Meaning
Acquiring new skills.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'Folkehøyskole' (Folk High Schools) is a year where young adults 'lærer seg' life skills, arts, or sports without exams, focusing purely on personal growth. The 'Janteloven' (Law of Jante) sometimes discourages bragging, so saying 'Jeg har lært meg litt...' (I've learned a little...) is a common way to show skill while remaining humble. In the modern global workforce, 'å lære seg' is the most important skill. Norwegians value employees who can 'lære seg' new tools independently. DIY (Do It Yourself) is huge in Norway due to high labor costs. Most Norwegians 'lærer seg' to paint, build decks, or fix basic plumbing.
The 'How-To' Test
If you can find a 'How-To' video for it, you should probably use 'lære seg'.
Match your Pronouns
Don't say 'Jeg lærer seg'. It's like saying 'I teach himself'. Always use 'Jeg lærer meg'.
Meaning
Acquiring new skills.
The 'How-To' Test
If you can find a 'How-To' video for it, you should probably use 'lære seg'.
Match your Pronouns
Don't say 'Jeg lærer seg'. It's like saying 'I teach himself'. Always use 'Jeg lærer meg'.
Humility is Key
When someone says 'Du er flink!', a common response is 'Jeg prøver bare å lære meg det.'
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun (meg, deg, seg, oss, dere).
Jeg vil lære ___ å snakke fransk.
The subject is 'Jeg', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'meg'.
Which sentence is correct for 'He taught himself to cook'?
Velg riktig setning:
'Lærte seg' is the standard way to say someone learned a skill. 'Lærte seg selv' is also possible but 'lærte seg' is the core collocation.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Du er på et jobbintervju og vil si at du har lært deg et nytt dataprogram.
'Lærte meg' implies you gained the skill to use it.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kan du spille gitar? B: Nei, men jeg prøver å ____ ____ det.
The speaker (B) is talking about their own learning process.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJeg vil lære ___ å snakke fransk.
The subject is 'Jeg', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'meg'.
Velg riktig setning:
'Lærte seg' is the standard way to say someone learned a skill. 'Lærte seg selv' is also possible but 'lærte seg' is the core collocation.
Du er på et jobbintervju og vil si at du har lært deg et nytt dataprogram.
'Lærte meg' implies you gained the skill to use it.
A: Kan du spille gitar? B: Nei, men jeg prøver å ____ ____ det.
The speaker (B) is talking about their own learning process.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsYes, it is very common and sounds natural. It implies you are actively working to master the language.
'Lære' is the general act of learning or teaching. 'Lære seg' is specifically about acquiring a skill for yourself.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a professional email.
No. For facts, use 'få vite' or 'lære at'. Example: 'Jeg lærte at Oslo er hovedstaden.'
Use 'Jeg lærte meg det selv.' The 'selv' adds the emphasis on 'myself'.
Related Phrases
å tilegne seg
specialized formTo acquire (knowledge/skills) formally
å mestre
builds onTo master
å undervise
contrastTo teach
å plukke opp
similarTo pick up
