Meaning
Having a positive impact.
Cultural Background
The phrase is often used in connection with 'Frivillighetens år' (The Year of Volunteering). Norwegians value the idea that everyone should contribute to the common good. The English equivalent is much more individualistic. In Norway, 'utgjøre en forskjell' often implies a contribution to a larger social system. Across Sweden (utgöra en skillnad) and Denmark (gøre en forskel), the concept is identical, reflecting shared social democratic values. Modern Norwegian startups use this phrase to attract Gen Z workers who prioritize 'purpose' over just salary.
Use adjectives!
Don't just say 'utgjøre en forskjell'. Add 'stor', 'viktig', or 'enorm' to sound more natural and expressive.
Avoid 'gjøre' in formal writing
While 'gjøre en forskjell' is okay when talking to friends, use 'utgjøre' in essays and job applications.
Meaning
Having a positive impact.
Use adjectives!
Don't just say 'utgjøre en forskjell'. Add 'stor', 'viktig', or 'enorm' to sound more natural and expressive.
Avoid 'gjøre' in formal writing
While 'gjøre en forskjell' is okay when talking to friends, use 'utgjøre' in essays and job applications.
The 'For' Rule
Always use the preposition 'for' when talking about the recipient of the impact (e.g., for barna, for miljøet).
Humility is key
When saying you made a difference, it's often polite to add 'håper jeg' (I hope) to avoid sounding arrogant.
Test Yourself
Fyll inn riktig form av verbet 'utgjøre'.
I fjor _______ innsatsen din en stor forskjell for oss.
The sentence refers to 'I fjor' (last year), so we need the past tense (preteritum).
Hvilken setning er mest naturlig i en jobbsøknad?
Velg det beste alternativet:
'Utgjøre en forskjell' is the standard professional way to say you want to have an impact.
Match uttrykket med riktig betydning.
Koble sammen:
This matches the figurative meaning we are studying.
Fullfør dialogen.
A: Tror du det hjelper å stemme? B: Ja, din stemme kan ______.
This is the standard phrase for individual impact in a collective action like voting.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Utgjøre vs. Gjøre
Practice Bank
4 exercisesI fjor _______ innsatsen din en stor forskjell for oss.
The sentence refers to 'I fjor' (last year), so we need the past tense (preteritum).
Velg det beste alternativet:
'Utgjøre en forskjell' is the standard professional way to say you want to have an impact.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
This matches the figurative meaning we are studying.
A: Tror du det hjelper å stemme? B: Ja, din stemme kan ______.
This is the standard phrase for individual impact in a collective action like voting.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's not wrong, but it's more informal. It's a direct translation from English that has become very common.
Technically yes, but it's 95% used for positive things. For negative impact, use 'ha negative konsekvenser'.
'Forskjell' is a general difference. 'Ulikhet' often refers to social or mathematical inequality.
It's utgjør (present), utgjorde (past), har utgjort (perfect).
Yes! For example: 'Nye dekk utgjør en stor forskjell på glatt føre.'
It is masculine: 'en forskjell'.
In some contexts, yes. In corporate mission statements, it can sound a bit empty, so use it with specific examples.
Yes, this means to be *the* deciding factor.
'Å ikke ha noe å si' (to not matter) or 'å være ubetydelig'.
Yes, many Norwegian pop and folk songs about social change use this phrase.
Related Phrases
å ha betydning
synonymTo have significance
å sette spor
similarTo leave a mark
å bidra til
builds onTo contribute to
å spille en rolle
similarTo play a role
å snu trenden
specialized formTo turn the trend
