
To 'eie' something means to own or possess it.
The past tense of 'eie' is 'eieste'.
The past tense of 'eie' is 'eide'. 'Eieste' is not a correct form.
What do I own?
What is being asked about ownership?
What does she own?
Read this aloud:
Jeg eier en katt.
Focus: eier
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Vi eier en hytte.
Focus: eier
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
De eier en hund.
Focus: eier
Tu as dit :
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Jeg vil ___ min egen hytte på fjellet.
The sentence expresses a desire to possess a cabin, so 'eie' (to own) is the correct verb.
De ___ en stor leilighet i byen.
'Eier' is the present tense of 'eie' and correctly indicates that they possess a large apartment.
Hvem ___ denne bilen?
The question is asking about the ownership of the car, so 'eier' is the appropriate verb.
Hun drømmer om å ___ en gård.
The sentence talks about a dream of possessing a farm, making 'eie' the correct choice.
Vi ___ ingen dyr, men ønsker å få en hund.
This sentence states that 'we' do not own any animals, so 'eier' is correct.
De har planer om å ___ huset sitt neste år.
The phrase 'å eie' fits here if the context implies they will own it (continue owning or start owning it). If the intent was to sell, 'selge' would be used.
The correct order is subject (Han), verb (eier), indefinite article (en), and noun (hund).
The correct order is subject (Jeg), verb (eide), and then the object with its adjective (den røde bilen).
The correct order is subject (De), verb (eier), indefinite article (et), adjective (stort), and noun (hus).
Han hevder å ___ et stort hus i Ålesund, men ingen har sett det.
The context implies possession of a house. 'Eie' (to own) fits best here. 'Leie' means to rent, 'bygge' means to build, and 'selge' means to sell.
For å kunne delta i styret, må du ___ aksjer i selskapet.
To participate in the board, one must 'own' shares. 'Kjøpe' means to buy, 'låne' means to borrow, and 'selge' means to sell.
Det er en komplisert sak å avklare hvem som faktisk skal ___ denne eiendommen.
The sentence discusses clarification of ownership. 'Eie' (to own) is the correct verb. 'Bygge' means to build, 'forvalte' means to manage, and 'leie' means to rent.
Selv om de bor der, hevder de at de ikke ___ huset, men leier det.
The sentence states they do not 'own' the house but rent it. 'Eier' (own) is the correct conjugation of 'eie'. 'Bygger' means build, 'kjøper' means buy, and 'selger' means sell.
Etter generasjoner i familien er det en sterk følelse av å ___ gården.
The long family history suggests a strong feeling of 'owning' the farm. 'Forpakte' means to lease, 'drifte' means to operate, and 'arve' means to inherit.
De har et ønske om å ___ et feriested ved sjøen en dag.
The desire is to 'own' a vacation spot by the sea. 'Besøke' means to visit, 'kjøpe' means to buy (which is a step towards owning but not the final state), and 'låne' means to borrow.
Who owns the truth in this debate?
She claims to possess a unique insight into the issue.
It's hard to imagine someone owning so much power without abusing it.
Read this aloud:
Kan du formulere en setning der du bruker 'eie' i overført betydning, for eksempel om å eie en egenskap eller en situasjon?
Focus: eie, overført, betydning, egenskap, situasjon
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Beskriv en situasjon der det å 'eie' en feil eller et ansvar er avgjørende for å løse et problem.
Focus: beskriv, situasjon, eie, feil, ansvar, avgjørende, løse, problem
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Diskuter hvordan det å 'eie' sin egen fortelling kan være styrkende for en person.
Focus: diskuter, eie, egen, fortelling, styrkende, person
Tu as dit :
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/ 36 correct
Perfect score!
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