Meaning
Reaching out to a person.
Cultural Background
Norwegians value their 'boble' (bubble). Taking contact with a stranger on a bus is rare, but taking contact via email for professional reasons is expected to be very direct. In the US, 'reaching out' is often more casual and frequent than in Norway. A Norwegian 'ta kontakt' is usually more purposeful. Similar to Norway, there is a high threshold for initiating contact with strangers. Formal language (Keigo) is often required when 'taking contact' with superiors. Communication is much more fluid and informal. 'Taking contact' happens quickly and often involves physical proximity or social media immediately.
The 'Med' Rule
Always remember the 'med'. Saying 'Jeg skal ta kontakt deg' sounds very broken. It's like saying 'I will contact with you' in English, but it's mandatory in Norwegian.
Avoid 'Gjøre'
Never say 'gjøre kontakt'. This is the #1 sign of an English speaker translating literally.
Meaning
Reaching out to a person.
The 'Med' Rule
Always remember the 'med'. Saying 'Jeg skal ta kontakt deg' sounds very broken. It's like saying 'I will contact with you' in English, but it's mandatory in Norwegian.
Avoid 'Gjøre'
Never say 'gjøre kontakt'. This is the #1 sign of an English speaker translating literally.
Be Direct
In Norwegian emails, it's okay to start with 'Jeg tar kontakt fordi...'. You don't need as much small talk as in English.
Past Tense
Master 'tok kontakt'. You will use it constantly when telling stories about your day.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing verb in the correct tense.
I går ______ jeg kontakt med sjefen min.
'I går' (yesterday) requires the past tense of 'å ta', which is 'tok'.
Which sentence uses the correct preposition?
Jeg må ta kontakt ____ deg snart.
The collocation is always 'ta kontakt med'.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural phrase.
A: Har du snakket med banken? B: Nei, jeg skal ______ i ettermiddag.
'Ta kontakt med dem' is the full, correct phrase for reaching out to a group/entity.
Match the situation to the correct sentence.
You want to tell a friend to message you later.
This uses the imperative form to give a friendly instruction.
Complete the present perfect form.
Har du ______ kontakt med legen?
The present perfect requires the past participle 'tatt'.
Identify the most formal way to say 'Contact us'.
How would a government website say 'Contact us'?
'Henvende seg' is the formal register used by authorities.
🎉 Score: /6
Visual Learning Aids
Ta vs. Gjøre
Practice Bank
6 exercisesI går ______ jeg kontakt med sjefen min.
'I går' (yesterday) requires the past tense of 'å ta', which is 'tok'.
Jeg må ta kontakt ____ deg snart.
The collocation is always 'ta kontakt med'.
A: Har du snakket med banken? B: Nei, jeg skal ______ i ettermiddag.
'Ta kontakt med dem' is the full, correct phrase for reaching out to a group/entity.
You want to tell a friend to message you later.
This uses the imperative form to give a friendly instruction.
Har du ______ kontakt med legen?
The present perfect requires the past participle 'tatt'.
How would a government website say 'Contact us'?
'Henvende seg' is the formal register used by authorities.
🎉 Score: /6
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, if the person you are contacting is already understood. Example: 'Hvis du lurer på noe, bare ta kontakt.'
Neither is 'better', but 'kontakte' is slightly more formal. In speech, 'ta kontakt med' is more common.
No, it covers emails, SMS, LinkedIn, and even walking up to someone.
You can say 'Jeg tar kontakt med deg senere' or 'Jeg kommer tilbake til deg'.
Not if you have a reason (asking for directions, etc.), but Norwegians generally prefer a reason for the interaction.
'Oppsøke' usually means physically going to a place to find someone, like a doctor or a specialist.
Yes, 'Ta kontakt med politiet' is a very common phrase in news reports.
In almost all spoken dialects, yes. It sounds like 'me'.
No, that is a common mistake. It must be 'med'.
Yes, it's the standard way to describe making the first move.
You say 'Jeg prøver å ta kontakt med ham.'
To 'unngå' (avoid) or 'bryte kontakten' (break contact).
Related Phrases
høre fra seg
similarTo reach out (from the perspective of the person being asked)
kontakte
synonymTo contact
henvende seg
specialized formTo direct oneself to / approach formally
oppsøke
specialized formTo seek out
snakke med
similarTo talk with
unngå
contrastTo avoid
