Meaning
Having confidence in someone
Cultural Background
The 'Tillitssamfunn' (Trust Society) is a core part of Norwegian identity. High trust in government and strangers allows for a very flat social hierarchy. The 'Law of Jante' subtly influences trust; you trust people who don't try to be 'better' than the community. In Norwegian business, a handshake is often as good as a contract because people 'stoler på' each other's word. Norway is highly digitized (BankID, etc.), and people 'stoler på' that the digital systems are secure and private.
The 'Chair' Trick
If you forget the preposition, remember you sit ON a chair. So you trust ON (på) a person.
Avoid 'i'
English speakers always want to say 'stole i'. Write 'STOLE PÅ' on a sticky note and put it on your computer!
Meaning
Having confidence in someone
The 'Chair' Trick
If you forget the preposition, remember you sit ON a chair. So you trust ON (på) a person.
Avoid 'i'
English speakers always want to say 'stole i'. Write 'STOLE PÅ' on a sticky note and put it on your computer!
Use it for objects
To sound more native, use it for your car, your alarm clock, or your shoes. 'Jeg stoler ikke på denne vekkerklokka.'
Trust is Earned
In Norway, trust is given by default but lost quickly. Using this phrase correctly helps you navigate social norms.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct preposition.
Jeg stoler ___ deg.
In Norwegian, you always trust 'on' (på) someone.
Choose the correct past tense form.
I fjor ___ jeg på ham, men ikke nå lenger.
'Stolte' is the past tense (preteritum) of 'å stole'.
Match the Norwegian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the pairs.
These are the most common variations of the trust concept.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kan du låne meg bilen din? B: Ja, jeg ___ ___ at du kjører forsiktig.
The speaker is relying on the other person's future action.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJeg stoler ___ deg.
In Norwegian, you always trust 'on' (på) someone.
I fjor ___ jeg på ham, men ikke nå lenger.
'Stolte' is the past tense (preteritum) of 'å stole'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the most common variations of the trust concept.
A: Kan du låne meg bilen din? B: Ja, jeg ___ ___ at du kjører forsiktig.
The speaker is relying on the other person's future action.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, that is incorrect. You must use 'på'.
'Stole på' is about reliability and confidence in someone's actions. 'Tro på' is about believing someone is telling the truth or believing in their existence.
It is neutral. It works in both casual and professional settings.
You say 'til å stole på'. For example: 'Han er til å stole på.'
Yes! 'Man kan aldri stole på været i Norge.' (You can never trust the weather in Norway.)
The opposite is 'å ikke stole på' or 'å være mistenksom overfor' (to be suspicious of).
Yes, the noun is 'tillit'.
Yes, 'å stole på seg selv' is very common.
Yes, it is the most common way to say 'rely on' in Norwegian.
Yes, though older translations might use 'forlate seg på'.
Related Phrases
Ha tillit til
synonymTo have trust in
Regne med
similarTo count on
Forlate seg på
specialized formTo rely/depend on
Tro på
contrastTo believe in
Være trygg på
similarTo be sure/confident about
