Meaning
Preparing for sleep
Cultural Background
Norwegians often say 'Takk for i kveld' (Thanks for tonight) right before they 'legger seg' if they are with others. The Swedish equivalent is 'lägga sig', which is almost identical, reflecting the shared linguistic heritage. Americans often say 'I'm hitting the hay' or 'hitting the sack', which are much more idiomatic than the standard Norwegian 'legge seg'. In Japan, the concept of 'futon' means 'legge seg' involves laying out the bed itself, not just the person.
The Reflexive Rule
Always check your subject. If it's 'vi', it must be 'oss'. If it's 'jeg', it must be 'meg'.
Legge vs. Ligge
This is the #1 mistake. Remember: Legge = Movement. Ligge = Stillness.
Meaning
Preparing for sleep
The Reflexive Rule
Always check your subject. If it's 'vi', it must be 'oss'. If it's 'jeg', it must be 'meg'.
Legge vs. Ligge
This is the #1 mistake. Remember: Legge = Movement. Ligge = Stillness.
Natta!
After saying you are going to 'legge deg', it's common to say 'Natta!' (Nighty-night).
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun.
Jeg er trøtt, jeg må legge ___.
Since the subject is 'Jeg' (I), the reflexive pronoun must be 'meg' (myself).
Which sentence is in the past tense?
Choose the correct past tense form:
'La' is the preterite (past) form of 'legge'.
Match the subject with the correct reflexive pronoun.
Match these:
All pairs are correctly matched in the options provided.
Complete the dialogue.
Mamma: 'Klokka er mye, Per. Nå må du ____.'
After 'må' (must), we use the infinitive 'legge' + the reflexive pronoun 'deg'.
Which phrase fits the situation: The wind is stopping.
The storm is over and...
'Å legge seg' is used metaphorically for wind or waves settling.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
5 exercisesJeg er trøtt, jeg må legge ___.
Since the subject is 'Jeg' (I), the reflexive pronoun must be 'meg' (myself).
Choose the correct past tense form:
'La' is the preterite (past) form of 'legge'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
All pairs are correctly matched in the options provided.
Mamma: 'Klokka er mye, Per. Nå må du ____.'
After 'må' (must), we use the infinitive 'legge' + the reflexive pronoun 'deg'.
The storm is over and...
'Å legge seg' is used metaphorically for wind or waves settling.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, but it sounds very formal or like something from a book. 'Jeg legger meg' is much more common.
'Legge seg' implies going to sleep for the night. 'Legge seg ned' just means the physical act of lying down, maybe for a rest.
You say 'Jeg legger barna.' You don't use 'seg' because you are doing it to them, not yourself.
In some dialects, especially in the north or west, it might be 'seg' or 'se', but 'sæj' is the standard Oslo pronunciation.
Related Phrases
Å legge seg ned
similarTo lie down (not necessarily for sleep)
Å sovne
builds onTo fall asleep
Å sove
builds onTo sleep
Å legge seg flat
specialized formTo apologize completely
Å legge seg ut med
specialized formTo fall out with someone
