When you want to express that you are giving money in exchange for something, you use the verb betale. This is a very common and essential verb to know in Norwegian, especially when you are out shopping or paying for services.
You can use it in many contexts, like when you need to betale for maten (pay for the food) at a restaurant, or betale regningen (pay the bill) for your utilities. It's a regular '-e' verb, so its conjugations are quite straightforward.
When you're ready to learn more complex Norwegian, you'll find that betale is used in many common expressions. For example, you might hear «å betale tilbake» which means 'to pay back' a loan or a debt. Or, if you're discussing finances, you could encounter «å betale regninger» meaning 'to pay bills'. It's also common to talk about «å betale kontant» for 'paying with cash' or «å betale med kort» for 'paying with card'. Understanding these phrases will help you navigate everyday financial conversations in Norwegian.
§ Understanding 'betale' (to pay)
The Norwegian verb 'betale' means 'to pay'. It's a regular verb, which is good news for you! This means its conjugation follows a predictable pattern. You'll use this word a lot when you're buying things, paying bills, or talking about finances.
§ Basic Conjugation of 'betale'
Here's how 'betale' changes depending on the tense. Pay attention, as you'll use these forms constantly.
- Infinitive: betale (to pay)
- Present tense: betaler (pay, pays, am paying, is paying, are paying)
- Past tense (simple past): betalte (paid)
- Present perfect tense: har betalt (have paid, has paid)
Jeg vil betale med kort. (I want to pay with card.)
Han betaler regningen. (He pays the bill.)
Vi betalte for maten i går. (We paid for the food yesterday.)
Jeg har betalt alle fakturaene. (I have paid all the invoices.)
§ Common Phrases with 'betale'
You'll often hear 'betale' combined with certain prepositions or nouns. Knowing these common phrases will make you sound more natural.
- betale for: to pay for (something)
- betale med: to pay with (a method, e.g., card, cash)
- betale tilbake: to pay back
Kan jeg betale for kaffen? (Can I pay for the coffee?)
Vi betaler med kredittkort. (We pay with credit card.)
Jeg må betale tilbake pengene. (I must pay back the money.)
§ 'Betale' in Everyday Conversations
You'll often use 'betale' when you're at a store, restaurant, or talking about finances. Here are some practical examples:
Hvor mye må jeg betale? (How much do I have to pay?)
Jeg kan betale nå. (I can pay now.)
Skal vi betale sammen eller hver for oss? (Shall we pay together or separately?)
§ Important Related Vocabulary
To fully understand 'betale', it's helpful to know some related words:
Vi venter på betalingen. (We are waiting for the payment.)
Jeg må betale strømregningen. (I have to pay the electricity bill.)
§ Understanding 'betale' (to pay)
The verb 'betale' means 'to pay' in Norwegian. It's a fundamental word you'll use constantly, whether you're buying groceries, paying bills, or settling a tab at a restaurant. It's an A1 level word, meaning it's one of the first verbs you should learn.
- DEFINITION
- To give money for goods or services.
§ Basic usage of 'betale'
You use 'betale' just like you would use 'to pay' in English. It can be followed by what you are paying for, or by the method of payment.
Jeg må betale regningen.
(I have to pay the bill.)
Kan jeg betale med kort?
(Can I pay with card?)
§ 'Betale' in common phrases
You'll often hear 'betale' in specific phrases. Here are a few important ones:
- Å betale for noe: To pay for something.
- Å betale tilbake: To pay back.
- Å betale kontant: To pay cash.
Jeg skal betale for maten.
(I will pay for the food.)
Jeg må betale deg tilbake i morgen.
(I have to pay you back tomorrow.)
Mange foretrekker å betale kontant.
(Many prefer to pay cash.)
§ Similar words and when to use 'betale' vs alternatives
While 'betale' is the most common word for 'to pay,' there are a few other words you might encounter that have related meanings. Understanding the subtle differences will help you sound more natural.
Koste (to cost)
'Koste' refers to the price of something, what something costs, rather than the act of paying itself.
Hvor mye koster det?
(How much does it cost?)
Erstatte (to replace, to compensate)
While 'erstatte' can sometimes involve money, it focuses on replacing something or compensating for a loss, not just a standard payment for goods or services.
De må erstatte skaden.
(They must compensate for the damage.)
You wouldn't use 'betale' here unless you were talking about *paying* for the compensation, but 'erstatte' covers the entire concept of making good on a loss.
Godtgjøre (to reimburse, to compensate)
'Godtgjøre' is often used in a formal context when someone is reimbursed for expenses or compensated for something, like travel expenses for work. It's more specific than 'betale.'
Bedriften vil godtgjøre reiseutgiftene.
(The company will reimburse the travel expenses.)
While you could say 'bedriften vil betale reiseutgiftene,' 'godtgjøre' is more precise when it's about reimbursement.
Oppgjør (settlement, payment - noun)
'Oppgjør' is a noun referring to a settlement or the act of settling a debt or payment, often for a larger sum or a more formal transaction. It's not a verb like 'betale,' but it's related to the concept of paying.
Vi venter på et oppgjør.
(We are waiting for a settlement/payment.)
In summary, 'betale' is your go-to verb for the general act of paying. Use 'koste' for prices, 'erstatte' for compensation for damage, and 'godtgjøre' for reimbursement of expenses. 'Oppgjør' is a noun for a settlement.
How Formal Is It?
"De ansatte forventes å betale for sine egne måltider under forretningsreiser."
"Jeg må betale regningen før fredag."
"Skal vi betale nå, eller senere?"
"Mamma må betale for isen min."
"Jeg måtte punge ut for en ny telefon."
أمثلة حسب المستوى
Jeg må betale husleien innen første.
I have to pay the rent by the first.
Kan jeg betale med kort?
Can I pay with a card?
Vi betalte for middagen i går kveld.
We paid for dinner last night.
Hvor mye må jeg betale for denne boken?
How much do I have to pay for this book?
De betaler mye for strøm om vinteren.
They pay a lot for electricity in the winter.
Jeg har ikke nok penger til å betale.
I don't have enough money to pay.
Du bør betale regningen i tide for å unngå purregebyr.
You should pay the bill on time to avoid late fees.
Skal vi betale hver for oss eller sammen?
Should we pay separately or together?
Har regjeringen til hensikt å betale erstatning til ofrene for klimakatastrofen?
Does the government intend to pay compensation to the victims of the climate disaster?
Here, 'betale erstatning' means 'to pay compensation', often used in a formal or legal context.
Til tross for det enorme presset, nektet konsernsjefen å betale ut de ulovlig tilegnede midlene.
Despite the immense pressure, the CEO refused to pay out the illegally acquired funds.
'Betale ut' means 'to pay out', implying the distribution of a sum of money.
Det er avgjørende at vi finner en bærekraftig måte å betale for de nødvendige infrastrukturprosjektene på uten å belaste fremtidige generasjoner unødig.
It is crucial that we find a sustainable way to pay for the necessary infrastructure projects without unduly burdening future generations.
'Betale for' is commonly used when referring to paying for something specific, like goods or services.
Analytikere spekulerer i om selskapet vil være i stand til å betale tilbake sin enorme gjeld i tide, gitt den nåværende økonomiske nedgangen.
Analysts speculate whether the company will be able to pay back its enormous debt in time, given the current economic downturn.
'Betale tilbake' means 'to pay back' or 'to repay', typically referring to a loan or debt.
Som et tegn på godvilje, tilbød den velstående filantropen å betale for hele sykehusregningen til den trengende familien.
As a gesture of goodwill, the wealthy philanthropist offered to pay for the entire hospital bill of the needy family.
Similar to 'betale for', this emphasizes covering the cost of something.
Fagforeningene krever at arbeidsgiverne betaler en rettferdig lønn som reflekterer arbeidstakernes kompetanse og innsats.
The trade unions demand that employers pay a fair wage that reflects the employees' competence and effort.
'Betale lønn' means 'to pay a salary/wage'.
Hvis vi ikke handler raskt, risikerer vi å måtte betale en uakseptabel høy pris for vår passivitet i møte med klimakrisen.
If we don't act quickly, we risk having to pay an unacceptably high price for our passivity in the face of the climate crisis.
'Betale en pris' means 'to pay a price', often metaphorically for consequences.
Historien har vist oss at frihet ofte må betales med store ofre og utholdenhet gjennom vanskelige tider.
History has shown us that freedom often must be paid for with great sacrifices and perseverance through difficult times.
Here, 'betales med' implies that something is the cost or sacrifice for achieving something else.
كيفية الاستخدام
How to use betale
Betale is a regular verb. Here's how it conjugates in the present tense:
- jeg betaler
- du betaler
- han/hun/det/den betaler
- vi betaler
- dere betaler
- de betaler
You'll often see betale used with prepositions like for (for) or med (with).
Examples:
- Jeg betaler for maten. (I pay for the food.)
- Kan jeg betale med kort? (Can I pay with card?)
- Vi må betale regningen. (We must pay the bill.)
Common mistakes with betale
A common mistake is forgetting the preposition for when you mean 'pay for something'. While in English you can say 'I pay the food', in Norwegian, you almost always need for.
Incorrect:
Jeg betaler maten.
Correct:
- Jeg betaler for maten. (I pay for the food.)
Another common mistake is confusing betale (to pay) with kjøpe (to buy). While related, they are not interchangeable.
Incorrect:
Jeg betaler en ny bil.(This would mean 'I pay a new car', not 'I buy a new car'.)
Correct:
- Jeg kjøper en ny bil. (I buy a new car.)
- Jeg betaler for den nye bilen. (I pay for the new car.)
اختبر نفسك 42 أسئلة
Jeg må ___ for maten. (I have to ___ for the food.)
You need to 'betale' (pay) for food.
Kan du ___ regningen? (Can you ___ the bill?)
You 'betale' (pay) a bill.
Vi skal ___ for kaffen. (We are going to ___ for the coffee.)
When you buy coffee, you 'betale' (pay) for it.
Hvor mye må jeg ___? (How much do I have to ___?)
This question asks about the amount to 'betale' (pay).
Jeg vil gjerne ___ med kort. (I would like to ___ with card.)
You 'betale' (pay) using a card.
De må ___ for billettene. (They have to ___ for the tickets.)
Tickets require you to 'betale' (pay).
What does the speaker need to do?
When should they pay?
What is the speaker asking about?
Read this aloud:
Jeg vil betale med kort.
Focus: betale, kort
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
Kan jeg betale kontant?
Focus: betale, kontant
قلت:
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Read this aloud:
Vi må betale regningen.
Focus: betale, regningen
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a short sentence about something you need to pay for when you travel. Use 'betale'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg må betale for billetten. (I have to pay for the ticket.)
Write a sentence describing a situation where someone paid with a credit card. Use 'betale med'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hun betaler med kort. (She pays with card.)
Imagine you are at a restaurant. Write a simple question asking if you can pay now. Use 'betale'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Kan jeg betale nå? (Can I pay now?)
Hva kjøper Kari i butikken?
Read this passage:
Kari går på butikken. Hun kjøper melk og brød. Det koster 50 kroner. Kari må betale. Hun betaler med bankkortet sitt.
Hva kjøper Kari i butikken?
The passage states: 'Hun kjøper melk og brød.' (She buys milk and bread.)
The passage states: 'Hun kjøper melk og brød.' (She buys milk and bread.)
Hvorfor må Per betale?
Read this passage:
Per skal reise til Bergen. Han må kjøpe en togbillett. Billetten er dyr, men Per har nok penger. Han kan betale for billetten.
Hvorfor må Per betale?
The passage says: 'Han må kjøpe en togbillett.' (He has to buy a train ticket.)
The passage says: 'Han må kjøpe en togbillett.' (He has to buy a train ticket.)
Hva skal familien Jensen gjøre nå?
Read this passage:
Familien Jensen spiser middag på restaurant. Maten var veldig god. Nå er de ferdige. Servitøren kommer og spør om de vil betale.
Hva skal familien Jensen gjøre nå?
The passage ends with: 'Servitøren kommer og spør om de vil betale.' (The waiter comes and asks if they want to pay.)
The passage ends with: 'Servitøren kommer og spør om de vil betale.' (The waiter comes and asks if they want to pay.)
The speaker needs to pay a bill.
Someone forgot their wallet and is asking for a favor.
They bought something expensive.
Read this aloud:
Jeg vil betale med kort, takk.
Focus: betale, kort
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hvor mye må jeg betale for dette?
Focus: hvor, mye, betale
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Skal vi betale nå, eller senere?
Focus: skal, betale, nå, senere
قلت:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This sentence means 'You must pay the bill before the deadline.' It's a common phrase when discussing payments.
This translates to 'We can pay with card or cash.' This is useful for understanding payment methods.
This sentence means 'She decided to pay down the loan earlier.' It demonstrates the use of 'betale ned' (to pay down/off).
Etter en lang og utmattende dag med shopping, var det en lettelse å endelig få ___ for alle varene vi hadde funnet.
In this context, 'få betalt' is a common expression meaning 'to pay' or 'to get something paid for'. The past participle 'betalt' is used here.
For å unngå forsinkelsesgebyrer, må du huske å ___ regningen innen forfallsdatoen.
The infinitive 'betale' is used after 'å' (to) to express the action of paying.
Selv om tjenesten var utmerket, syntes jeg prisen var litt høy, men jeg valgte å ___ uten å klage.
Here, 'å betale' (to pay) is used in an infinitive clause following 'å velge' (to choose).
Etter at avtalen var signert, gjensto det bare å ___ det avtalte beløpet for eiendommen.
The infinitive 'å betale' (to pay) is used to express the remaining action.
Det er viktig å alltid ___ for seg når man bruker offentlig transport, selv om det kan være fristende å snike.
'å betale for seg' is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to pay for oneself' or 'to pay one's own way'. The infinitive 'betale' is correct here.
Hun måtte ___ en betydelig sum for reparasjonen av bilen, noe som tømte sparekontoen hennes.
The infinitive 'betale' is used after 'måtte' (had to) to express obligation or necessity.
You are writing a formal email to a Norwegian utility company regarding an overdue bill. Explain that due to an unforeseen international banking error, your payment was delayed, but you have now rectified the situation and wish to pay immediately. Use 'betale' in your explanation.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg skriver angående den forfalne regningen. På grunn av en uforutsett internasjonal bankfeil ble min betaling forsinket. Jeg har nå rettet opp i dette og ønsker å betale umiddelbart for å unngå ytterligere gebyrer.
Describe a complex financial transaction involving multiple parties, such as a real estate purchase with a mortgage and several down payments. Explain how each party needs to 'betale' their share and the implications if payments are not made on time.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Ved et eiendomskjøp er det flere parter som må betale sin del. Kjøperen må betale egenkapital og senere avdrag på pantelånet. Selgeren må kanskje betale meglerhonorar, og staten krever dokumentavgift. Hvis disse betalingene ikke skjer i tide, kan det føre til forsinkelser i overtakelsen, renter på forfalte beløp, eller til og med at kjøpet heves.
Discuss the ethical dilemmas associated with companies that deliberately delay paying their suppliers to improve their own cash flow. Use 'betale' in your argument, focusing on the moral obligation to pay promptly.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Det oppstår etiske dilemmaer når selskaper bevisst forsinker å betale sine leverandører for å forbedre egen kontantstrøm. Selv om det kan virke økonomisk gunstig på kort sikt, bryter det med den moralske forpliktelsen til å betale for varer og tjenester innenfor avtalte frister. Dette kan skade små bedrifter og skape ustabilitet i forsyningskjeden.
Hvilket av følgende temaer er IKKE nevnt i passasjen i forbindelse med betaling?
Read this passage:
I en stadig mer digitalisert verden er spørsmålet om hvordan vi skal betale for varer og tjenester under konstant utvikling. Fra kontaktløse betalinger til kryptovaluta, endrer måten vi betaler på seg raskt. Dette reiser også spørsmål om personvern og datasikkerhet, ettersom stadig mer finansiell informasjon lagres digitalt.
Hvilket av følgende temaer er IKKE nevnt i passasjen i forbindelse med betaling?
Passasjen diskuterer kryptovaluta, personvern og kontantløs teknologi i forbindelse med betaling, men nevner ikke rentefrie lån.
Passasjen diskuterer kryptovaluta, personvern og kontantløs teknologi i forbindelse med betaling, men nevner ikke rentefrie lån.
Hva er et argument MOT direkte betaling for offentlige tjenester, ifølge passasjen?
Read this passage:
Debatten rundt hvorvidt vi bør betale for offentlige tjenester som helse og utdanning, eller om de bør være skattefinansiert, er kompleks. Argumenter for direkte betaling inkluderer økt effektivitet og personlig ansvar, mens motargumenter ofte peker på likhet og tilgjengelighet for alle, uavhengig av økonomisk status.
Hva er et argument MOT direkte betaling for offentlige tjenester, ifølge passasjen?
Passasjen sier at motargumenter mot direkte betaling ofte peker på likhet og tilgjengelighet for alle.
Passasjen sier at motargumenter mot direkte betaling ofte peker på likhet og tilgjengelighet for alle.
Hvilken utfordring er nevnt i passasjen i forbindelse med å betale internasjonalt?
Read this passage:
Ettersom den globale økonomien blir stadig mer sammenkoblet, blir også problemene med å betale internasjonalt mer fremtredende. Valutakursforskjeller, transaksjonsgebyrer og reguleringshindringer kan gjøre det komplisert og kostbart å betale over landegrensene. Nye teknologier og internasjonale avtaler søker å forenkle disse prosessene.
Hvilken utfordring er nevnt i passasjen i forbindelse med å betale internasjonalt?
Passasjen nevner valutakursforskjeller, transaksjonsgebyrer og reguleringshindringer som utfordringer ved internasjonal betaling.
Passasjen nevner valutakursforskjeller, transaksjonsgebyrer og reguleringshindringer som utfordringer ved internasjonal betaling.
/ 42 correct
Perfect score!
محتوى ذو صلة
هذه الكلمة بلغات أخرى
قواعد ذات صلة
مزيد من كلمات business
angående
B1Regarding or concerning.
anmodning
B2A formal request or plea for action.
avklaringsprosess
C1a process of clarification
avtale
B1An agreement or a scheduled appointment
avvikle
B2To bring to an end or close down
bank
A2a financial institution
bedrift
B1A business or company
behovsanalyse
C1an analysis of needs or requirements
betingelse
B1A condition or term for an agreement
budsjett
B1A financial plan for spending
