When we talk about 'motta', we are typically referring to receiving something that has been sent to us, often through a formal channel. It is a transitive verb, which means it always needs a direct object – what is it that you are receiving? For instance, you might 'motta en pakke' (receive a package) or 'motta en e-post' (receive an email). While 'få' can also mean 'to get', 'motta' often implies a more official or intentional act of receiving, particularly in written communication or when discussing things like official documents, awards, or formal invitations. Think of it as the Norwegian equivalent of 'to receive' rather than just 'to get'.
motta en 30 secondes
- receive
- get
- accept
When you're learning Norwegian, it's easy to mix up words that seem similar but have different uses. 'Motta' is one of those words that learners often use incorrectly, leading to some common mistakes. Let's look at how to avoid them.
§ Mistake 1: Using 'motta' for general 'to get' or 'to obtain'
Many English speakers use 'to get' in a very broad sense, like 'I got a new car' or 'Can I get a coffee?' In Norwegian, 'motta' is specific to receiving something that has been sent or delivered. You wouldn't use it for simply acquiring something or buying something.
Instead of 'motta' for general 'to get,' you'll usually use verbs like 'få' (to get/receive) or 'kjøpe' (to buy).
- Wrong
- Jeg mottok en ny bil. (This implies someone sent you a car as a package, which is unlikely.)
- Right
- Jeg fikk en ny bil. (I got a new car.)
Kan jeg få en kaffe? (Can I get a coffee?)
§ Mistake 2: Confusing 'motta' with 'ta imot'
While both 'motta' and 'ta imot' can mean 'to receive,' there's a subtle difference. 'Motta' often refers to the actual act of something arriving and being received, like a letter or a parcel. 'Ta imot' can imply a more active welcoming or accepting of something or someone.
- When you receive a letter:
Jeg mottok brevet i går. (I received the letter yesterday.)
- When you welcome guests:
Vi tar imot gjester i kveld. (We are welcoming guests tonight.)
While sometimes interchangeable, especially in more formal contexts, it's good to be aware of this nuance. If it's a physical item delivered to you, 'motta' is usually the best choice.
§ Mistake 3: Using 'motta' for sensory input
You might 'receive' information or news in English, but in Norwegian, you don't use 'motta' for sensory input like seeing, hearing, or even processing information mentally in the same way. For these situations, you'd use different verbs.
- Wrong
- Jeg mottok nyhetene på TV. (Sounds a bit off, like the TV sent you a physical package of news.)
- Right
- Jeg så nyhetene på TV. (I saw the news on TV.)
Jeg hørte musikken. (I heard the music.)
For receiving information, 'få informasjon' (get information) or 'bli informert' (be informed) are more common.
By paying attention to these distinctions, you'll use 'motta' more accurately and sound more natural in Norwegian. Practice makes perfect!
Exemples par niveau
Jeg vil motta en pakke i morgen.
I will receive a package tomorrow.
De motta ofte brev fra utlandet.
They often receive letters from abroad.
Har du mottatt e-posten min?
Have you received my email?
Vi motta en gave fra dem.
We received a gift from them.
Hun mottar mange meldinger hver dag.
She receives many messages every day.
Skal vi motta gjester i kveld?
Are we going to receive guests tonight?
Han mottok beskjeden med et smil.
He received the message with a smile.
Barna motta nye leker til jul.
The children receive new toys for Christmas.
Jeg skal motta pakken i morgen.
I will receive the package tomorrow.
Har du mottatt brevet?
Have you received the letter?
De mottok mye støtte fra lokalsamfunnet.
They received a lot of support from the local community.
Vi mottar ofte e-poster med nyheter.
We often receive emails with news.
Hun mottok en pris for sitt arbeid.
She received an award for her work.
Kan du bekrefte at du har mottatt informasjonen?
Can you confirm that you have received the information?
Etter møtet mottok vi en oppsummering.
After the meeting, we received a summary.
Jeg håper å motta svar snart.
I hope to receive a reply soon.
Jeg må motta en pakke fra posten i dag.
I have to receive a package from the post office today.
Hun mottok mange gratulasjoner på bursdagen sin.
She received many congratulations on her birthday.
Vi mottar ofte nyhetsbrev fra organisasjonen.
We often receive newsletters from the organization.
Har du mottatt brevet jeg sendte deg?
Have you received the letter I sent you?
De mottok beskjeden med stor glede.
They received the message with great joy.
Firmaet mottar daglig mange e-poster.
The company receives many emails daily.
Det er viktig å motta tilbakemeldinger for å forbedre seg.
It is important to receive feedback to improve.
Jeg håper å motta svar innen utgangen av uken.
I hope to receive a reply by the end of the week.
Jeg motta et brev fra min bror i går.
I received a letter from my brother yesterday.
Vi motta en invitasjon til bryllupet deres.
We received an invitation to their wedding.
Har du motta pakken ennå?
Have you received the package yet?
De motta jevnlig oppdateringer via e-post.
They regularly receive updates via email.
Hun motta mange komplimenter for sin nye frisyre.
She received many compliments for her new hairstyle.
Skolen motta nye bøker hvert semester.
The school receives new books every semester.
Jeg håper å motta gode nyheter snart.
I hope to receive good news soon.
Vil du motta en kvittering for kjøpet?
Would you like to receive a receipt for the purchase?
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Jeg må motta denne pakken personlig.
I must receive this package personally.
De forventet å motta svar i går.
They expected to receive an answer yesterday.
Hvor kan jeg motta posten min?
Where can I receive my mail?
Har du mottatt fakturaen?
Have you received the invoice?
Vi er glade for å motta deg.
We are happy to receive you.
Han nektet å motta betalingen.
He refused to receive the payment.
Du vil motta en bekreftelse snart.
You will receive a confirmation soon.
Det er viktig å motta tilbakemeldinger.
It is important to receive feedback.
Kan jeg motta den via e-post?
Can I receive it via email?
Hvilken informasjon vil du motta?
What information do you want to receive?
Astuces
Basic use of 'motta'
The most common use of motta is to say you receive or get something that is sent to you. Think of packages, letters, or emails.
'Motta' and 'få' can be similar
While motta specifically implies receiving something sent, få is a more general verb for to get or to obtain. Sometimes they can be used interchangeably, but motta is more formal.
Conjugation of 'motta'
Remember the conjugations: motta (infinitive), mottar (present), mottok (past), mottatt (past participle). This is a strong verb.
Formal situations for 'motta'
You'll often hear motta in more formal contexts, such as official documents, news reports, or when talking about receiving awards or formal communication. For everyday 'getting' use få.
Phrases with 'motta'
You might hear phrases like motta et brev (receive a letter) or motta en pakke (receive a package). Focus on the direct object.
Passive form with 'motta'
It's common to see motta in passive constructions, especially when the sender is less important. For example, brevet ble mottatt i går (the letter was received yesterday).
Don't confuse 'motta' with 'ta imot'
While motta means to receive something sent, ta imot often means to accept or to welcome someone/something. They are related but not identical in nuance. Example: å ta imot gjester (to welcome guests).
Focus on the 'receiving' aspect
Always think of motta as focusing on the action of something arriving to you, rather than you actively going out to get something. The item is sent to you, and you receive it.
Related words: 'mottak'
The noun mottak means reception (as in a receiving area or a process of receiving). This helps tie the verb back to its core meaning.
Practice with examples
To master motta, try creating your own sentences. Think about what you usually receive in the mail or online. Example: Jeg mottok en e-post fra sjefen min (I received an email from my boss).
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsBoth 'motta' and 'få' mean 'to get' or 'to receive'. However, 'motta' often implies a more formal or intentional act of receiving, like receiving a package or an award. 'Få' is more general and can be used in almost any context of getting something.
No, 'motta' is typically used for receiving objects, information, or abstract things like praise. When talking about receiving people, you would usually use verbs like 'ta imot' or 'ønske velkommen'.
Not necessarily. While you can 'motta' a gift (a positive thing), you can also 'motta' bad news or a penalty. The meaning depends on the context of what is being received.
Yes, 'motta' is a fairly common word, especially in written Norwegian and more formal spoken contexts. For very casual everyday conversations, 'få' might be used more frequently, but 'motta' is definitely part of everyday vocabulary.
The past tense of 'motta' is 'mottok'. The past participle is 'mottatt'.
Yes, absolutely. You can say 'Jeg mottok en e-post' (I received an email). This is a very common usage.
While not a specific idiom, 'motta med takk' (receive with thanks) is a polite and common phrase you might encounter, especially in formal communication.
A good rule of thumb is: if you're talking about something that was sent to you, delivered to you, or formally given to you (like a letter, a package, an award, a message), 'motta' is often a good choice. If it's more general 'getting' or 'obtaining', 'få' is usually safe.
'Motta' is a strong verb. This is why its past tense ('mottok') changes its vowel, rather than just adding a 'd' or 't' ending.
'Motta' is primarily a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes a direct object (you 'receive something'). While you technically 'receive', you're always receiving *something*, so it's rarely used intransitively on its own.
Teste-toi 48 questions
Listen for 'motta' and understand what the speaker wants.
The speaker is asking about receiving a letter.
Focus on what 'vi mottar' means in the context of emails.
Read this aloud:
Jeg vil motta pakken.
Focus: motta
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
De mottar en gave.
Focus: mottar
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Skal vi motta det?
Focus: Skal, motta
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Hva betyr 'motta'?
'Motta' betyr å få noe som blir sendt til deg.
Hvilket ord er et synonym for 'motta'?
'Å få' er et nært synonym til 'å motta' i denne sammenhengen.
Velg den riktige setningen: Jeg kan ____ beskjeden snart.
I denne setningen er 'motta' det korrekte verbet for å indikere at du skal få beskjeden.
Hvis du 'motta' en gave, sender du den bort.
Hvis du 'motta' en gave, får du den, du sender den ikke bort.
'Jeg mottok brevet i går' betyr at jeg fikk brevet i går.
Korrekt. 'Mottok' er fortid av 'motta', som betyr å få.
Du kan 'motta' en e-post.
Ja, det er helt riktig. Du mottar e-poster.
The speaker is expecting a delivery.
Someone is asking about a letter.
It's about getting well wishes.
Read this aloud:
Jeg har mottatt e-posten din.
Focus: mottatt
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Når kan vi motta resultatet?
Focus: resultatet
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hun mottar en pris for sitt arbeid.
Focus: mottar
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Hva er den mest passende oversettelsen av 'motta' i denne setningen: 'Hun var glad for å motta brevet fra sin venn i utlandet.'?
'Motta' betyr å få noe som sendes, som i dette tilfellet er et brev. 'To receive' er den mest direkte oversettelsen.
Velg setningen der 'motta' er brukt korrekt.
'Mottok' er preteritum av 'motta' og er den korrekte formen for en hendelse som skjedde i fortiden. De andre alternativene bruker feil tid eller form.
Hvilket ord er et synonym for 'motta' i konteksten av å få en e-post?
I denne konteksten betyr 'motta' det samme som 'å få' en e-post. 'Sende' og 'sende ut' er antonymer, og 'skrive' er en annen handling.
Setningen 'Vi motta en viktig beskjed' er grammatisk korrekt.
Verbet 'motta' er sterkt og skal bøyes som 'mottok' i preteritum eller 'mottatt' i presens perfektum. Korrekt ville vært 'Vi mottok en viktig beskjed' eller 'Vi har mottatt en viktig beskjed'.
Du kan bruke 'motta' når du snakker om å få en pakke i posten.
'Motta' er helt passende for å beskrive handlingen med å få en pakke som er sendt til deg.
Ordet 'motta' kan også bety 'å gi'.
'Motta' betyr 'å få' eller 'å ta imot', ikke 'å gi'. Det er motsatte handlinger.
This sentence means 'We must receive information about the project.'
This sentence means 'She expects to receive an answer soon.'
This sentence means 'They could not receive the signal on the mountain.'
Have you received the confirmation for your order?
They received the award for their outstanding work in research.
It is important to receive feedback to improve.
Read this aloud:
Kan du motta forsendelsen for meg i morgen?
Focus: mo-ta, for-sen-del-sen
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hvilken type informasjon forventer du å motta?
Focus: hvil-ken, for-ven-ter, mo-ta
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Jeg er glad for å motta invitasjonen til festen.
Focus: glad, mo-ta, in-vi-ta-sjo-nen
Tu as dit :
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
You are writing a formal email to confirm receipt of an important document. Draft a short paragraph stating that you have received the document and that you are reviewing it. Ensure your language is professional and polite.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg bekrefter herved at jeg har mottatt dokumentet datert [dato]. Jeg vil nå gå gjennom innholdet grundig. Takk for tilsendelsen.
Describe a situation where you had to formally receive a group of people, perhaps as a host or organizer. What preparations did you make, and how did you ensure their comfort upon arrival? Use specific vocabulary related to 'receiving'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Som vert for konferansen var det min oppgave å motta alle deltakerne. Vi hadde forberedt en hyggelig velkomst med forfriskninger og informasjonsmateriell. Jeg sørget for at alle følte seg velkomne fra det øyeblikket de ankom, og var tilgjengelig for å besvare eventuelle spørsmål de måtte ha.
Imagine you are an immigration officer processing a new arrival. Write a short official statement confirming that a person's application has been received and is now under review. Focus on clarity and formality.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Det bekreftes herved at Deres søknad om [type søknad] er mottatt den [dato]. Søknaden vil nå bli vurdert og behandlet i henhold til gjeldende forskrifter. De vil motta ytterligere informasjon når saken er ferdigbehandlet.
Hva er en konsekvens av å ikke kunne motta og behandle store mengder data effektivt?
Read this passage:
I en stadig mer digitalisert verden er det viktig for bedrifter å ha systemer på plass for å motta og behandle store mengder data effektivt. Dette inkluderer alt fra kundetilbakemeldinger til finansielle transaksjoner. Manglende evne til å håndtere dette kan føre til tap av konkurransekraft og redusert kundetilfredshet.
Hva er en konsekvens av å ikke kunne motta og behandle store mengder data effektivt?
Teksten sier at manglende evne til å håndtere data kan føre til 'tap av konkurransekraft og redusert kundetilfredshet'.
Teksten sier at manglende evne til å håndtere data kan føre til 'tap av konkurransekraft og redusert kundetilfredshet'.
Hva er avgjørende for at et universitet skal kunne motta forskningsmidler?
Read this passage:
Et universitet er avhengig av å motta forskningsmidler fra ulike kilder for å opprettholde sin akademiske virksomhet og drive nyskapende prosjekter. Prosessen med å søke om og motta slike midler er ofte kompleks og krever grundig planlegging og dokumentasjon for å lykkes.
Hva er avgjørende for at et universitet skal kunne motta forskningsmidler?
Passasjen fremhever at prosessen 'krever grundig planlegging og dokumentasjon for å lykkes'.
Passasjen fremhever at prosessen 'krever grundig planlegging og dokumentasjon for å lykkes'.
Hvilket av følgende er et tiltak for å motta og integrere flyktninger mer effektivt, ifølge teksten?
Read this passage:
Regjeringen har iverksatt nye tiltak for å motta og integrere flyktninger mer effektivt. Dette innebærer styrket norskopplæring, raskere saksbehandling og bedre tilgang til arbeidsmarkedet. Målet er å sikre at de som ankommer, raskt kan bidra til samfunnet.
Hvilket av følgende er et tiltak for å motta og integrere flyktninger mer effektivt, ifølge teksten?
Teksten nevner 'styrket norskopplæring' som et av tiltakene.
Teksten nevner 'styrket norskopplæring' som et av tiltakene.
The standard Norwegian sentence structure places the verb 'motta' after modal verbs and before its object.
This sentence uses an introductory phrase, followed by the main clause with the modal verb 'kunne' and then 'motta'.
The infinitive 'å motta' is correctly placed after 'viktig å' to complete the phrase 'important to receive'.
/ 48 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Motta is a common verb used to describe the act of receiving something from someone or somewhere.
- receive
- get
- accept
Basic use of 'motta'
The most common use of motta is to say you receive or get something that is sent to you. Think of packages, letters, or emails.
'Motta' and 'få' can be similar
While motta specifically implies receiving something sent, få is a more general verb for to get or to obtain. Sometimes they can be used interchangeably, but motta is more formal.
Conjugation of 'motta'
Remember the conjugations: motta (infinitive), mottar (present), mottok (past), mottatt (past participle). This is a strong verb.
Formal situations for 'motta'
You'll often hear motta in more formal contexts, such as official documents, news reports, or when talking about receiving awards or formal communication. For everyday 'getting' use få.
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