Meaning
Being fed up with a situation.
Cultural Background
Complaining about the weather is a national sport. Being 'lei av regn' is a neutral way to start a conversation with a stranger at a bus stop. In Norwegian workplaces, being 'lei' of a project is often discussed openly in 'medarbeidersamtaler' (employee reviews) to prevent burnout. There is a growing trend of 'skjermfri' (screen-free) periods because people are 'lei av sosiale medier'. Younger Norwegians use 'drittlei' very frequently, even in front of parents, as it is seen as a mild swear word.
The Preposition Rule
Always use 'av' for things and 'seg' for feelings. This is the #1 rule for this phrase.
Don't over-apologize
Using 'lei for det' too much can make you sound submissive. Use 'beklager' for minor things.
Meaning
Being fed up with a situation.
The Preposition Rule
Always use 'av' for things and 'seg' for feelings. This is the #1 rule for this phrase.
Don't over-apologize
Using 'lei for det' too much can make you sound submissive. Use 'beklager' for minor things.
Sound Native
Use 'begynner å bli lei' to sound more natural when expressing growing frustration.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to say 'I am fed up with the snow'.
Jeg er lei ___ snøen.
We use 'av' when we are fed up with something.
Which sentence means 'Don't be sad'?
Hvordan sier man 'Don't be sad'?
'Lei deg' is the reflexive form meaning 'sad'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Vil du ha mer pizza? B: Nei takk, jeg er ___ ___ pizza nå.
B is fed up with pizza after eating too much.
Match the Norwegian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the pairs:
These are the four main ways 'lei' is used.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJeg er lei ___ snøen.
We use 'av' when we are fed up with something.
Hvordan sier man 'Don't be sad'?
'Lei deg' is the reflexive form meaning 'sad'.
A: Vil du ha mer pizza? B: Nei takk, jeg er ___ ___ pizza nå.
B is fed up with pizza after eating too much.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the four main ways 'lei' is used.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsYes, but be careful! It means 'I am fed up with you' and can be quite hurtful in a relationship.
'Lei' is how YOU feel (I am bored/fed up). 'Kjedelig' is how the THING is (The movie is boring).
It's informal and contains a swear word, but it's very common among friends. Avoid it in job interviews!
You say 'Jeg føler med deg' or 'Jeg er lei meg på dine vegne'.
In some dialects and older expressions like 'en lei kneik', yes, it means difficult or tricky.
Related Phrases
å ha fått nok
synonymTo have had enough
å være trøtt av
similarTo be weary of
å gå lei
builds onTo lose interest over time
å være misfornøyd
contrastTo be dissatisfied
drittlei
specialized formExtremely fed up
