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B2 verb 3 min de lecture

forebygge

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces forebygge en 30 secondes

Explication forebygge in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word 'forebygge' often, but you should understand its basic idea: stopping something bad before it starts. Think of it like saying 'no' to a problem before it arrives. For example, if you wash your hands, you are doing something to not get sick. That is the essence of 'forebygge'. It is a big word for a simple idea: 'Stop it early'. You might see it on signs in the hospital or in simple health books. Just remember: fore- (before) + bygge (build). You build a wall before the trouble comes. It is a very useful word to know when you talk about staying healthy or being safe at home.

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At the A2 level, you can start using 'forebygge' in simple sentences about health and safety. It is a common word in Norwegian because Norwegians care a lot about safety. You can use it to talk about why you do certain things, like wearing a helmet or eating vegetables. Instead of just saying 'I don't want to be sick,' you can say 'I want to prevent (forebygge) sickness.' This makes your Norwegian sound much more advanced. You will hear this word in the news and from your doctor. It is a 'weak' verb, which means it follows a simple pattern for past tense. Practice saying 'Vi må forebygge ulykker' (We must prevent accidents).

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At the B1 level, 'forebygge' becomes a key vocabulary item for discussing social issues, health, and work. You should be able to use it to explain the purpose of various rules and regulations. For instance, when discussing workplace safety (HMS), you would use 'forebygge' to describe why we use protective gear. You should also recognize the adjective form 'forebyggende' (preventative). You might say 'Forebyggende arbeid er viktig i skolen' (Preventative work is important in school). At this level, you are moving beyond simple physical prevention to more abstract concepts like preventing conflicts or preventing misunderstandings. It's a great word to use in the 'norskprøve' (Norwegian test) to show you have a good vocabulary.

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At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'forebygge'. You understand that it implies a proactive, systemic approach. You can distinguish it from 'hindre' (to stop an immediate action) and 'avverge' (to avert a looming disaster). You are comfortable using it in formal writing, such as essays about government policy or environmental protection. You can use it in the passive voice ('problemet kan forebygges') and combine it with complex nouns like 'utenforskap' (social exclusion) or 'livsstilssykdommer' (lifestyle diseases). You understand that 'forebygge' is often the preferred term in professional and academic contexts because it sounds objective and responsible. Your usage should be precise, avoiding common mistakes like adding the preposition 'fra'.

At the C1 level, 'forebygge' is a tool for precise communication in specialized fields. You can use it to discuss the philosophy of prevention in public health or the strategic implementation of preventative measures in complex systems like the economy or the legal system. You are familiar with related idiomatic expressions like 'å demme opp for' and can use them to add color to your speech. You understand the historical and etymological roots of the word and how it fits into the broader Germanic language family. In your writing, you use 'forebygge' to build logical arguments about long-term solutions versus short-term fixes. You can discuss the ethical implications of 'forebyggende overvåking' (preventative surveillance) or other controversial topics with ease and sophistication.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'forebygge' is complete. You use it with the same ease and precision as a highly educated native speaker. You can use it in all its forms—verb, noun, and adjective—in highly complex, abstract discussions. You are aware of the subtle stylistic differences between 'forebygging' and 'forebyggelse' and choose the one that fits the register of your text perfectly. You can use the word to critique policy, analyze social trends, or discuss scientific research. Your understanding extends to how the word is used in legal statutes and high-level political discourse. You can effortlessly switch between 'forebygge' and its most technical synonyms to avoid repetition and maintain a high level of academic or professional prose. You are also able to identify and correct even the most subtle misuses of the word by others.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

forebygge en 30 secondes

Forebygge means to prevent something bad from happening by acting early.
It is a proactive verb, often used in health, safety, and social contexts.
The word is a compound of 'fore' (before) and 'bygge' (to build).
Commonly used with objects like disease, crime, accidents, and conflict.

The Norwegian verb forebygge is a sophisticated and essential term that translates directly to "to prevent" or "to preclude" in English. At its linguistic core, the word is a compound of the prefix fore- (meaning before or in front of) and the verb bygge (meaning to build). Conceptually, it conveys the idea of "building something in advance" to act as a barrier or defense against a negative outcome. Unlike the word stoppe, which implies halting something already in motion, forebygge focuses entirely on the proactive stage. It is about the measures taken while everything is still fine to ensure it stays that way.

Medical Context: In the world of healthcare, this word is ubiquitous. Doctors talk about how to forebygge sykdom (prevent disease) through vaccines, healthy eating, and exercise. It is the cornerstone of public health policy in Norway, where the focus is often on forebyggende medisin.

Det er mye bedre å forebygge enn å reparere.

Beyond health, the term is frequently used in social and technical spheres. In a professional setting, an engineer might work to forebygge tekniske feil (prevent technical errors) by performing regular maintenance. In sociology or criminology, experts discuss how to forebygge kriminalitet (prevent crime) by improving community resources and education. The word carries a tone of responsibility and foresight. When you use forebygge, you are signaling that you are looking into the future and taking action now to avoid trouble later.

Social Context: Norwegian society places a high value on dugnad and collective responsibility, which often manifests as forebyggende arbeid in local communities to stop social isolation or youth delinquency.

Gode fritidstilbud kan bidra til å forebygge utenforskap blant unge.

Technical Context: In IT and engineering, forebyggende vedlikehold (preventative maintenance) is the standard term for servicing equipment before it breaks down.

Vi må oppdatere programvaren for å forebygge sikkerhetsbrudd.

In summary, forebygge is more than just stopping something; it is the art of strategic avoidance. It is a word used by leaders, doctors, parents, and planners. It suggests a level of control over the environment and a commitment to long-term stability. Whether you are talking about avoiding a cold or avoiding a global crisis, forebygge is your primary tool for expressing proactive intent.

Using forebygge correctly requires understanding its position as a verb that targets a potential future problem. It follows standard Norwegian verb conjugation patterns for weak verbs (V1/V2 category). You will most commonly see it in its infinitive form following modal verbs like skulle, måte, or burde, or in its present tense form forebygger. Because it is a proactive verb, the object is usually something negative that hasn't happened yet but could.

The Modal Pattern: Combining with 'må' (must) or 'bør' (should) to express necessity. Example: 'Vi bør forebygge konflikter.'

Politiet jobber for å forebygge vold i nære relasjoner.

When using the past tense forebygget or forebygde, you are describing measures that were taken in the past which successfully (or intentionally) kept a problem at bay. For example, 'De forebygget skadene ved å bruke sandsekker' (They prevented the damage by using sandbags). Note that the object 'skadene' (the damages) is what was prevented. You don't 'forebygge' a person; you 'forebygge' the harm that might come to them or the actions they might take.

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Common structure: [Subject] + [Verb] + [Negative Noun]. Example: 'Vaksinen forebygger smitte.'

The Gerund-like Use: Using the noun form 'forebygging' to talk about the concept of prevention itself. Example: 'Forebygging er nøkkelen.'

Ved å trene regelmessig kan man forebygge mange livsstilssykdommer.

Another important aspect is the use of the present participle forebyggende as an adjective. This is extremely common in phrases like forebyggende tiltak (preventative measures) or forebyggende arbeid (preventative work). This allows you to describe the nature of an action or a policy. If you are writing a report or a formal letter in Norwegian, using these adjectival forms will make your language sound more professional and precise.

Passive Construction: Using 'forebygges' to say something 'can be prevented'. Example: 'Feilen kan forebygges ved bedre rutiner.'

Det er viktig at vi forebygger mobbing i skolen.

Finally, remember that forebygge is often paired with the preposition mot (against) when the noun form is used, but as a verb, it usually takes a direct object. You 'forebygger sykdom', but you take 'tiltak for å forebygge mot sykdom'. Mastery of these small prepositional shifts is what separates a B2 learner from a C1 speaker. Practice by identifying potential problems in your daily life and stating how you intend to forebygge them.

If you live in Norway or consume Norwegian media, you will encounter forebygge on a daily basis. It is a favorite word of the Norwegian government (Regjeringen) and various state directorates. Whenever a new health campaign is launched, or a new safety regulation is introduced, the justification is almost always to forebygge some form of harm or cost. It is a word that carries the weight of authority and scientific backing.

In the News: News anchors on NRK or TV2 frequently use the word when discussing climate change ('forebygge flom'), economic crises ('forebygge arbeidsledighet'), or international conflicts.

Regjeringen bevilger mer penger for å forebygge flomskader i Sør-Norge.

At the doctor's office (legekontoret), you will hear it during routine check-ups. A doctor might suggest a specific diet to forebygge høyt blodtrykk (prevent high blood pressure). In this context, the word sounds supportive and advisory. It’s not a command but a collaborative goal for your long-term health. Similarly, in schools, teachers and administrators talk about forebyggende tiltak mot mobbing (preventative measures against bullying), emphasizing a safe environment for children.

In the Workplace: Managers use it during safety briefings. 'Vi må bruke verneutstyr for å forebygge ulykker' (We must use protective equipment to prevent accidents).

Gode ergonomiske stoler kan forebygge ryggplager hos de ansatte.

You will also hear it in the context of household maintenance. Ads for insurance companies or home improvement stores often use it. "Forebygg vannskader med våre nye rør," they might say. In these instances, it’s a marketing tool designed to appeal to your sense of caution and desire to protect your investments. Whether it’s high-level politics or low-level plumbing, forebygge is the word of choice for anyone trying to avoid future headaches.

Environmental Discussions: Environmentalists use it when discussing how to 'forebygge tap av biologisk mangfold' (prevent loss of biodiversity).

Vi må handle nå for å forebygge de verste konsekvensene av klimaendringene.

Finally, in sports, coaches talk about skadeforebyggende trening (injury-preventative training). This refers to warm-ups and specific exercises meant to keep athletes on the field. Because the word is so versatile, hearing it in one context (like the gym) will help you understand it in another (like a political debate). It always points back to the same core idea: acting now so you don't have to suffer later.

Even for advanced learners, forebygge can be tricky because it overlaps with several other Norwegian verbs that mean "to stop" or "to prevent." The most common error is using forebygge when you actually mean forhindre or hindre. While all three involve stopping something, the timing and the nature of the obstacle are different. Forebygge is about the long-term, systemic avoidance of a problem, whereas hindre is often about physically or immediately stopping an action.

Forebygge vs. Hindre: You 'forebygger' a disease by eating healthy for years. You 'hindrer' a child from running into the street right now. Mixing these up makes your Norwegian sound unnatural.

FEIL: Jeg må forebygge hunden fra å løpe ut. (Korrekt: Jeg må hindre hunden fra å løpe ut).

Another frequent mistake is the incorrect use of prepositions. Many learners try to use fra (from) with forebygge because they are thinking of the English phrase "prevent from." In Norwegian, forebygge is usually a direct verb. You don't "forebygge noe fra å skje;" you simply "forebygge noe." For example, "Vi må forebygge brann," not "Vi må forebygge brann fra å skje." The latter is redundant and technically incorrect in standard Norwegian grammar.

Register Confusion: Using 'forebygge' in very casual, immediate situations can sound overly formal. If you're just stopping a friend from spilling a drink, use 'pass på' or 'stopp'.

Riktig bruk: Vaksiner bidrar til å forebygge spredning av virus.

Learners also struggle with the noun forms forebygging and forebyggelse. While both are technically correct, forebygging is much more common in modern, everyday Norwegian. Forebyggelse can sound slightly archaic or overly legalistic. If you want to sound like a natural speaker, stick to forebygging. Lastly, be careful not to confuse forebygge with forberede (to prepare). While you prepare for something, you prevent the thing itself.

The 'Object' Mistake: Don't 'forebygge' the solution. You 'forebygge' the problem. You don't 'forebygge helse' (prevent health); you 'forebygge sykdom' (prevent illness).

Vi må forebygge ensomhet blant eldre ved å skape sosiale møteplasser.

To avoid these mistakes, always ask yourself: "Am I acting in advance to stop a general problem?" If the answer is yes, forebygge is likely the right word. If the problem is already happening or is a specific physical movement, look for hindre or stoppe instead. Consistent practice with these nuances will elevate your Norwegian from functional to fluent.

Norwegian has a rich vocabulary for the concept of prevention and avoidance. Understanding the subtle differences between forebygge and its synonyms will help you choose the right word for the right situation. While forebygge is the most general and common term for proactive prevention, words like avverge, forhindre, and motvirke offer different shades of meaning.

Avverge: This means 'to avert' or 'to ward off'. It is often used for immediate, looming disasters. You 'avverger' a catastrophe that is just about to happen. It feels more dramatic than 'forebygge'.

Helten klarte å avverge en stor ulykke i siste sekund.

Forhindre is very close to forebygge but is often more specific. While forebygge is systemic (like preventing crime in general), forhindre is often used for stopping a specific event from occurring. If you lock your door, you forhindrer a specific burglary. If you improve social conditions, you forebygger crime as a whole. However, in many contexts, these two are interchangeable.

Motvirke: Literally 'counter-work'. You use this when a negative force is already present, and you are trying to minimize its impact. Example: 'Trening kan motvirke stress.'

Vi må finne tiltak som kan motvirke de negative effektene av inflasjon.

Another interesting alternative is parere, which comes from fencing and means 'to parry'. It is rarely used in everyday speech but appears in literature or sports commentary to describe blocking an attack. For a more idiomatic or metaphorical approach, you can use the phrase å demme opp for (to dam up for). This is used when you are trying to stop a metaphorical flood of something bad, like 'demme opp for misinformasjon'.

Verne mot: Meaning 'to protect against'. This focuses on the shield or the protection itself rather than the act of preventing the event. You 'verner' the environment.

Nye lover skal verne forbrukerne mot svindel.

Choosing the right synonym depends on the 'vibe' of your sentence. If you want to sound like a policy maker, use forebygge. If you want to sound like a hero in an action movie, use avverge. If you are talking about a tug-of-war between two forces, use motvirke. By expanding your vocabulary beyond the basic 'stoppe', you allow yourself to express complex ideas with the precision of a native speaker.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Neutre

Informel

Child friendly

Argot

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'bygge' in Norwegian is related to the English word 'build', but in this context, it refers to the construction of a metaphorical or physical defense.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ˈfoːrəˌbʏɡə/

US /ˈfoʊrəˌbɪɡə/

Stress is on the first syllable 'fo-'.

Rime avec

bygge trygge skygge rygge hygge smygge styre (near rhyme) brygge

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'y' like English 'i' (it should be more like 'ee' with rounded lips).
Softening the 'g' sounds too much.
Putting stress on the second syllable.
Pronouncing 'e' at the end as 'ay' instead of a neutral schwa.
Merging 'fore' and 'bygge' without a slight internal structure.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Common in news and formal texts, easy to recognize once you know 'bygge'.

Écriture 4/5

Requires correct object placement and avoidance of 'fra'.

Expression orale 4/5

Pronunciation of 'y' and 'g' can be a minor challenge.

Écoute 3/5

Clear pronunciation usually, but can be lost in fast speech.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

bygge før sykdom skade viktig

Apprends ensuite

forhindre avverge motvirke tiltak

Avancé

proaktiv intervensjon mitigering kausalitet

Grammaire à connaître

Transitive Verbs

Forebygge takes a direct object: 'Forebygge skade'.

Infinitive with 'for å'

Vi trener for å forebygge sykdom.

Present Participle as Adjective

Forebyggende tiltak (Preventative measures).

Passive Voice with -s

Ulykker kan forebygges.

Weak Verb Conjugation

Forebygge - forebygger - forebygget - har forebygget.

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Exemples par niveau

Vi må forebygge brann.

We must prevent fire.

Infinitive after modal 'må'.

Vask hendene for å forebygge sykdom.

Wash your hands to prevent illness.

Purpose clause with 'for å'.

Bruk hjelm for å forebygge skader.

Use a helmet to prevent injuries.

Direct object 'skader'.

De vil forebygge ulykker.

They want to prevent accidents.

Present tense of 'ville' + infinitive.

Kan vi forebygge dette?

Can we prevent this?

Question structure.

Hun forebygger forkjølelse med te.

She prevents colds with tea.

Present tense 'forebygger'.

Det er bra å forebygge.

It is good to prevent.

Infinitive as subject complement.

Vi må forebygge feil.

We must prevent errors.

Simple transitive use.

Gode sko kan forebygge ryggsmerter.

Good shoes can prevent back pain.

Modal 'kan' + infinitive.

Politiet jobber med å forebygge kriminalitet.

The police work on preventing crime.

Preposition 'med' + 'å' + infinitive.

Vi må forebygge at barnet faller.

We must prevent the child from falling.

Forebygge + 'at'-clause.

Sunn mat forebygger mange problemer.

Healthy food prevents many problems.

Present tense.

De tok grep for å forebygge flom.

They took steps to prevent flooding.

Past tense 'tok' + purpose clause.

Hvordan kan vi forebygge mobbing?

How can we prevent bullying?

Interrogative adverb 'hvordan'.

Vaksinen forebygger smittsomme sykdommer.

The vaccine prevents contagious diseases.

Adjective 'smittsomme' modifying 'sykdommer'.

Vi forebygget skaden i tide.

We prevented the damage in time.

Past tense 'forebygget'.

Det er viktig med forebyggende tiltak på arbeidsplassen.

Preventative measures in the workplace are important.

Adjective 'forebyggende'.

Myndighetene ønsker å forebygge utenforskap.

The authorities wish to prevent social exclusion.

Abstract noun 'utenforskap' as object.

Vi må forebygge konflikter før de eskalerer.

We must prevent conflicts before they escalate.

Subjunction 'før'.

Regelmessig kontroll forebygger tekniske feil.

Regular checks prevent technical errors.

Subject 'regelmessig kontroll'.

Kan trening forebygge depresjon?

Can exercise prevent depression?

Question about mental health.

Vi har forebygget mange problemer ved å planlegge godt.

We have prevented many problems by planning well.

Present perfect tense.

Lærere må forebygge rasisme i klasserommet.

Teachers must prevent racism in the classroom.

Social responsibility context.

Denne kremen forebygger tørr hud.

This cream prevents dry skin.

Commercial/practical context.

Tiltakene er ment å forebygge radikalisering.

The measures are intended to prevent radicalization.

Passive-like construction 'er ment å'.

Det kreves en felles innsats for å forebygge klimaendringer.

A joint effort is required to prevent climate change.

Impersonal 'det'-construction.

Vi må forebygge at sensitive data kommer på avveie.

We must prevent sensitive data from going astray.

Idiomatic 'på avveie'.

Forebygging av livsstilssykdommer sparer samfunnet for store summer.

Prevention of lifestyle diseases saves society large sums.

Noun form 'forebygging' with 'av'.

Hvordan kan vi best forebygge frafall i videregående skole?

How can we best prevent dropout in high school?

Superlative adverb 'best'.

Det er avgjørende å forebygge korrupsjon i offentlig sektor.

It is crucial to prevent corruption in the public sector.

Adjective 'avgjørende'.

Bruk av solkrem forebygger tidlig aldring av huden.

Use of sunscreen prevents early aging of the skin.

Compound noun phrase.

Prosjektet har som mål å forebygge ensomhet blant unge.

The project aims to prevent loneliness among young people.

Fixed phrase 'ha som mål å'.

Man må forebygge en systemisk kollaps i finansmarkedet.

One must prevent a systemic collapse in the financial market.

Indefinite pronoun 'man'.

Det er nødvendig med proaktive strategier for å forebygge pandemier.

Proactive strategies are necessary to prevent pandemics.

Academic register.

Lovverket skal forebygge maktmisbruk i politiske organer.

The legislation shall prevent abuse of power in political bodies.

Legal context.

Vi må forebygge at kunstig intelligens fører til økt ulikhet.

We must prevent AI from leading to increased inequality.

Contemporary technological context.

Forebygging krever tverrfaglig samarbeid på tvers av sektorer.

Prevention requires interdisciplinary cooperation across sectors.

Complex abstract nouns.

Denne politikken er utformet for å forebygge sosial dumping.

This policy is designed to prevent social dumping.

Economic/labor term 'sosial dumping'.

Ved å forebygge marginalisering kan vi styrke demokratiet.

By preventing marginalization, we can strengthen democracy.

Gerund-like use 'ved å forebygge'.

Det er bedre å forebygge enn å bøte på skaden i etterkant.

It is better to prevent than to remedy the damage afterwards.

Idiomatic 'bøte på skaden'.

Det er en imperativ oppgave å forebygge erosjon av rettsstaten.

It is an imperative task to prevent the erosion of the rule of law.

High-level academic/legal register.

Vi må forebygge at diskursen forfaller til ren populisme.

We must prevent the discourse from decaying into pure populism.

Sophisticated vocabulary 'diskurs', 'populisme'.

Forebyggende diplomati er essensielt for å opprettholde global fred.

Preventative diplomacy is essential for maintaining global peace.

International relations terminology.

Man søker å forebygge redundans i komplekse datasystemer.

One seeks to prevent redundancy in complex data systems.

Technical/Scientific register.

Det er maktpåliggende å forebygge en irreversibel økologisk krise.

It is imperative to prevent an irreversible ecological crisis.

Formal adjective 'maktpåliggende'.

Å forebygge kognitiv dissonans er en sentral del av pedagogikken.

Preventing cognitive dissonance is a central part of pedagogy.

Psychological terminology.

Tiltakene tar sikte på å forebygge asymmetrisk krigføring.

The measures aim to prevent asymmetric warfare.

Security studies terminology.

Man kan forebygge fragmentering av den nasjonale identiteten.

One can prevent the fragmentation of the national identity.

Sociological analysis.

Collocations courantes

forebygge sykdom

forebygge skade

forebygge kriminalitet

forebygge konflikt

forebygge brann

forebygge mobbing

forebygge flom

forebygge ensomhet

forebygge feil

forebygge smitte

Phrases Courantes

Forebyggende tiltak

— Preventative measures taken to stop a problem.

Vi har iverksatt forebyggende tiltak.

Forebyggende arbeid

— Work focused on prevention rather than cure.

Forebyggende arbeid er billigere enn reparasjon.

Bedre å forebygge enn å reparere

— It is better to prevent than to repair (proverb).

Som man sier: bedre å forebygge enn å reparere.

Forebygge mot

— Used with the noun form to indicate the target.

Tiltak for å forebygge mot flom.

I forebyggende øyemed

— For the purpose of prevention (formal).

Vi gjør dette i forebyggende øyemed.

Forebyggende medisin

— Medical practice focused on preventing disease.

Han studerer forebyggende medisin.

Forebygge utenforskap

— Preventing social marginalization.

Vi må forebygge utenforskap blant unge.

Skadeforebyggende

— Injury-preventing (adjective).

Han gjør skadeforebyggende øvelser.

Brannforebyggende

— Fire-preventing (adjective).

Brannforebyggende utstyr er påbudt.

Kriminalitetsforebyggende

— Crime-preventing (adjective).

Kriminalitetsforebyggende råd (KRÅD).

Souvent confondu avec

forebygge vs hindre

Hindre is for stopping an immediate physical action; forebygge is for systemic prevention.

forebygge vs forberede

Forberede means to prepare for something; forebygge means to stop it from happening.

forebygge vs reparere

Reparere is the opposite; it's fixing something after it's broken.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Å demme opp for"

— To stop something bad from spreading or continuing.

Vi må demme opp for ryktene.

Metaphorical

"Å ta det i opptakten"

— To stop something at the very beginning.

Vi må ta konflikten i opptakten.

Neutral

"Å kvele i fødselen"

— To nip something in the bud (literally: choke at birth).

Vi må kvele opprøret i fødselen.

Strong/Metaphorical

"Å være føre var"

— To be cautious in advance.

Det er best å være føre var.

Common Proverb

"Å smi mens jernet er varmt"

— To act while the timing is right (can relate to prevention).

Vi må smi mens jernet er varmt for å forebygge krisen.

Proverb

"Å bygge broer"

— To build bridges (preventing conflict).

Vi må bygge broer for å forebygge krig.

Metaphorical

"Å se langt frem"

— To have foresight.

Han ser langt frem og forebygger problemer.

Neutral

"Å tette hullene"

— To fix weaknesses before they cause trouble.

Vi må tette hullene i sikkerheten.

Metaphorical

"Å holde i sjakk"

— To keep something under control/prevent from advancing.

Vi må holde sykdommen i sjakk.

Metaphorical

"Å forekomme"

— To anticipate or get ahead of someone/something.

Han forekom kritikken ved å beklage på forhånd.

Formal

Facile à confondre

forebygge vs forhindre

Very similar meaning.

Forhindre is often more specific to a single event, while forebygge is broader and more systemic.

Vi må forhindre tyveriet (specific). Vi må forebygge kriminalitet (general).

forebygge vs avverge

Both mean stop.

Avverge is used for immediate, acute threats.

Han avverget katastrofen i siste sekund.

forebygge vs motvirke

Both involve stopping a negative effect.

Motvirke implies the negative force is already active.

Medisinen motvirker symptomene.

forebygge vs stoppe

General word for stop.

Stoppe is less specific about the timing and method.

Stopp bilen!

forebygge vs verne

Both about safety.

Verne focuses on the protection of the object, not the prevention of the act.

Verne naturen.

Structures de phrases

Vi må forebygge [noun].

Vi må forebygge brann.

[Subject] forebygger [noun].

Vaksinen forebygger sykdom.

Det er viktig å forebygge [abstract noun].

Det er viktig å forebygge mobbing.

[Noun] kan bidra til å forebygge [noun].

Trening kan bidra til å forebygge depresjon.

Man søker å forebygge [complex noun].

Man søker å forebygge systemisk risiko.

Ved å forebygge [noun], kan vi [verb].

Ved å forebygge marginalisering, kan vi styrke samfunnet.

Vi trenger forebyggende [noun].

Vi trenger forebyggende tiltak.

Det er bedre å forebygge enn å [verb].

Det er bedre å forebygge enn å reparere.

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

High (especially in media and professional contexts)

Erreurs courantes

Jeg vil forebygge han fra å falle. → Jeg vil hindre ham i å falle.
Forebygge is for general problems, not immediate physical actions of people.
Vi må forebygge for brann. → Vi må forebygge brann.
Do not use 'for' after the verb 'forebygge'.
Forebygge suksess. → Sikre suksess.
You only forebygge negative things, not positive ones.
Jeg forebygger bilen min. → Jeg vedlikeholder bilen min for å forebygge skader.
You don't prevent an object; you prevent the damage to it.
Forebygge at det skjer. → Forebygge det.
While 'at'-clauses are possible, they are often redundant if a simple noun can be used.

Astuces

The Construction Rule

Remember: Fore (Before) + Bygge (Build). Build your defense before the problem arrives.

Direct Object

Don't use prepositions like 'fra' or 'mot' directly after the verb. Keep it simple: Forebygge + [Object].

Adjective Power

Use 'forebyggende' to describe actions, like 'forebyggende vedlikehold' or 'forebyggende helsearbeid'.

Health First

This is the most common word for 'prevent' in medical contexts in Norway.

Professional Tone

Using 'forebygge' in a job interview or presentation shows a high level of professional Norwegian.

Essay Tip

In essays about social issues, 'forebygge' is almost always better than 'stoppe'.

News Keyword

If you hear 'forebygge' on the news, the story is about safety, health, or planning.

Timing Matters

Use 'forebygge' for things far in the future, and 'hindre' for things happening now.

Compound Words

Look for words ending in '-forebyggende', like 'brannforebyggende'.

Norwegian Value

Prevention is a key part of the Norwegian 'dugnad' spirit and welfare model.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think: 'FORE' (before) + 'BUILD' (bygge). You build a wall BEFORE the problem hits.

Association visuelle

Imagine a person building a brick wall in front of a house while the clouds are turning dark, but before the rain starts.

Word Web

Sykdom Kriminalitet Brann Ulykke Tiltak Planlegging Sikkerhet Helse

Défi

Try to find three things in your house that 'forebygger' something (e.g., a lock, a smoke detector, a vitamins bottle).

Origine du mot

From Middle Low German 'vorbuwen', which literally means 'to build before'. It entered Norwegian through trade and cultural exchange in the late middle ages.

Sens originel : To build something in front of something else as a protection.

Germanic

Contexte culturel

When discussing 'forebygge' in social contexts (like preventing radicalization), be aware of the political sensitivity surrounding surveillance and civil liberties.

English speakers often use 'prevent' for both immediate and long-term actions, whereas Norwegian distinguishes more clearly between 'hindre' and 'forebygge'.

Folkehelsemeldingen (National Health Reports) Politidirektoratets forebyggende strategi HMS regulations

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Healthcare

Forebygge smitte
Forebyggende medisin
Forebygge livsstilssykdommer
Vaksinasjon forebygger

Safety

Forebygge brann
Forebygge ulykker
Forebyggende vedlikehold
Sikkerhetsutstyr forebygger

Law Enforcement

Forebygge kriminalitet
Forebygge vold
Forebyggende patruljering
Forebygge radikalisering

Social Work

Forebygge utenforskap
Forebygge mobbing
Forebygge ensomhet
Forebyggende tiltak for unge

Environment

Forebygge flom
Forebygge forurensning
Forebygge erosjon
Forebygge tap av natur

Amorces de conversation

"Hva gjør du for å forebygge sykdom i vinterhalvåret?"

"Tror du det er mulig å forebygge all kriminalitet?"

"Hvordan kan vi forebygge mobbing i sosiale medier?"

"Hvilke forebyggende tiltak er viktigst i ditt yrke?"

"Er det bedre å forebygge enn å reparere i alle situasjoner?"

Sujets d'écriture

Skriv om en gang du forebygget et problem ved å handle tidlig.

Hvordan kan samfunnet forebygge ensomhet blant eldre?

Reflekter over betydningen av forebyggende arbeid i skolen.

Beskriv dine daglige rutiner som bidrar til å forebygge stress.

Hvorfor er det noen ganger vanskelig å motivere folk til å forebygge problemer?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Nei, du forebygger ikke en person. Du forebygger en handling eller en tilstand, som 'forebygge kriminalitet' eller 'forebygge sykdom hos mennesker'.

'Forebygging' er den vanligste formen i dagligspråk og media. 'Forebyggelse' er litt mer formell og forekommer ofte i eldre tekster eller juridiske sammenhenger.

Som verb bruker vi vanligvis ikke 'mot'. Vi sier 'forebygge sykdom'. Men som substantiv eller adjektiv kan vi si 'forebyggende tiltak mot sykdom'.

Det er et svakt verb. Det bøyes: forebygge - forebygger - forebygget (eller forebygde) - har forebygget (eller forebygd).

Nei, dette er en vanlig feil fra engelsktalende. På norsk sier vi bare 'forebygge noe', ikke 'forebygge noe fra å skje'.

Ja, spesielt når man snakker om helse, barn eller vedlikehold av hus og bil.

Det betyr konkrete handlinger man gjør for å unngå et problem, for eksempel å installere en alarm eller ta en vaksine.

Det er et nøytralt til formelt ord. Det er helt naturlig å bruke det i de fleste sammenhenger.

Nei, man forebygger bare negative ting. Man kan ikke 'forebygge suksess'.

Det kan være å 'fremme' (promote) eller 'forårsake' (cause).

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