lykkes
lykkes in 30 Seconds
- Lykkes means 'to succeed' and is an s-verb in Norwegian.
- It is always used with the 's' ending in active sentences.
- Commonly used with the preposition 'med' for specific tasks.
- It is different from 'lykkelig' (happy) and 'lykke' (luck).
The Norwegian verb lykkes is a fascinating and essential component of the language, particularly for learners at the B1 level and above. At its core, it translates to 'to succeed' or 'to achieve a desired result.' However, its grammatical structure is unique because it is an 's-verb'—a verb that ends in -s in its infinitive form and does not follow the standard active voice patterns found in English. When you use lykkes, you are describing the outcome of an endeavor, often implying that the success was the result of effort, skill, or sometimes even a bit of fortune. It is used in both professional and personal contexts, ranging from successfully completing a difficult exam to successfully baking a complex cake. Understanding lykkes requires a shift in perspective for English speakers, as the subject of the sentence is the person or entity achieving the result, but the verb itself carries a sense of 'it happened successfully for me.'
- Core Meaning
- To succeed in a task, goal, or ambition; to have a positive outcome.
- Grammatical Category
- A deponent or 's-verb' that functions intransitively, often requiring the preposition 'med' (with).
Hun lyktes med å overbevise styret om den nye strategien.
In daily Norwegian life, lykkes is frequently heard in media reports about business ventures, sports achievements, and political negotiations. It carries a more formal or definitive weight than the more common verb klare (to manage/cope). While klare suggests the ability to perform a task, lykkes emphasizes the fulfillment of the goal itself. For instance, you might 'klare' to wake up early, but you 'lykkes' in your career. This distinction is vital for achieving a natural-sounding flow in your Norwegian. Furthermore, the word is deeply tied to the concept of 'lykke' (luck/happiness), though in modern usage, lykkes is almost exclusively about achievement rather than random chance. When someone says 'Jeg håper du lykkes,' they are offering a sincere wish for your success in a specific undertaking.
- Social Nuance
- Using this word implies a level of respect for the effort put into the achievement.
Prosjektet lykkes over all forventning.
Mastering the usage of lykkes involves understanding its prepositional requirements and its impersonal constructions. The most common pattern is å lykkes med noe (to succeed with something). This 'med' is non-negotiable when you are specifying the activity or object of your success. For example, 'Han lyktes med eksamen' (He succeeded with the exam). Another common construction is the impersonal use, often seen in more formal or literary contexts: 'Det lyktes ham å...' (It succeeded for him to...). In this case, 'det' acts as a dummy subject, and the real focus is the action that follows. This is slightly more advanced but provides a sophisticated tone to your writing.
- Common Pattern 1
- [Subject] + lykkes + med + [Noun/Gerund]
- Common Pattern 2
- Det + lykkes + [Object Pronoun] + å + [Infinitive]
Vi må jobbe hardt for å lykkes i det internasjonale markedet.
Note that while 'med' is used for specific tasks, 'i' (in) is often used for broader domains, such as 'å lykkes i livet' (to succeed in life) or 'å lykkes i arbeidsmarkedet' (to succeed in the job market). This distinction between 'med' and 'i' is a hallmark of a B1-B2 level speaker. Additionally, lykkes is often used in the present perfect to describe a completed achievement: 'Har du lyktes med å finne en ny leilighet?' (Have you succeeded in finding a new apartment?). Because it is an 's-verb', many learners mistakenly try to add a passive ending or treat it like a regular verb, but the 's' is part of the root in all active meanings. It is also important to contrast lykkes with its antonym mislykkes (to fail), which follows the exact same grammatical rules.
Det lyktes dem ikke å nå toppen av fjellet.
In the real world, lykkes is a staple of motivational speaking, business journalism, and educational feedback. If you are watching the Norwegian news (NRK), you will frequently hear reporters discuss whether a government policy lyktes or if a peace negotiation lykkes. It is a word of high stakes. In a corporate environment, a manager might say, 'For at vi skal lykkes, må alle bidra' (For us to succeed, everyone must contribute). This highlights the collective nature of success often emphasized in Scandinavian workplace culture. It is less about individual glory and more about the successful outcome of the group's efforts.
- News & Media
- Reporting on economic growth, sports results, and political outcomes.
- Education
- Teachers encouraging students to find methods that help them succeed.
Norske utøvere lykkes ofte i vinter-OL.
You will also encounter lykkes in literature and podcasts discussing personal development. The phrase 'oppskriften på å lykkes' (the recipe for success) is a common cliché in self-help contexts. In more intimate settings, friends might use it to encourage one another before a job interview: 'Jeg er sikker på at du kommer til å lykkes!' (I am sure you are going to succeed!). Interestingly, while Norwegian culture is often associated with 'Janteloven' (the Law of Jante, which discourages individual boasting), the word lykkes remains a positive and celebrated term, as it often refers to the successful execution of a plan rather than just being 'better' than others. It is about fulfillment and reaching goals.
For å lykkes som gründer må man ha tålmodighet.
The most frequent mistake English speakers make with lykkes is treating it as a transitive verb. In English, you can 'succeed someone' (though usually 'succeed to') or 'succeed in a task.' In Norwegian, you cannot 'lykkes en oppgave.' You must always use a preposition like 'med' or 'i.' Another major hurdle is the confusion between the verb lykkes and the adjective lykkelig (happy). While they share a root, they are not interchangeable. Saying 'Jeg er lykkes' is grammatically incorrect; you likely mean 'Jeg er lykkelig' (I am happy) or 'Jeg har lyktes' (I have succeeded).
- Mistake 1: Missing Preposition
- Incorrect: 'Jeg lyktes planen.' Correct: 'Jeg lyktes med planen.'
- Mistake 2: Confusing with 'Happy'
- Incorrect: 'Han er en lykkes mann.' Correct: 'Han er en lykkelig mann' (happy) or 'Han er en vellykket mann' (successful).
Det er lett å blande lykkes og 'klare'.
Furthermore, learners often struggle with the past tense lyktes. Because it ends in -es, some think it is a passive form of a verb 'å lykke.' However, 'å lykke' does not exist as a standalone verb in modern Norwegian. The -s is an integral part of the verb's identity. Another subtle error is using lykkes when fungere (to work/function) is more appropriate. If a machine works, it 'fungerer'; if a person achieves a goal, they 'lykkes.' Finally, be careful with the word order in subordinate clauses. Since 'lykkes' is an s-verb, it follows standard V2 rules in main clauses but can be tricky when combined with auxiliary verbs like 'vil' or 'skal'. Always remember: 'Jeg vil lykkes' (I want to succeed).
Mange mislykkes fordi de gir opp for tidlig.
While lykkes is a powerful word, Norwegian offers several alternatives depending on the nuance you wish to convey. The most common synonym is å klare. While lykkes implies a successful outcome of a goal, klare is more about the ability to handle or manage a situation. 'Jeg klarte det!' (I managed it!) is much more common in casual speech than 'Jeg lyktes!'. Another alternative is å mestre, which means 'to master' or 'to be proficient at.' If you succeed in learning a language, you might say you 'lykkes med språket,' but if you have achieved high proficiency, you 'mestrer språket.'
- Lykkes vs. Klare
- 'Lykkes' is about the result; 'Klare' is about the effort and ability to overcome an obstacle.
- Lykkes vs. Oppnå
- 'Oppnå' (to achieve/attain) is usually used with specific objects like 'oppnå resultater' (achieve results) or 'oppnå enighet' (reach an agreement).
Han mestrer kunsten å lytte, noe som gjør at han lykkes som leder.
In academic or formal writing, you might see å ha fremgang (to have progress) or å bære frukter (to bear fruit/yield results). These provide more imagery. For instance, 'Arbeidet begynner å bære frukter' (The work is starting to bear fruit) is a poetic way of saying 'Vi lykkes nå.' Additionally, å gjennomføre (to carry through/complete) is often used when the focus is on finishing a planned task. If you successfully complete a marathon, you 'gjennomfører' it. If the overall experience was a success for you personally, you 'lyktes.' Choosing between these words depends on whether you want to emphasize the process (klare), the skill (mestre), the specific goal (oppnå), or the overall outcome (lykkes).
- Vellykket (Adjective)
- Use this to describe a successful event or person: 'En vellykket fest' (A successful party).
Vi håper å oppnå bedre resultater neste kvartal.
Fun Fact
The 's' at the end of 'lykkes' is a remnant of an old reflexive pronoun 'sik' (self), which eventually merged with the verb to create deponent forms.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing 'y' like the English 'i' in 'lick'.
- Making the 's' sound like a 'z'.
- Forgetting the double 'k' stop.
- Adding a 't' in the present tense (lykkes, not lykkest).
- Over-enunciating the 'e' at the end.
Examples by Level
Jeg vil lykkes.
I want to succeed.
Present tense of an s-verb.
Hun lykkes ofte.
She succeeds often.
The 's' is part of the verb, not a plural marker.
Vi lykkes sammen.
We succeed together.
S-verbs don't change for plural subjects.
Lykkes du?
Are you succeeding?
Question form using inversion.
De lykkes med det.
They succeed with it.
Uses the preposition 'med'.
Han håper å lykkes.
He hopes to succeed.
Infinitive form after 'å'.
Det er bra å lykkes.
It is good to succeed.
Infinitive as a subject complement.
Jeg lykkes nå.
I am succeeding now.
Present tense indicating ongoing success.
Jeg lyktes med oppgaven.
I succeeded with the assignment.
Past tense 'lyktes'.
Han lyktes med å bake kake.
He succeeded in baking a cake.
Med + å + infinitive.
Vi lyktes ikke i går.
We did not succeed yesterday.
Negative 'ikke' placed after the verb.
Hun har lyktes mange ganger.
She has succeeded many times.
Present perfect tense.
Lyktes dere med prosjektet?
Did you (plural) succeed with the project?
Past tense question.
Det var vanskelig å lykkes.
It was difficult to succeed.
Infinitive after an adjective.
Jeg prøver å lykkes.
I am trying to succeed.
Infinitive after 'prøver'.
Hun vil gjerne lykkes i sport.
She would like to succeed in sports.
Preposition 'i' for a general area.
Bedriften lykkes i det nye markedet.
The company is succeeding in the new market.
Present tense in a business context.
Har du lyktes med å finne en jobb?
Have you succeeded in finding a job?
Present perfect with an infinitive clause.
De lyktes til slutt etter mye strev.
They succeeded at last after much struggle.
Adverbial phrase 'til slutt'.
Det er ikke alltid lett å lykkes.
It is not always easy to succeed.
Impersonal 'det' construction.
Hvis vi samarbeider, vil vi lykkes.
If we cooperate, we will succeed.
Conditional 'hvis' clause.
Hun lykkes med alt hun gjør.
She succeeds with everything she does.
Present tense with 'alt'.
Målet er at alle skal lykkes.
The goal is that everyone shall succeed.
Subordinate clause with 'at'.
Vi lyktes med å redusere kostnadene.
We succeeded in reducing the costs.
Past tense with gerund-like infinitive.
Forfatteren lykkes med å skape spenning.
The author succeeds in creating tension.
Literary analysis context.
Det lyktes ham å overvinne frykten.
He succeeded in overcoming his fear.
Formal impersonal construction.
Sannsynligheten for å lykkes er stor.
The probability of succeeding is high.
Noun + preposition + infinitive.
De lyktes i å finne en fredelig løsning.
They succeeded in finding a peaceful solution.
Preposition 'i' before an infinitive clause.
Uten din hjelp ville vi ikke lyktes.
Without your help, we would not have succeeded.
Conditional 'ville' + perfect participle.
Han lykkes i rollen som far.
He succeeds in the role of a father.
Abstract area of success.
Prosjektet lyktes over all forventning.
The project succeeded beyond all expectation.
Idiomatic expression 'over all forventning'.
Det er avgjørende å lykkes med integreringen.
It is crucial to succeed with the integration.
Formal social context.
Regjeringen lyktes i å dempe inflasjonen.
The government succeeded in curbing inflation.
Political/Economic register.
Det lyktes aldri motparten å bevise skyld.
The opposing party never succeeded in proving guilt.
Legal register with impersonal construction.
Hvorvidt man lykkes, avhenger av innsatsen.
Whether one succeeds depends on the effort.
Subordinate clause starting with 'hvorvidt'.
Filmen lykkes i å fange tidsånden.
The film succeeds in capturing the zeitgeist.
Cultural criticism register.
Han lyktes med sitt forsett om å slutte å røyke.
He succeeded in his intention to quit smoking.
Formal word 'forsett' (intention).
Det lyktes dem å avverge en katastrofe.
They succeeded in averting a catastrophe.
High-stakes narrative context.
For å lykkes som forsker kreves det tålmodighet.
To succeed as a researcher, patience is required.
Infinitive phrase as a prerequisite.
Man kan spørre seg om han egentlig lyktes.
One can wonder whether he actually succeeded.
Reflexive verb 'spørre seg' with 'om' clause.
Verket lykkes i sin ambisjon om å dekonstruere myten.
The work succeeds in its ambition to deconstruct the myth.
Academic/Philosophical register.
Det lyktes ham omsider å forsone seg med fortiden.
He finally succeeded in reconciling with his past.
Literary/Psychological depth.
Eksperimentet lyktes, til tross for de metodiske manglene.
The experiment succeeded, despite the methodical deficiencies.
Scientific register with concessive phrase.
I hvilken grad lykkes vi egentlig med å verne om demokratiet?
To what extent do we actually succeed in protecting democracy?
Complex interrogative structure.
Det lyktes sjelden diktatoren å kue folkeviljen.
The dictator seldom succeeded in suppressing the will of the people.
Historical/Political analysis.
Hun lyktes i å navigere det intrikate sosiale landskapet.
She succeeded in navigating the intricate social landscape.
Metaphorical usage.
Skulle vi ikke lykkes, vil konsekvensene bli fatale.
Should we not succeed, the consequences will be fatal.
Inverted conditional clause (subjunctive-like).
Det lyktes ham å formidle det uutsigelige gjennom musikk.
He succeeded in conveying the ineffable through music.
Highly abstract/Poetic register.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— To have a successful and fulfilling life generally.
Hva betyr det egentlig å lykkes i livet?
— To successfully complete a specific work project.
Vi må samarbeide for å lykkes med prosjektet.
— To be successful in a specific role or profession.
Hun lyktes som skuespiller i Hollywood.
— To succeed on the first try.
Han lyktes med å bestå førerprøven på første forsøk.
— To have more success than before or than someone else.
Vi håper å lykkes bedre neste gang.
— To find success in the international arena.
Mange norske band drømmer om å lykkes internasjonalt.
— The joy that comes from succeeding at something.
Gleden ved å lykkes er verdt alt slitet.
— The will or determination to succeed.
Uten viljen til å lykkes kommer man ikke langt.
Idioms & Expressions
— When efforts start to show successful results.
Arbeidet begynner endelig å bære frukter.
Literary— To succeed in saying or doing exactly the right thing.
Der traff du spikeren på hodet!
Informal— To be successful due to a mix of skill and luck.
Han hadde hellet med seg og lyktes med investeringen.
Neutral— When things are going successfully or as planned.
Det ser ut til at alt går veien for oss nå.
Informal— To have extraordinary success or luck.
Hun skjøt gullfuglen med den nye jobben.
Informal— To succeed in finishing a difficult task.
Vi kom endelig i mål med forhandlingene.
Neutral— To be a success (often used for songs, movies, or ideas).
Den nye sangen slo virkelig an hos publikum.
Neutral— To start experiencing success and momentum.
Partiet har fått vind i seilene før valget.
Metaphorical— To perform very well or succeed significantly.
Han gjorde det skarpt på prøven.
Informal— To be in a successful position of power.
De lyktes fordi de satt med trumf på hånd.
NeutralWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Luck-S'. You need 'LUCK' to 'SUCCEED' (Lykke-S). If you have luck, you lykkes!
Visual Association
Imagine a person standing on a ladder (representing effort) reaching for a star (representing success/lykke). The ladder is shaped like an 'S'.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down three things you have lyktes med this week, and one thing you hope to lykkes med next month.
Word Origin
Derived from the Middle Low German word 'lucken', which entered the Scandinavian languages during the Hanseatic period. It is closely related to the noun 'lykke'.
Original meaning: Originally meant 'to happen' or 'to turn out', often implying a favorable turn of events.
GermanicCultural Context
Be careful not to confuse 'lykkes' with 'lykkelig' when talking about people's emotions; focus on their achievements.
English speakers often use 'succeed' transitively ('I succeeded him'), which 'lykkes' cannot do. In English, 'luck' and 'success' are separate roots, whereas in Norwegian, they share the root 'lykke'.
Summary
The verb 'lykkes' is the primary way to express success in Norwegian. Remember it is an s-verb (lykkes-lyktes-lyktes) and usually needs 'med' for the object of success. Example: 'Jeg lyktes med oppgaven' (I succeeded with the task).
- Lykkes means 'to succeed' and is an s-verb in Norwegian.
- It is always used with the 's' ending in active sentences.
- Commonly used with the preposition 'med' for specific tasks.
- It is different from 'lykkelig' (happy) and 'lykke' (luck).
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