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B1 verb 9 min read

avvise

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips avvise in 30 Seconds

Explanation avvise in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word 'avvise' very often. You will mostly use 'nei' (no) or 'ikke' (not). However, you might see it on your phone screen. If someone calls you and you don't want to answer, the button might say 'Avvis'. This means 'Reject' or 'Don't answer'. It is a way to say 'no' to a phone call. You can think of it as a formal way of saying 'I don't want this'. At this level, just remember that 'avvise' means to say no to something that is offered to you, like a call or an invitation. It is a verb, so you can say 'Jeg avviser' (I reject). But usually, A1 students will say 'Jeg vil ikke' (I don't want to) or 'Nei takk' (No thank you). If you see the word in a book, just know it's a strong 'no'.

At the A2 level, you start to learn more specific verbs. 'Avvise' is one of them. You can use it when you talk about social situations. For example, if you invite someone to a party and they say 'no' in a very clear way, you can say 'Han avviste invitasjonen' (He rejected the invitation). At this level, you should also know the past tense 'avviste'. You might use it to describe a situation where you tried to do something, but it was not allowed. 'Vekteren avviste meg' (The guard turned me away). It is a useful word for explaining why something didn't happen. It is more formal than 'sier nei'. You will also see it in simple news stories or headlines. It's about setting a boundary. If you are learning about work, you might hear 'Sjefen avviste ideen min' (The boss rejected my idea). It's a good word to make your Norwegian sound more advanced than just using 'likte ikke'.

At the B1 level, 'avvise' becomes a very important word for your vocabulary. You are now expected to understand and use it in several different contexts: social, professional, and administrative. You should know that 'avvise' is a transitive verb, so it always needs an object. You should be comfortable using it in the passive voice, like 'Søknaden ble avvist' (The application was rejected). This is very common in official letters or emails. You also start to see the nuance between 'avvise' and 'avslå'. 'Avvise' can feel a bit more personal or physical, while 'avslå' is often for formal offers. You should also recognize the adjective 'avvisende' (dismissive/cold). If someone has an 'avvisende holdning', they are not being friendly. At B1, you are moving into discussing opinions and news, and 'avvise' is used constantly when politicians 'avviser' claims or criticism. It is a key word for participating in debates or explaining complex social interactions in Norway.

For B2 learners, 'avvise' is a tool for precision. You should be able to use it to describe the dismissal of abstract concepts, legal cases, and complex arguments. You will encounter it in academic texts and more serious literature. At this level, you should understand the legal distinction: 'Saken ble avvist' means the court wouldn't even look at it, often for technical reasons. You should also be able to use adverbs to modify the verb, such as 'kategorisk avvise' (categorically reject) or 'blankt avvise' (flatly reject). You should also understand the psychological weight of the word. Being 'avvist' can be a traumatic or significant social event, and you can use the word to discuss social exclusion or mental health. You will also see it in business contexts, like 'avvise et oppkjøp' (rejecting a takeover bid). Your use of 'avvise' should show that you understand not just the action of saying no, but the authority and the finality behind that action in a Norwegian context.

At the C1 level, you are expected to have a nuanced command of 'avvise' and its synonyms. You should be able to use it in sophisticated discourse, such as when analyzing a philosopher's rejection of a certain school of thought or a politician's strategic dismissal of a scandal. You should be familiar with the word in specialized fields like medicine (organ rejection, though 'avstøtning' is the noun) or technology (protocol rejection). You should be able to identify the tone of a text based on whether the author chooses 'avvise', 'avfeie', 'forkaste', or 'refusere'. For instance, 'avfeie' suggests the thing being rejected is trivial, while 'avvise' is more neutral but firm. You should also be able to use the word in complex sentence structures, such as 'Det at han valgte å avvise forslaget uten videre refleksjon, vakte stor harme' (The fact that he chose to reject the proposal without further reflection caused great resentment). Your understanding should include the historical and etymological roots of the word to appreciate its place in the Norwegian linguistic landscape.

At the C2 level, 'avvise' is a word you use with effortless precision, understanding all its subtle connotations in literature, law, and high-level diplomacy. You can use it to discuss the 'politics of rejection' in a society or the 'existential rejection' in a novel by Hamsun or Ibsen. You understand how 'avvise' functions in the most formal legal documents versus how it is used in a poetic sense to describe a lover's coldness. You can engage in deep linguistic analysis of how the prefix 'av-' functions in Norwegian to create verbs of separation and how 'avvise' fits into that system. You are also aware of dialectal variations in how the word might be pronounced or used in different parts of Norway, although it is a standard word. At this level, 'avvise' is not just a verb but a concept you can manipulate to express the finest shades of social and intellectual boundaries. You can use it in highly technical or archaic contexts if necessary, and you understand its relationship to similar words in Danish and Swedish.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

avvise in 30 Seconds

A common Norwegian verb meaning to reject, decline, or turn away.
Used in social, professional, legal, and technical contexts.
Follows Group 2 weak verb conjugation (avviser, avviste, avvist).
Essential for setting boundaries and describing formal refusals.

The Norwegian verb avvise is a multifaceted term that primarily translates to 'to reject,' 'to decline,' or 'to turn away.' At its linguistic core, it is composed of the prefix av- (off or away) and the root vise (to show), literally suggesting the act of 'showing someone the way away' or 'showing something off the table.' This word is essential for B1 learners because it moves beyond the simple 'nei' (no) and enters the realm of professional, social, and legal boundaries. In a social context, avvise is frequently used when one person rejects the romantic advances or social invitations of another. For instance, if someone asks for a phone number and is told no, they have been avvist. In a professional or administrative setting, it refers to the formal rejection of applications, proposals, or legal claims.

Social Rejection: When an individual declines a romantic or social gesture, often implying a personal boundary. Example: 'Hun måtte avvise ham fordi hun ikke var interessert.'
Formal Dismissal: Used by institutions, courts, or committees to state that a request or case will not be considered. Example: 'Retten valgte å avvise saken på grunn av manglende bevis.'

Det er viktig å kunne avvise dårlige forslag på en høflig måte i arbeidslivet.

Beyond these common uses, avvise also appears in technical contexts, such as a server rejecting a connection request (serveren avviste forespørselen) or a body rejecting an organ transplant in medical terminology, though støte bort is more common there. Understanding avvise is crucial for navigating Norwegian bureaucracy where 'avslag' (the noun form of the related verb 'avslå') is common, but 'avvise' describes the action of the authority. It carries a weight of finality. Unlike 'vurdere' (to consider), 'avvise' stops the process immediately. It is also used philosophically to reject ideas or theories. For a learner, mastering this word means being able to describe complex social dynamics and formal procedures with precision. Whether you are talking about a bouncer at a club turning someone away or a politician dismissing a claim, avvise is the go-to verb for the act of saying 'no' with authority or intent.

Grammatically, avvise is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object—the person or thing being rejected. It follows the standard conjugation for Group 2 weak verbs: avviser (present), avviste (past), and har avvist (present perfect). One of the most common structures is [Subject] + [avvise] + [Object]. For example, 'Sjefen avviste søknaden' (The boss rejected the application).

De valgte å avvise alle anklagene som ble rettet mot dem.

In the passive voice, which is very frequent in formal Norwegian news and reports, we use 'bli' + 'avvist'. For instance, 'Han ble avvist i døren' (He was turned away at the door). This implies that the subject was the recipient of the rejection.

Active Voice: Komiteen avviser forslaget (The committee rejects the proposal).
Passive Voice: Forslaget ble avvist av komiteen (The proposal was rejected by the committee).

Adverbs often accompany avvise to indicate the manner of rejection. 'Blankt' (flatly/categorically) is a very common pairing: 'Han avviste blankt å samarbeide' (He flatly refused to cooperate). Other adverbs include 'kontant' (curtly/instantly) and 'høflig' (politely). When using it with people, it's important to distinguish between physical rejection (turning someone away from a place) and emotional rejection. 'Vekteren avviste gjestene' (The security guard turned away the guests) vs. 'Hun følte seg avvist av vennene sine' (She felt rejected by her friends). In the latter, the word takes on a more psychological tone. In legal Norwegian, avvise has a specific meaning: a court refuses to hear a case because of procedural errors, whereas 'frifinne' means to find someone not guilty after hearing the case. This nuance is vital for understanding Norwegian news. Finally, in the imperative, 'Avvis!' might be seen on a digital screen (like a phone call rejection button), showing the word's ubiquitous nature in modern life.

You will encounter avvise in a wide variety of everyday and specialized environments in Norway. In the news, it is perhaps one of the most frequent verbs used in political reporting. You will hear phrases like 'Regjeringen avviser kritikken fra opposisjonen' (The government rejects the criticism from the opposition) almost daily. It signals a conflict or a disagreement where one side refuses to accept the validity of the other's claims.

Politiet måtte avvise flere nysgjerrige tilskuere fra ulykkesstedet.

In the workplace, avvise is used in meetings when ideas are dismissed or when a supervisor turns down a request for leave or a raise. It’s also heard in customer service: if a credit card is declined, the terminal might display 'Kortet ble avvist.' In social settings, particularly among younger people, it describes the 'cold shoulder' or being 'ghosted' or 'rejected.' For example, 'Jeg prøvde å be henne ut, men hun avviste meg' (I tried to ask her out, but she rejected me).

News & Politics: Used to describe the dismissal of allegations, claims, or policy proposals.
Technology & Banking: Used when transactions, logins, or connections are unsuccessful.

You will also hear it in literature and films to describe characters who are emotionally guarded or who push others away. An 'avvisende' person (the adjective form) is someone who is cold, aloof, or unfriendly. This is a common way to describe a personality trait in Norwegian. In legal dramas or real court proceedings, the distinction between 'avvise' (procedural rejection) and 'forkaste' (rejection after consideration) is a key plot point. If a case is avvist, it never even gets to the judge for a full trial. This word is therefore a gateway into understanding how Norwegian society structures its disagreements and boundaries.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when using avvise is confusing it with 'nekte' (to refuse/deny). While they are related, they are not interchangeable. 'Nekte' is used when you refuse to do something or deny a fact ('Han nektet for å ha stjålet pengene' - He denied having stolen the money). Avvise, on the other hand, is about rejecting an object, a person, or a proposal that has been presented to you. You avviser a person at the door, but you nekter them entry.

Feil: Han avviste at han var skyldig. Riktig: Han nektet for at han var skyldig.

Another common error is using avvise when 'avslå' would be more appropriate. 'Avslå' is generally more polite and is used specifically for offers or invitations. If someone offers you a cup of coffee and you say no, you avslår the offer. If you use avvise, it sounds much harsher, as if you are rejecting the coffee (and perhaps the person) with a degree of disdain or finality.

avvise vs. avslå: Use 'avvise' for categorical rejection or turning someone away. Use 'avslå' for politely declining offers or invitations.
avvise vs. forkaste: 'Forkaste' is often used for physical objects or ideas that are thrown away or discarded after being tested. 'Avvise' is the act of not letting them in or accepting them in the first place.

Learners also sometimes struggle with the prepositional use. Avvise is transitive, so it usually doesn't need a preposition before the object. However, people sometimes mistakenly add 'til' or 'fra' because of interference from English 'reject from' or 'refuse to.' Stick to the direct object. Finally, remember that avvise can be used as an adjective: 'en avvisende holdning' (a dismissive/rejecting attitude). Don't confuse this with the verb form in a sentence. Using the word correctly requires sensitivity to the social hierarchy of the situation; 'avvise' is a powerful word that can hurt feelings if used in the wrong context.

To truly master avvise, you must understand its synonyms and how they differ in register and nuance. The most common alternative is avslå. While 'avvise' sounds like turning someone away at the gate, 'avslå' sounds like declining a formal request or a gift. If a company turns down a job applicant, they might send an 'avslag' (noun), but the act itself can be described by both verbs depending on the tone.

avslå: To decline or refuse. More formal and often more polite than 'avvise'. Used for invitations, offers, and formal applications.
refusere: Borrowed from French/English. Often used in literary contexts (a manuscript being refused) or in technical/sporting contexts (a horse refusing a jump).
forkaste: To discard or scrap. Use this when an idea or a plan has been considered but then deemed useless or incorrect. 'Teorien ble forkastet.'

I stedet for å avvise forslaget helt, kan vi kanskje modifisere det?

Another interesting alternative is avfeie. This means to 'dismiss' or 'brush aside' something, usually an argument or a concern, as if it were unimportant. It is more metaphorical than 'avvise.' If someone says 'Det er bare tull' (That's just nonsense) to your concern, they are avfeiing your concern. For physical rejection, vise bort is a strong synonym. It literally means 'to show away' and is used when security or police remove people from a location. 'Demonstrantene ble vist bort fra plassen.' While 'avvise' could also be used here, 'vise bort' emphasizes the physical removal. Understanding these shades of meaning allows a B1 learner to transition into B2 and C1 levels, where precision in vocabulary is paramount for expressing complex thoughts and navigating professional environments in Norway.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"Retten ser seg nødt til å avvise saken."

Neutral

"De avviste forslaget på møtet."

Informal

"Hun avviste ham med en gang."

Child friendly

"Du må ikke avvise vennen din når han vil leke."

Slang

"Han ble helt avvist, ass."

Fun Fact

The word literally means 'to show off' (as in 'show someone the way out'). It shares the same root as the English word 'wise' and 'witness'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ˈɑːvˌviːsə/

US /ˈɑːvˌviːsə/

First syllable (AV-vise).

Rhymes With

spise grise vise lise nise brise prise skvise

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'v' as a 'w'.
Making the 'i' too short.
Stressing the second syllable.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in news and formal texts, easy to recognize once learned.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of Group 2 conjugation and correct object placement.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward but requires correct stress.

Listening 3/5

Clear pronunciation, but can be confused with 'besøkte' in fast speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

vise nei ikke si søknad

Learn Next

avslå forkaste nekte godta

Advanced

prosessuell premiss hjemmel

Grammar to Know

Transitive Verbs

'Avvise' requires an object (e.g., 'avvise forslaget').

Group 2 Weak Verbs

Ends in -te in past tense (avviste).

Passive with 'bli'

'Søknaden ble avvist' is the standard passive form.

Adverb Placement

Adverbs like 'blankt' usually follow the verb: 'Han avviste blankt...'

Infinitive with 'å'

'Han avviste å svare' uses the 'å' infinitive.

Examples by Level

Du kan avvise anropet.

You can reject the call.

'Avvise' is the infinitive after the modal verb 'kan'.

Jeg vil ikke avvise deg.

I do not want to reject you.

Simple sentence with modal verb 'vil'.

Hun sier nei og avviser ham.

She says no and rejects him.

Present tense 'avviser'.

Trykk på knappen for å avvise.

Press the button to reject.

'Å' + infinitive indicating purpose.

Han ble avvist i døren.

He was turned away at the door.

Passive voice with 'ble' + past participle.

Ikke avvis min hjelp.

Don't reject my help.

Imperative 'ikke' + infinitive (standard in Norwegian).

De avviser alle.

They reject everyone.

Subject + Verb + Object.

Søknaden ble avvist.

The application was rejected.

Simple passive voice.

Sjefen avviste forslaget mitt i går.

The boss rejected my proposal yesterday.

Past tense 'avviste'.

Jeg måtte avvise invitasjonen til festen.

I had to decline the invitation to the party.

Modal 'måtte' + infinitive.

Vekteren avviste ham fordi han var for ung.

The guard turned him away because he was too young.

Use of 'fordi' to explain the rejection.

Hvorfor avviste du gaven?

Why did you reject the gift?

Question structure in the past tense.

Hun føler seg avvist av de andre barna.

She feels rejected by the other children.

Reflexive 'føler seg' + past participle used as adjective.

Vi kan ikke avvise denne muligheten.

We cannot reject this opportunity.

Negative modal construction.

Kortet mitt ble avvist i butikken.

My card was declined in the store.

Passive voice in a common daily context.

Han avviste å snakke med politiet.

He refused to speak with the police.

'Avvise' + 'å' + infinitive.

Komiteen valgte å avvise søknaden uten begrunnelse.

The committee chose to reject the application without justification.

'Valgte å' + infinitive.

Det er vanskelig å avvise et så godt tilbud.

It is difficult to reject such a good offer.

'Det er' + adjective + 'å' + infinitive.

Regjeringen avviser all kritikk om saken.

The government rejects all criticism regarding the matter.

Present tense used for ongoing situations.

Han ble avvist fordi han ikke hadde gyldig legitimasjon.

He was rejected because he did not have valid identification.

Passive voice with causal clause.

Hun avviste ham blankt da han ba om unnskyldning.

She flatly rejected him when he asked for an apology.

Use of the adverb 'blankt' for emphasis.

Retten kan avvise saken hvis bevisene er svake.

The court can dismiss the case if the evidence is weak.

Legal context of 'avvise'.

De har avvist flere forsøk på mekling.

They have rejected several attempts at mediation.

Present perfect 'har avvist'.

Hvorfor ble forespørselen min avvist av systemet?

Why was my request rejected by the system?

Question in passive voice.

Han avviste kategorisk at han hadde vært involvert i skandalen.

He categorically denied that he had been involved in the scandal.

'Kategorisk' + 'avvise' + 'at'-clause.

Mange teorier ble avvist etter at nye data kom på bordet.

Many theories were rejected after new data came to light.

Passive voice in a scientific context.

Hun har en tendens til å avvise folk før hun blir kjent med dem.

She has a tendency to reject people before she gets to know them.

'Tendens til å' + infinitive.

Forslaget ble kontant avvist av styret i forrige uke.

The proposal was curtly rejected by the board last week.

Adverb 'kontant' modifying the passive verb.

Det er viktig å ikke avvise nye ideer for raskt.

It is important not to reject new ideas too quickly.

'Viktig å ikke' + infinitive.

Politiet avviste å gi ytterligere kommentarer til pressen.

The police declined to give further comments to the press.

'Avvise' + 'å' + infinitive in a formal context.

Søknaden hans om asyl ble avvist av utlendingsmyndighetene.

His application for asylum was rejected by the immigration authorities.

Specific administrative use.

Hun følte seg dypt avvist etter at boken ble refusert.

She felt deeply rejected after the book was refused.

Reflexive verb + past participle.

Forfatteren avviser enhver tolkning som reduserer verket til biografi.

The author rejects any interpretation that reduces the work to biography.

Academic use of 'avvise' with abstract objects.

Retten valgte å avvise anken på rent prosessuelt grunnlag.

The court chose to dismiss the appeal on purely procedural grounds.

Legal terminology: 'avvise anken'.

Han avviste forslaget med en nedlatende håndbevegelse.

He dismissed the proposal with a condescending gesture.

Descriptive use in literature.

Det er uheldig at ledelsen avviser kritikken uten å gå i dialog.

It is unfortunate that the management rejects the criticism without entering into dialogue.

Subordinate clause with 'uten å'.

Filosofen avviser tanken om at mennesket er født ondt.

The philosopher rejects the idea that humans are born evil.

'Avvise tanken om' + 'at'-clause.

Man bør vokte seg for å avvise tradisjonell kunnskap for bastant.

One should be careful not to reject traditional knowledge too firmly.

Formal 'man' + 'vokte seg for å'.

Søknaden ble avvist fordi den ikke oppfylte de formelle kravene.

The application was rejected because it did not meet the formal requirements.

Administrative precision.

De avviser at det foreligger noen politisk avtale mellom partiene.

They deny that there is any political agreement between the parties.

'Avvise at' used for denial of facts.

Eksistensialismen avviser forestillingen om en forhåndsbestemt menneskelig essens.

Existentialism rejects the notion of a predetermined human essence.

High-level philosophical discourse.

Høyesterett avviste å behandle saken da den ikke hadde prinsipiell betydning.

The Supreme Court refused to hear the case as it lacked significance in principle.

Legal nuance of the Supreme Court's discretion.

Hans systematiske avvisning av empiri gjør teorien vanskelig å etterprøve.

His systematic rejection of empiricism makes the theory difficult to verify.

Noun form 'avvisning' used in academic critique.

Hun avviste bryskt alle forsøk på å trenge inn i hennes private sfære.

She brusquely rejected all attempts to penetrate her private sphere.

Use of the literary adverb 'bryskt'.

Det er en utbredt misforståelse å avvise denne sjangeren som mindreverdig.

It is a widespread misconception to reject this genre as inferior.

Critique of cultural attitudes.

Regjeringen har kontant avvist påstandene om korrupsjon i embetsverket.

The government has curtly rejected the allegations of corruption in the civil service.

Strong present perfect with formal vocabulary.

Ved å avvise det overleverte språket, skapte dikteren et helt nytt uttrykk.

By rejecting the inherited language, the poet created an entirely new expression.

Gerund-like structure 'Ved å' + infinitive.

Kritikeren avviste verket som et makkverk uten kunstnerisk verdi.

The critic dismissed the work as a piece of junk without artistic value.

Subject + Verb + Object + 'som'.

Common Collocations

avvise blankt

avvise et forslag

bli avvist i døren

avvise en søknad

avvise kritikken

avvise et krav

avvise en tanke

avvise en klage

avvise anropet

avvise kontant

Common Phrases

å bli avvist

— To be rejected by someone or something.

Det er vondt å bli avvist.

å avvise noen

— To turn someone away or reject them socially.

Hun avviste ham på festen.

uten å avvise

— Without rejecting or dismissing.

Han hørte på henne uten å avvise henne.

å avvise kategorisk

— To reject something absolutely and without doubt.

De avviser kategorisk påstandene.

å avvise en bønn

— To reject a plea or a prayer.

Gud avviste hans bønn.

å avvise i døra

— To reject someone at the very start or entrance.

Ideen ble avvist i døra.

å avvise et tilbud

— To turn down an offer (similar to avslå).

Vi må avvise dette tilbudet.

å avvise en sak

— To dismiss a case (legal).

Dommeren avviste saken.

å avvise hjelp

— To refuse assistance.

Han avviste all hjelp fra familien.

å avvise mistanke

— To dismiss suspicion.

Han avviste enhver mistanke.

Often Confused With

avvise vs nekte

Nekte is to refuse to do something or deny a fact; avvise is to reject something presented.

avvise vs avslå

Avslå is more polite and used for offers; avvise is firmer and can be used for people.

avvise vs forkaste

Forkaste is to discard an idea after thinking about it; avvise is often an immediate refusal.

Idioms & Expressions

"å avvise noe blankt"

— To reject something completely and immediately, like a 'blank' refusal.

Han avviste blankt å betale boten.

Neutral

"å bli avvist med et skuldertrekk"

— To be rejected with a shrug, implying indifference.

Forslaget ble avvist med et skuldertrekk.

Informal

"å avvise noen kontant"

— To reject someone very quickly and decisively.

Hun avviste frieriet hans kontant.

Neutral

"å avvise i første instans"

— To reject at the first level of a process.

Søknaden ble avvist i første instans.

Formal

"å avvise på stående fot"

— To reject something immediately without sitting down or thinking long.

Han avviste ideen på stående fot.

Informal

"å avvise som tull"

— To dismiss something as nonsense.

Læreren avviste forklaringen som tull.

Informal

"å avvise en tanke kontant"

— To immediately stop thinking about something.

Hun avviste tanken på å slutte kontant.

Neutral

"å avvise ved porten"

— To be rejected at the very beginning (metaphorical or literal).

Han ble avvist ved porten til det gode selskap.

Literary

"å avvise blankt og kontant"

— A combination of two adverbs for maximum emphasis of rejection.

Kravet ble avvist blankt og kontant.

Neutral

"å avvise alt og alle"

— To reject everything and everyone (being very guarded).

Etter ulykken avviste han alt og alle.

Neutral

Easily Confused

avvise vs avslå

Both mean 'to refuse/reject'.

'Avslå' is more formal/polite (declining an offer). 'Avvise' is firmer (rejecting or turning away).

Han avslo kaffen, men avviste mannen i døra.

avvise vs nekte

Both involve saying 'no'.

'Nekte' means 'to deny' or 'to refuse to do'. 'Avvise' means 'to reject something/someone'.

Han nektet for alt, og avviste alle spørsmål.

avvise vs besøkte

Sounds slightly similar in fast speech.

'Besøkte' means visited; 'avviste' means rejected. Opposite meanings!

Jeg besøkte ham (I visited him) vs. Jeg avviste ham (I rejected him).

avvise vs utvise

Both have 'vise' and involve someone leaving.

'Utvise' is to expel (from a country or school). 'Avvise' is to not let in or to reject a proposal.

Han ble utvist fra skolen fordi han ble avvist av vennene.

avvise vs avfeie

Both mean to dismiss.

'Avfeie' is to brush aside something as trivial. 'Avvise' is a more formal or physical rejection.

Sjefen avfeide bekymringen min, men avviste ikke selve planen.

Sentence Patterns

Jeg må avvise...

Jeg må avvise anropet.

Han avviste [Object] fordi...

Han avviste gaven fordi han var sint.

[Object] ble avvist av [Subject].

Søknaden ble avvist av sjefen.

Det er [Adjective] å avvise...

Det er vanskelig å avvise et slikt tilbud.

Han avviste kategorisk at...

Han avviste kategorisk at han hadde løyet.

Ved å avvise [Object], oppnådde de...

Ved å avvise kravet, sparte de penger.

Retten valgte å avvise saken på grunnlag av...

Retten valgte å avvise saken på grunnlag av manglende bevis.

Hans avvisende holdning overfor [Concept] er...

Hans avvisende holdning overfor nyvinninger er velkjent.

Word Family

Nouns

avvisning The act of rejecting; a rejection.

Verbs

avvise To reject.

Adjectives

avvisende Dismissive, cold, or rejecting.

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in news, medium-high in daily speech.

Common Mistakes

Han avviste å ha gjort det. → Han nektet for å ha gjort det.
'Avvise' is for rejecting things/people; 'nekte' is for denying actions or facts.
Jeg avviste invitasjonen din. → Jeg avslo invitasjonen din.
'Avvise' sounds a bit too harsh for a friendly invitation; 'avslå' is more appropriate.
Søknaden ble avviste. → Søknaden ble avvist.
The past participle in the passive voice is 'avvist', not 'avviste'.
Han ble avvist fra skolen. → Han ble utvist fra skolen.
'Utvist' means expelled; 'avvist' means not let in or rejected.
Jeg avviser kaffe. → Jeg vil ikke ha kaffe / Jeg takker nei til kaffe.
You don't 'reject' coffee unless it's a very strange situation; you simply decline it.

Tips

Conjugation Tip

Remember it is a Group 2 verb: avvise - avviser - avviste - har avvist. Don't add an extra 'e' in the past tense.

Adverb Pairing

Pair 'avvise' with 'blankt' (flatly) to sound more like a native speaker when describing a total rejection.

Phone Etiquette

When you see 'Avvis' on your phone, it's the standard term for 'Decline Call'. Use it to remember the word!

Legal Nuance

In a legal context, 'avvise' means the case is thrown out for technical reasons, not because the person is innocent.

Politeness

If you want to be polite, use 'avslå' for invitations. 'Avvise' can sound a bit harsh in social settings.

Passive Voice

Use 'ble avvist' in formal reports. It's the most natural way to describe an application being turned down.

Stress

Always stress the first part 'AV-'. If you stress '-vise', people might think you are saying 'å vise' (to show).

Avvise vs Nekte

Use 'nekte' for 'to deny a fact'. Use 'avvise' for 'to reject a proposal'.

Visual Aid

Imagine a red 'STOP' sign. That is the essence of 'avvise'.

Cultural Context

Norwegians value directness in professional life, so 'avvise' is common in business meetings.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

'AV' means OFF. 'VISE' means SHOW. You SHOW someone the way OFF your property.

Visual Association

Imagine a bouncer at a club (Vekter) showing a red 'X' to someone at the door.

Word Web

avslag avslå vise anrop søknad kritikk blankt kontant

Challenge

Try to use 'avvise' in three different ways today: for a phone call, for an idea, and for a person.

Word Origin

Derived from Middle Low German 'afwisen'.

Original meaning: To show away, to point in another direction.

Germanic

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'avvise' about people's feelings; it is a strong word that implies a complete shutdown.

In English, we often use 'decline' for invitations and 'reject' for more serious things. Norwegian 'avvise' covers both but can sound harsher than 'decline'.

Ibsen's characters often feel 'avvist' by society. The song 'Avvist' by various Norwegian artists explores romantic rejection.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Technology

avvise anropet
kortet ble avvist
serveren avviste forbindelsen
avvise informasjonskapsler

Legal

avvise saken
avvise anken
avvise på formelt grunnlag
avvise et krav

Social

bli avvist
avvise en invitasjon
føle seg avvist
avvise noen på byen

Politics

avvise kritikk
avvise påstander
avvise et lovforslag
avvise kategorisk

Business

avvise et tilbud
avvise en søknad
avvise en kandidat
avvise en reklamasjon

Conversation Starters

"Har du noen gang blitt avvist i døren på en klubb?"

"Hva gjør du hvis noen avviser en god idé du har?"

"Er det vanskelig for deg å avvise folk som ber om hjelp?"

"Hvorfor tror du noen avviser moderne teknologi?"

"Hvordan bør man avvise en invitasjon på en høflig måte?"

Journal Prompts

Skriv om en gang du måtte avvise et tilbud.

Hvordan føles det å bli avvist av noen du liker?

Hvorfor er det viktig at domstoler kan avvise saker?

Beskriv en situasjon der du avviste en dårlig vane.

Er det alltid frekt å avvise noen? Hvorfor/hvorfor ikke?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Nei, vanligvis ikke. Hvis du ikke vil ha mat, sier du 'Jeg vil ikke ha' eller 'Jeg takker nei'. 'Avvise maten' høres ut som en politisk protest (sultestreik).

'Avslå' er mer høflig og brukes ofte om invitasjoner eller søknader. 'Avvise' er mer direkte og kan bety å fysisk stoppe noen, som i en dør.

'Refusert' brukes nesten bare om bøker, artikler eller kunstverk som ikke blir antatt av et forlag eller en jury. 'Avvist' er mye mer generelt.

Ikke helt. 'Avvise' er en aktiv handling. Hvis du ignorerer noen, gjør du ingenting. Hvis du avviser noen, gir du dem et signal om at de ikke er velkomne.

Du sier: 'Kortet mitt ble avvist.' Dette er den mest vanlige måten å si det på i Norge.

Ja, det kan være det. Å bli 'avvist' av en person kan føles veldig sårende på norsk, akkurat som på engelsk.

Det er et adjektiv som beskriver en person som virker kald, uvennlig eller som ikke vil snakke med deg.

Ja, for eksempel hvis en keeper 'avviser' et skudd (redder det), selv om 'redde' eller 'stoppe' er mer vanlig.

Ja, man kan 'avvise en tanke' eller 'avvise en følelse' ved å prøve å ikke tenke på den.

Substantivet er 'en avvisning'. For eksempel: 'Han fikk en kontant avvisning.'