B1 verb Neutre 3 min de lecture

hent

/hɛnt/

Overview

The Norwegian verb 'hent' is a versatile and commonly used word that translates to several English verbs, primarily 'to fetch,' 'to collect,' 'to pick up,' and 'to retrieve.' Its specific meaning in a given context often depends on the surrounding words and the overall situation.

Core Meaning and Usage:

At its core, 'hent' implies the act of going to a location or a person to get something or someone and bring them back. It suggests a movement towards an object or person, acquiring it, and then moving away with it.

Common Scenarios and Nuances:

  1. 1Fetching (going and bringing back): This is perhaps the most direct translation. It's used when someone is sent or goes to get something from a specific place and return with it.
  • Example: 'Kan du hente melk i butikken?' (Can you fetch milk from the store?)
  • Example: 'Jeg må hente barna i barnehagen.' (I have to pick up/fetch the children from kindergarten.)
  1. 1Collecting (gathering items): 'Hent' can also mean to gather multiple items or to collect something that has been left somewhere.
  • Example: 'Vi må hente avisen fra postkassen.' (We have to collect the newspaper from the mailbox.)
  • Example: 'Hent alle lekene dine!' (Collect all your toys!)
  1. 1Picking up (from a location/person): Similar to fetching, but often used when referring to picking up people or items from a specific point.
  • Example: 'Jeg kommer og henter deg klokken fem.' (I will come and pick you up at five o'clock.)
  • Example: 'De skal hente pakken på postkontoret.' (They are going to pick up the package at the post office.)
  1. 1Retrieving (getting back something lost or stored): When something has been misplaced, lost, or stored away, 'hent' can be used to describe the act of getting it back.
  • Example: 'Jeg må hente passet mitt fra banken.' (I need to retrieve my passport from the bank.)
  • Example: 'Han hentet ballen fra buskene.' (He retrieved the ball from the bushes.)

Grammatical Considerations:

  • Infinitive: hente
  • Present tense: henter
  • Past tense: hentet
  • Present perfect: har hentet

Phrasal Verbs and Common Expressions:

  • Hente opp: To pick up (from a lower position), to retrieve from a depth.
  • Example: 'Hente opp vann fra brønnen.' (To draw water from the well.)
  • Hente frem: To bring out, to take out, to retrieve (from storage).
  • Example: 'Hente frem gamle minner.' (To bring forth old memories.)
  • Hente inn: To bring in, to collect (e.g., money, harvest).
  • Example: 'Hente inn avling.' (To bring in the harvest.)

Understanding 'hent' requires paying attention to the context, as its meaning is quite flexible. It's a fundamental verb in Norwegian, essential for describing everyday actions involving acquisition and movement.

Exemples

1

Kan du hente barnet i barnehagen?

Children

Can you pick up the child from kindergarten?

2

Jeg må hente pakken på postkontoret.

Packages/Mail

I need to collect the package from the post office.

3

Hent deg en kopp kaffe.

Self-service

Fetch yourself a cup of coffee.

4

Politiet hentet inn bevis.

Investigation

The police collected evidence.

5

Hvor kan jeg hente billettene?

Tickets

Where can I collect the tickets?

Collocations courantes

hente vann
hente barn
hente pusten
hente frem

Souvent confondu avec

hent vs hente

Inflectional form, 'hente' is the infinitive and present tense, while 'hent' is the imperative form.

Modèles grammaticaux

**Hent** boka fra hylla. Kan du **hent**e meg på stasjonen? Jeg må **hent**e pakken på postkontoret.

Comment l'utiliser

'Hent' is a regular verb in Norwegian, conjugated as 'henter' (present), 'hentet' (past simple), and 'har hentet' (present perfect). It's crucial to understand that 'hent' implies bringing something or someone from one place to another, often back to the speaker or a designated location. It can be used for both animate and inanimate objects. For instance, 'hent en bok' (fetch a book) or 'hent en venn' (pick up a friend). While 'collect' in English can sometimes imply gathering multiple items, 'hent' can be used for a single item as well. It's generally used in a positive or neutral context. There isn't a strong informal/formal distinction for this particular verb; it's suitable for most social situations. Be mindful of prepositions; often, 'fra' (from) or 'på' (at/on) will follow to specify the origin of what is being fetched or collected.

Erreurs courantes

One common mistake might be confusing 'hent' with 'hente', which is the infinitive form. Another could be misapplying it in contexts where 'bring' or 'get' might be more appropriate in English, but 'hent' specifically implies going to a location to retrieve something. For example, you 'hente' a book from the shelf, but you 'bringer' a book with you to a friend's house. Always consider the nuance of actively going to collect.

Astuces

💡

Word details

'Hent' in Norwegian generally means 'to fetch' or 'to collect.' It's a versatile verb used in various contexts, from retrieving objects to picking up people.

💡

Common pitfalls

A common mistake is confusing 'hent' with 'ta' (to take). While sometimes interchangeable, 'hent' implies bringing something from one place to another, often with a purpose, whereas 'ta' can be more general. For instance, you 'henter' a book from the shelf to read it, but you 'tar' a book from the table if you just want to move it.

💡

Contextual use

The meaning of 'hent' can subtly shift based on context. For example, 'å hente vann' means 'to fetch water,' 'å hente noen i bilen' means 'to pick someone up in the car,' and 'å hente pusten' is an idiom meaning 'to catch one's breath.' Always consider the surrounding words to grasp the precise meaning.

Origine du mot

From Old Norse 'hepta', meaning 'to seize, to hold'. This verb shares a common Germanic root with words like English 'hunt' (though with a shift in meaning) and German 'holen' (to fetch). Over time, the meaning in Norwegian evolved to specifically refer to the act of going to a place or person to retrieve something or someone, emphasizing the movement involved in the collection rather than just the act of seizing. The 'p' in 'hepta' assimilated to 't' in later Old Norse and early Norwegian, a common phonological development. The word has been consistently used in Scandinavian languages for centuries with this core meaning, illustrating its deep roots in the linguistic history of the region. It is a strong, common verb in modern Norwegian, used in a wide variety of contexts from fetching objects to picking up people.

Contexte culturel

The Norwegian word 'hent' is a versatile verb meaning 'to fetch' or 'to collect.' In a cultural context, its usage often reflects the practical and straightforward nature of Norwegian communication. It's commonly used in everyday situations, from asking someone to fetch an item from another room to collecting children from school or picking up groceries. There isn't a deep historical or ceremonial significance attached to 'hent' itself, but its frequent appearance in daily life underscores a culture that values efficiency and directness. For example, you might hear a parent say 'Kan du hente barna i barnehagen?' (Can you fetch the children from kindergarten?) or 'Jeg skal hente pakken på postkontoret' (I will collect the package from the post office).

Astuce mémo

Think of 'hent' sounding a bit like 'hunt'. When you hunt, you fetch or collect something. So, 'hent' = to fetch/collect.

Questions fréquentes

4 questions

In Norwegian, 'hent' is a versatile verb that primarily means 'to fetch' or 'to collect'. It can be used in various contexts, such as fetching an object, collecting a person, or retrieving something from a specific location. The specific nuance often depends on the context of the sentence in which it is used. For example, 'å hente vann' means 'to fetch water', and 'å hente barna i barnehagen' means 'to collect the children from kindergarten'.

The verb 'hent' is a regular verb in Norwegian. Its conjugation follows a common pattern. The present tense is 'henter' (e.g., 'Jeg henter boken' - 'I am fetching the book'). The past tense (preteritum) is 'hentet' (e.g., 'Jeg hentet boken i går' - 'I fetched the book yesterday'). The present perfect (presens perfektum) is 'har hentet' (e.g., 'Jeg har hentet boken' - 'I have fetched the book'). The past perfect (preteritum perfektum) is 'hadde hentet' (e.g., 'Jeg hadde hentet boken før du kom' - 'I had fetched the book before you came').

Yes, 'hent' is commonly used when referring to picking someone up, whether it's from a location like a school, airport, or another meeting point. For instance, you would say 'Jeg skal hente deg på flyplassen' to mean 'I will pick you up at the airport' or 'Kan du hente barna etter skolen?' for 'Can you pick up the children after school?' This usage is very natural and frequently heard in everyday Norwegian conversations.

Absolutely! 'Hent' appears in several common Norwegian phrases. 'Å hente seg inn' means 'to recover' or 'to catch up,' often used in the context of regaining strength or making up for lost time. Another expression is 'å hente pusten,' which translates to 'to catch one's breath.' You might also hear 'å hente fram' meaning 'to bring out' or 'to produce' something. These phrases illustrate the broader applicability of the verb beyond its literal translation of fetching or collecting.

Teste-toi

fill blank

Kan du ____ boken fra hyllen?

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
fill blank

Hun måtte ____ barna fra skolen.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
fill blank

Vi skal ____ pakken på postkontoret.

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :

Score : /3

C'tait utile ?
Pas encore de commentaires. Soyez le premier à partager vos idées !