B1 noun 5 min de lecture

holdning

When we talk about 'holdning' in Norwegian, we're referring to someone's attitude or how they generally think or feel about something. It's like their stance or their mindset. For example, if someone has a positive holdning, it means they have a good attitude.

You can also use 'holdning' to describe a physical posture, but in this context, we're focusing on the mental aspect. So, it's about your outlook or your disposition. It's an important word to know when you want to talk about people's feelings and opinions.

When you're learning Norwegian at a B1 level, you're moving beyond basic survival phrases and starting to express more nuanced ideas. Words like holdning become important because they allow you to talk about attitudes, mindsets, and perspectives, which are crucial for deeper conversations.

Understanding holdning helps you grasp how people feel about things, whether it's a positive or negative stance. It's not just about knowing the definition, but recognizing its role in expressing opinions and feelings.

You'll encounter this word in discussions about people's views on various topics, from politics to everyday situations. Being able to use and understand holdning will significantly improve your ability to engage in more complex exchanges in Norwegian.

When we talk about 'holdning' at a C2 level, we're diving into the subtleties of how Norwegians express deeply ingrained attitudes and stances. It's not just a fleeting thought or feeling, but rather a settled disposition or a characteristic way of approaching situations, people, or ideas. Consider how 'holdning' can reflect a person's moral compass or their professional demeanor. Understanding its nuanced use reveals a lot about social expectations and individual character in Norwegian culture, often implying a more permanent and defining aspect of one's being rather than a temporary emotional state.

§ What 'Holdning' Means

DEFINITION
In Norwegian, holdning generally means an 'attitude' or 'stance'. It describes a person's way of thinking, feeling, or behaving towards something or someone. It's how you position yourself mentally on a topic.

When you hear a Norwegian use the word holdning, they are likely talking about someone's opinion, their general outlook, or how they carry themselves mentally regarding a situation or subject. It’s a core word for discussing people’s perspectives.

Han har en positiv holdning til livet. (He has a positive attitude towards life.)

Jeg liker hennes avslappede holdning. (I like her relaxed attitude.)

§ When to Use 'Holdning'

You use holdning in many situations where you want to describe someone's mental or emotional state concerning a particular issue or their general disposition. Think about how you’d use 'attitude' or 'stance' in English; holdning often fits those contexts perfectly.

Here are common scenarios where holdning is used:

  • To describe a person's general outlook on life: positive holdning, negativ holdning.
  • To talk about someone's stance on a political or social issue: en kritisk holdning (a critical attitude), en liberal holdning (a liberal stance).
  • To discuss professional conduct or work ethic: en seriøs holdning til jobben (a serious attitude towards the job).
  • To explain how someone reacts to challenges: en proaktiv holdning (a proactive attitude).

Regjeringens holdning i saken er uklar. (The government's stance on the matter is unclear.)

Det er viktig å ha en god holdning når man lærer et nytt språk. (It's important to have a good attitude when learning a new language.)

Understanding holdning helps you grasp nuances in Norwegian conversations, especially when people are discussing opinions, characters, or reactions to events. It’s a versatile word that helps convey a lot about a person's inner disposition.

Alright, let's talk about the Norwegian word holdning. You've learned it means 'a way of thinking or feeling,' which is a solid start. Now, we're going to dive into where you'll actually hear and use this word in everyday Norwegian. This isn't academic stuff; this is practical. We'll look at how it comes up in work, school, and the news. Understanding these contexts will help you use holdning naturally.

§ Holdning at Work

In a professional setting, holdning often refers to an employee's attitude or approach to tasks, colleagues, and the company itself. A good holdning is highly valued. It's about how someone carries themselves and their general disposition.

DEFINITION
In a work context, holdning can refer to an employee's attitude, their professionalism, or their general approach to their job.

Han har en positiv holdning til arbeidet sitt. (He has a positive attitude towards his work.)

Ledelsen er opptatt av ansattes holdning til kundeservice. (Management is concerned about employees' attitude towards customer service.)

§ Holdning in Schools and Education

In educational settings, holdning often refers to students' attitudes towards learning, their peers, or teachers. It can also describe the school's general approach or philosophy towards education.

DEFINITION
In an academic context, holdning can describe a student's disposition towards learning, a teacher's educational philosophy, or a school's overall stance on certain issues.

Elevenes holdning til lekser har blitt bedre. (The students' attitude towards homework has improved.)

Skolen har en inkluderende holdning til alle elever. (The school has an inclusive approach to all students.)

§ Holdning in the News and Public Discourse

When you read or watch the news in Norwegian, holdning is frequently used to discuss public opinion, political stances, or societal attitudes towards various issues. This is where it really gets into 'way of thinking or feeling' about broader topics.

DEFINITION
In news and public discourse, holdning refers to opinions, stances, or prevalent sentiments within a population or specific group regarding political, social, or economic matters.

Regjeringens holdning til klimaendringer er klar. (The government's stance on climate change is clear.)

Det er en endring i befolkningens holdning til innvandring. (There is a change in the public's attitude towards immigration.)

Partiets holdning er at skatter må kuttes. (The party's position is that taxes must be cut.)

§ Key Takeaways for Holdning

To sum up, when you encounter holdning, remember it's about how someone or something approaches a situation or topic. It's a versatile word, and its exact meaning will become clear from the context.

  • In work, it's often about professional attitude or demeanor.
  • In school, it can be about student engagement or institutional philosophy.
  • In the news, it refers to opinions, stances, or public sentiment.

Keep practicing, and you'll soon be using holdning like a native speaker. It's a crucial word for understanding Norwegian communication.

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'holdning' in Norwegian shares its root with the English word 'holding,' which historically also referred to a posture or way of carrying oneself.

Guide de prononciation

UK /ˈhɔ̂l.nɪŋ/
US /ˈhɔ̂l.nɪŋ/
short
Rime avec
voldning foldning holdning
Erreurs fréquentes
  • pronouncing the 'l' as a dark 'l' instead of a light 'l'
  • not aspirating the 'h' enough

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

short

Écriture 1/5

short

Expression orale 1/5

short

Écoute 1/5

short

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

tankegang følelse mening

Apprends ensuite

innstilling synspunkt perspektiv

Avancé

livssyn overbevisning verdisyn

Grammaire à connaître

Nouns in Norwegian have grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter) and take different indefinite and definite articles accordingly. 'Holdning' is a masculine noun.

En holdning (an attitude), holdningen (the attitude).

When referring to a specific attitude, the definite form of the noun is used.

Jeg liker ikke holdningen hans (I don't like his attitude).

When referring to attitudes in a general sense, the indefinite plural form is used.

De har forskjellige holdninger til dette (They have different attitudes towards this).

Adjectives describing 'holdning' will agree in gender and number with the noun. However, in its indefinite singular form, most adjectives will not change.

En positiv holdning (a positive attitude). En dårlig holdning (a bad attitude).

When an adjective describes a definite singular or plural noun, the definite form of the adjective is used (ending in -e).

Den positive holdningen (the positive attitude). De dårlige holdningene (the bad attitudes).

Collocations courantes

negativ holdning negative attitude
positiv holdning positive attitude
profesjonell holdning professional attitude
personlig holdning personal attitude
kritisk holdning critical attitude
åpen holdning open attitude
fast holdning firm attitude
endret holdning changed attitude
vanskelig holdning difficult attitude
grunnleggende holdning fundamental attitude

Phrases Courantes

Han har en dårlig holdning til arbeidet.

He has a bad attitude (way of thinking/feeling) towards the work.

Vi må ha en positiv holdning.

We must have a positive attitude (way of thinking/feeling).

Hennes holdning overrasket meg.

Her attitude (way of thinking/feeling) surprised me.

Det handler om din holdning.

It's about your attitude (way of thinking/feeling).

De har en mer avslappet holdning nå.

They have a more relaxed attitude (way of thinking/feeling) now.

Jeg forstår din holdning.

I understand your attitude (way of thinking/feeling).

Endre din holdning for å se resultater.

Change your attitude (way of thinking/feeling) to see results.

Det viser en mangel på profesjonell holdning.

It shows a lack of professional attitude (way of thinking/feeling).

Hva er din holdning til dette?

What is your attitude (way of thinking/feeling) on this?

Vi setter pris på din positive holdning.

We appreciate your positive attitude (way of thinking/feeling).

Souvent confondu avec

holdning vs holding (English)

While 'holdning' looks like 'holding,' they are false friends. 'Holding' in English refers to physically grasping something.

holdning vs mening

While 'mening' means 'opinion,' it's about what someone thinks, whereas 'holdning' is more about how they think or feel generally.

holdning vs posisjon

'Posisjon' is a direct translation of 'position' and refers to a physical location or status, not an attitude or mindset.

Expressions idiomatiques

"å ha en positiv holdning"

to have a positive attitude

Det er viktig å ha en positiv holdning, selv når ting er vanskelig. (It is important to have a positive attitude, even when things are difficult.)

neutral

"å innta en holdning"

to take a stance/position

Regjeringen har inntatt en klar holdning i saken. (The government has taken a clear stance on the matter.)

formal

"å endre holdning"

to change one's attitude/stance

Etter diskusjonen valgte hun å endre holdning. (After the discussion, she chose to change her stance.)

neutral

"en avslappet holdning"

a relaxed attitude

Han hadde en avslappet holdning til eksamen. (He had a relaxed attitude towards the exam.)

neutral

"en arrogant holdning"

an arrogant attitude

Mange misliker hans arrogante holdning. (Many dislike his arrogant attitude.)

neutral

"å vise holdning"

to show attitude/character (often positive)

Laget viste holdning og kjempet seg tilbake. (The team showed character and fought their way back.)

neutral

"en defensiv holdning"

a defensive attitude

Han inntok en defensiv holdning da han ble kritisert. (He adopted a defensive attitude when he was criticized.)

neutral

"en ydmyk holdning"

a humble attitude

Til tross for suksessen, beholdt han en ydmyk holdning. (Despite the success, he maintained a humble attitude.)

neutral

"å ha en negativ holdning"

to have a negative attitude

Ikke la en negativ holdning ødelegge dagen din. (Don't let a negative attitude ruin your day.)

neutral

"å ta lett på noe / å ha en lett holdning til noe"

to take something lightly / to have a light attitude towards something

Du bør ikke ta jobben din så lett. (You should not take your job so lightly.)

neutral

Facile à confondre

holdning vs holdning

'Holdning' can be tricky because it looks similar to the English 'holding' but means 'attitude' or 'stance.' It's not about physically holding something.

'Holdning' refers to a mental or emotional position, like a perspective or an outlook. It's about how someone feels or thinks about something.

Hun har en positiv *holdning* til livet. (She has a positive *attitude* towards life.)

holdning vs stilling

Often confused with 'holdning' because 'stilling' can also refer to a 'position,' but usually in a more concrete or physical sense, or a job position.

'Stilling' typically means a job, a physical position (like standing or sitting), or a military position. It's less about a mindset.

Han søker ny *stilling*. (He is looking for a new *job*.)

holdning vs synspunkt

Learners might use 'synspunkt' when they mean 'holdning' because both relate to opinions. However, 'synspunkt' is more about a specific point of view.

'Synspunkt' is a specific point of view or opinion on a particular matter. 'Holdning' is a broader, more general disposition or way of thinking.

Mitt *synspunkt* er at vi bør vente. (My *point of view* is that we should wait.)

holdning vs mentalitet

Similar to 'holdning' in meaning 'mindset,' but 'mentalitet' is often used to describe a collective or general way of thinking, rather than an individual's specific attitude.

'Mentalitet' describes the characteristic attitude or habitual way of thinking of a group or society. 'Holdning' can be individual or general.

Arbeiderklassens *mentalitet* preget byen. (The working class *mentality* characterized the city.)

holdning vs innstilling

Like 'holdning,' 'innstilling' can mean 'attitude' or 'mindset.' However, 'innstilling' often implies a more deliberate or set adjustment.

'Innstilling' can refer to a setting (on a device), an adjustment, or a particular state of mind that has been 'set' or adopted. It can be a synonym for 'holdning' in some contexts, but 'holdning' is more natural for general 'attitude.'

Jeg har en god *innstilling* til utfordringen. (I have a good *mindset* for the challenge.)

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'hold-ing' a certain 'ning' (like a feeling). Your 'holdning' is what you are holding onto emotionally or mentally.

Association visuelle

Imagine someone standing tall and confident, literally 'holding' their 'ning' (attitude) with pride. Or picture someone with slumped shoulders, 'holding' a negative 'ning'.

Word Web

innstilling (setting, frame of mind) syn (view, opinion) mening (opinion) posisjon (position, stance) perspektiv (perspective)

Défi

Describe your 'holdning' to learning Norwegian. Are you positive, enthusiastic, or perhaps a bit hesitant? Use 'holdning' in a sentence about a current event or a person you know.

Origine du mot

Old Norse

Sens originel : holding, posture, attitude

Germanic

Contexte culturel

In Norwegian culture, 'holdning' is often used to describe someone's general demeanor or their approach to life. A 'positiv holdning' (positive attitude) is highly valued, reflecting a resilient and optimistic outlook. Conversely, a 'negativ holdning' can suggest a pessimistic or uncooperative spirit. It’s a term that encompasses both mental and sometimes even physical bearing, making it a nuanced descriptor of character.

Teste-toi 30 questions

writing A1

Write a short sentence describing a good 'holdning' when learning Norwegian. (Hint: think about staying positive).

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

Sample answer

Jeg har en positiv holdning når jeg lærer norsk.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing A1

Write a simple sentence about someone's 'holdning' towards a new food. (Hint: do they like it or not?).

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

Sample answer

Han har en skeptisk holdning til ny mat.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing A1

Imagine you are talking about someone who always sits up straight. Write a sentence using 'holdning' to describe their posture.

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

Sample answer

Hun har en god holdning når hun sitter.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
reading A1

Hva er personens holdning til lesing?

Read this passage:

Jeg liker å lese bøker. Det er en fin aktivitet. Min holdning til lesing er veldig positiv. Jeg lærer mye.

Hva er personens holdning til lesing?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Den er positiv.

The passage states 'Min holdning til lesing er veldig positiv.'

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Den er positiv.

The passage states 'Min holdning til lesing er veldig positiv.'

reading A1

Hva betyr 'god holdning' i denne sammenhengen?

Read this passage:

Læreren sier: 'Det er viktig å ha en god holdning i klassen.' Dette betyr å være oppmerksom og sitte pent.

Hva betyr 'god holdning' i denne sammenhengen?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Å være oppmerksom og sitte pent.

The passage explains that 'god holdning' in this context means 'å være oppmerksom og sitte pent'.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Å være oppmerksom og sitte pent.

The passage explains that 'god holdning' in this context means 'å være oppmerksom og sitte pent'.

reading A1

Hva er vennens holdning til morgen?

Read this passage:

Min venn liker ikke å stå opp tidlig. Hans holdning til morgen er dårlig. Han vil sove lenger.

Hva er vennens holdning til morgen?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Han har en dårlig holdning til morgen.

The passage says 'Hans holdning til morgen er dårlig.'

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Han har en dårlig holdning til morgen.

The passage says 'Hans holdning til morgen er dårlig.'

multiple choice A2

Hva betyr 'å ha en positiv holdning'?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Å tenke positivt

En 'holdning' er en måte å tenke eller føle på. En positiv holdning betyr å tenke på en god måte.

multiple choice A2

Hvis noen sier 'han har en dårlig holdning til jobben sin', hva betyr det?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Han er ikke fornøyd med jobben sin

En 'dårlig holdning' indikerer en negativ følelse eller tankegang, i dette tilfellet mot jobben.

multiple choice A2

Hvilket ord er mest likt 'holdning' i betydningen 'måte å tenke på'?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Mening

En 'mening' er også en tanke eller en oppfatning, som er nært knyttet til 'holdning'.

true false A2

En god holdning kan gjøre en vanskelig situasjon lettere.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Vrai

Hvis du tenker positivt ('god holdning'), kan det hjelpe deg å håndtere vanskeligheter bedre.

true false A2

Ordet 'holdning' handler bare om fysiske ting.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Faux

'Holdning' handler om tanker og følelser, ikke fysiske objekter.

true false A2

Det er umulig å endre sin holdning.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Faux

Mennesker kan endre hvordan de tenker og føler, så det er mulig å endre en holdning.

listening B2

Think about her overall stance or outlook.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Hennes holdning til prosjektet var veldig positiv.
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening B2

Consider the way he behaves or expresses his views.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Jeg liker ikke hans holdning når han diskuterer politikk.
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
listening B2

Focus on the idea of a healthy perspective.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : En sunn holdning til livet er viktig for velvære.
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking B2

Read this aloud:

Hvordan vil du beskrive din holdning til å lære norsk?

Focus: holdning

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking B2

Read this aloud:

Hva er den generelle holdningen til elbiler i Norge?

Focus: generelle holdningen

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
speaking B2

Read this aloud:

Tror du at folks holdning til miljøet har endret seg de siste årene?

Focus: holdning til miljøet

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing C1

You are a manager addressing your team. Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) about the importance of a positive 'holdning' (attitude) in the workplace. Include how it affects teamwork and productivity.

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

Sample answer

Det er viktig å ha en positiv holdning på arbeidsplassen. En god holdning fremmer bedre samarbeid mellom kolleger og skaper et hyggeligere arbeidsmiljø for alle. Dette fører igjen til økt produktivitet og mer effektive resultater for teamet vårt.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing C1

Imagine you are writing a letter to a friend about a recent challenge you faced. Describe how your 'holdning' (mindset) influenced your ability to overcome it. (3-4 sentences)

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

Sample answer

Jeg møtte nylig en stor utfordring, men min holdning spilte en avgjørende rolle. Jeg bestemte meg for å være optimistisk og fokusere på å finne en løsning, selv når det var vanskelig. Denne positive innstillingen hjalp meg å overvinne hindringen og komme sterkere ut på den andre siden.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
writing C1

Write a short opinion piece (3-4 sentences) for a local newspaper about how society's 'holdning' (stance/viewpoint) towards climate change needs to evolve.

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

Sample answer

Samfunnets holdning til klimaendringer må endres raskt. Vi må ta et mer seriøst og kollektivt ansvar for fremtiden, og gå fra passivitet til handling. En endret holdning er avgjørende for å implementere nødvendige tiltak og beskytte planeten vår.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
reading C1

Hva var politikerens holdning i debatten?

Read this passage:

I en debatt om fremtidens transportløsninger uttrykte politikeren en klar holdning. Hun argumenterte sterkt for investeringer i offentlig transport og mindre avhengighet av privatbiler. Denne holdningen ble møtt med både støtte og kritikk fra ulike interessegrupper.

Hva var politikerens holdning i debatten?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Hun støttet investeringer i offentlig transport og mindre privatbilisme.

Teksten sier at hun 'argumenterte sterkt for investeringer i offentlig transport og mindre avhengighet av privatbiler'.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Hun støttet investeringer i offentlig transport og mindre privatbilisme.

Teksten sier at hun 'argumenterte sterkt for investeringer i offentlig transport og mindre avhengighet av privatbiler'.

reading C1

Hvordan påvirket studentens holdning medstudentene?

Read this passage:

Studenten hadde en seriøs holdning til studiene sine, noe som reflektertes i hans utmerkede resultater. Han mente at hardt arbeid og dedikasjon var nøkkelen til suksess. Denne positive holdningen mot læring inspirerte også hans medstudenter.

Hvordan påvirket studentens holdning medstudentene?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : De ble inspirert av hans positive holdning til læring.

Setningen 'Denne positive holdningen mot læring inspirerte også hans medstudenter' svarer direkte på spørsmålet.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : De ble inspirert av hans positive holdning til læring.

Setningen 'Denne positive holdningen mot læring inspirerte også hans medstudenter' svarer direkte på spørsmålet.

reading C1

Hva var hovedmålet med workshopene?

Read this passage:

Etter den vanskelige perioden var det viktig for teamet å gjenvinne en positiv holdning. Ledelsen organiserte flere workshops for å bygge opp moralen og endre den negative innstillingen som hadde sneket seg inn. Målet var å skape et mer optimistisk og produktivt miljø.

Hva var hovedmålet med workshopene?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Å bygge opp moralen og endre den negative innstillingen.

Teksten sier at ledelsen organiserte workshops 'for å bygge opp moralen og endre den negative innstillingen'.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Å bygge opp moralen og endre den negative innstillingen.

Teksten sier at ledelsen organiserte workshops 'for å bygge opp moralen og endre den negative innstillingen'.

sentence order C1

Touche les mots ci-dessous pour construire la phrase
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Han har en negativ holdning til alt.

This sentence describes someone having a negative attitude towards everything. 'Holdning' directly translates to attitude here.

sentence order C1

Touche les mots ci-dessous pour construire la phrase
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Det er viktig å vise respekt med din holdning.

Here, 'holdning' refers to one's demeanor or posture, which can convey respect. Word order follows standard Norwegian sentence structure.

sentence order C1

Touche les mots ci-dessous pour construire la phrase
Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Selskapets holdning til miljøet har blitt kritisert.

This sentence refers to a company's stance or approach regarding the environment. 'Holdning' fits perfectly in this context.

/ 30 correct

Perfect score!

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