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B2 verb 10 min read

tillate

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips tillate in 30 Seconds

Explanation tillate in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'tillate' is a bit advanced. Beginners usually learn 'la' (let) first. However, you might see 'Ikke tillatt' (Not allowed) on signs. Think of it as a 'big word' for 'no'. You don't need to know how to conjugate it yet, just recognize that 'tillatt' means something is okay to do and 'ikke tillatt' means it is not okay. It's like a traffic light: green is tillatt, red is ikke tillatt.

At A2, you start to see 'tillate' in simple sentences about rules. You might learn that 'Læreren tillater ikke tyggis' (The teacher doesn't allow gum). You are beginning to understand that 'tillate' is more formal than 'la'. You should learn the basic present tense 'tillater'. You also start to see it in digital contexts, like when your phone asks to 'tillate' an app to see your photos.

By B1, you should be able to use 'tillate' in the past tense ('tillot') and present perfect ('har tillatt'). You understand the difference between 'la' and 'tillate'—that 'tillate' is for official things. You can also use the reflexive form 'tillate seg' to say 'I allow myself' or 'I afford'. You know that you must use 'å' after 'tillate' (tillate noen å gjøre noe).

At B2, you use 'tillate' fluently in formal writing and discussions. You understand the nuances of 'hvis tiden tillater det' (if time permits) and can use the word in academic or professional contexts. You are comfortable with the passive construction 'det er tillatt' and can explain complex rules using this verb. You also know related nouns like 'tillatelse' (permission).

At C1, you use 'tillate' to express subtle social meanings. You might use 'Jeg tillater meg å tvile' (I take the liberty of doubting) to be politely critical. You understand how the word is used in legal texts and high-level political debates. You can distinguish it clearly from 'innvilge', 'godkjenne', and 'autorisere' and choose the most precise word for the situation.

At the C2 level, 'tillate' is a tool for precise expression in philosophical, legal, or highly technical discourse. You understand the historical development of the word and its place in Norwegian administrative language. You can use it to discuss abstract concepts like 'hva moralen tillater' (what morality permits) and navigate the most formal social situations with ease, using the verb with perfect tone and register.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

tillate in 30 Seconds

Tillate means to permit or allow, used primarily in formal, legal, or official contexts to describe what is authorized by rules or authorities.
It is an irregular verb: tillater (present), tillot (past), tillatt (past participle). The past participle is often used as an adjective meaning 'permitted'.
It requires the infinitive marker 'å' when followed by another verb (e.g., tillate noen å gå), unlike the casual synonym 'la'.
The reflexive form 'tillate seg' can mean to afford something financially/temporally or to take the liberty of doing something bold or polite.

The Norwegian verb tillate is a cornerstone of formal and semi-formal communication, primarily used to express the act of giving permission, authorizing an action, or letting something occur within a specific set of rules or boundaries. While the simpler verb la (to let) is ubiquitous in daily conversation for casual permission, tillate carries a weight of authority and officiality. It is the word you will encounter in legal documents, workplace policies, and academic discourse. Understanding tillate is essential for B2 learners because it signifies a transition from basic communicative competence to a more nuanced grasp of social hierarchy and formal regulations in Norwegian society.

Formal Authorization: This is the primary use case where an authority figure or a governing body grants the right to do something. For example, 'Kommunen vil ikke tillate bygging i dette området' (The municipality will not permit building in this area). Here, the permission is not a personal favor but a legal determination.
Reflexive Usage (Tillate seg): When used reflexively, å tillate seg noe means to afford something or to take the liberty of doing something. It often relates to luxury, time, or social boldness. 'Jeg kan ikke tillate meg en ferie nå' implies a lack of resources or time rather than a lack of legal permission.
Passive Acceptance: Sometimes, tillate implies letting something happen without interference, often in a scientific or technical context. 'Eksperimentet tillater oss å se reaksjonen i sanntid' (The experiment allows us to see the reaction in real time).

Reglementet vil ikke tillate unntak fra denne regelen under noen omstendigheter.

Translation: The regulations will not permit exceptions to this rule under any circumstances.

In Norwegian culture, which values egalitarianism but also strict adherence to social contracts (the 'dugnad' spirit and 'lovlydighet'), the word tillate acts as a gatekeeper. When a Norwegian says 'Det er ikke tillatt,' it is often an objective statement about the rules rather than a personal confrontation. This distinction is vital for English speakers who might perceive 'not allowed' as more personal or flexible. In Norway, if something is not tillatt, the discussion is usually over.

Vi kan ikke tillate at slike feil skjer igjen i fremtiden.

Social Etiquette: In social settings, you might hear 'Tillater De?' in very formal, old-fashioned contexts, similar to 'May I?'. However, in modern Norway, this is largely replaced by 'Er det greit?' or 'Går det bra?'.

Ultimately, mastering tillate allows you to navigate the structured aspects of Norwegian life—from understanding signs in public parks ('Røyking ikke tillatt') to negotiating terms in a professional contract. It bridges the gap between simple 'yes/no' permissions and the complex regulatory framework of a modern Nordic state.

Using tillate correctly requires an understanding of both its syntactical structures and its semantic range. It is most commonly followed by an object and an infinitive with 'å', or by a noun phrase. Because it is a transitive verb, it usually needs something or someone to receive the permission.

Structure: Tillate + Person + å + Verb: This is the standard way to say you permit someone to do something. 'De tillot ham å gå' (They permitted him to leave). Note that in casual speech, Norwegians often drop the 'å' after 'la', but after 'tillate', the 'å' is mandatory. This is a common point of confusion for learners moving from A2 to B2.
Structure: Tillate + Noun: You can permit an abstract concept or an object. 'Loven tillater unntak' (The law permits exceptions). This is concise and professional.
The Passive Form: Tillatt: The past participle tillatt is frequently used as an adjective. 'Det er ikke tillatt å parkere her' (It is not permitted to park here). This is arguably the most common way you will see the word in the wild.

Hvis tiden tillater det, skal vi besøke museet også.

If time permits, we shall visit the museum as well.

When using the reflexive form tillate seg, the meaning shifts slightly towards 'affording' or 'taking liberties'. For example: 'Jeg tillot meg å rette på feilen din' (I took the liberty of correcting your mistake). This is a polite but assertive way to explain an action that might otherwise be seen as intrusive.

Hun tillot seg aldri å slappe av før arbeidet var ferdig.

In academic writing, tillate is often used to describe what a certain methodology or set of data enables. 'Denne metoden tillater en mer nøyaktig analyse' (This method allows for a more accurate analysis). This usage elevates your Norwegian from basic descriptions to sophisticated argumentation.

Negation: When negating, ikke usually follows the verb: 'Vi tillater ikke hunder i butikken.' In subordinate clauses, 'ikke' comes before the verb: '...fordi vi ikke tillater hunder.'

To truly master tillate, you must recognize the environments where it thrives. It is not a word you'll hear every five minutes in a casual café conversation, but it is ubiquitous in specific spheres of Norwegian life.

Public Signage and Announcements: Walk through any Norwegian city and you will see 'Adgang ikke tillatt' (No entry) or 'Sykling tillatt' (Cycling permitted). In these contexts, the word functions as a cold, objective statement of law or policy. It removes the 'person' from the rule, making it feel like a universal truth rather than a personal whim.
Legal and Political News: When watching NRK (the national broadcaster) or reading Aftenposten, you'll hear politicians debating what the state should tillate. 'Bør vi tillate aktiv dødshjelp?' (Should we permit euthanasia?) or 'Regjeringen tillater mer oljeleting' (The government permits more oil exploration). Here, it is the language of power and governance.

Retten kan ikke tillate at beviset legges frem for juryen.

The court cannot permit the evidence to be presented to the jury.

In the Norwegian workplace, tillate appears in HR manuals and during formal performance reviews. If you are asking for a leave of absence (permisjon), the formal response will likely involve this verb. 'Vi kan tillate en ukes ulønnet permisjon' (We can permit one week of unpaid leave). It signals that the decision has been made based on company policy.

Another place you'll encounter it is in technical manuals or software interfaces. If you're setting up a Norwegian phone, you'll see prompts like: 'Vil du tillate at denne appen bruker posisjonen din?' (Do you want to allow this app to use your location?). This is a direct translation of the English 'allow', and it's the standard term for digital permissions.

Vær så snill og tillat varslinger for å få de siste oppdateringene.

Finally, in literature and high-register drama, characters might use tillate to show deference or sarcasm. 'Tillater De at jeg setter meg?' (Will you permit me to sit?) can sound incredibly polite or bitingly ironic depending on the tone of voice, highlighting the word's inherent connection to social standing and boundaries.

Even advanced learners often stumble when using tillate because it sits in a cluster of similar-sounding or similar-meaning verbs. Avoiding these pitfalls is key to sounding like a native speaker.

Confusing 'Tillate' with 'La': While both mean 'to let/allow', la is for casual situations ('La meg se!') and tillate is for formal ones. Using tillate when asking a friend to pass the salt would sound absurdly robotic.
Forgetting the 'å': This is the most frequent grammatical error. With la, you say: 'Han lot meg gå' (No 'å'). With tillate, you MUST say: 'Han tillot meg å gå'. Leaving out the infinitive marker is a tell-tale sign of a non-native speaker.
Spelling: Tillatt vs. Tillat: The imperative (command) is tillat (one 't' at the end). The past participle (permitted) is tillatt (two 't's). This subtle difference is often missed in writing.

Feil: Han tillot meg gå hjem tidlig.
Riktig: Han tillot meg å gå hjem tidlig.

Another mistake involves the reflexive 'seg'. Learners often forget to change 'seg' to match the subject. 'Jeg tillot meg' (I allowed myself), 'Du tillot deg' (You allowed yourself), 'Vi tillot oss' (We allowed ourselves). Using 'seg' for all subjects is a common B1-level error that persists into B2.

Det er ikke tillatt å mate fuglene her.

Note the double 't' in 'tillatt' because it's a participle/adjective here.

Finally, be careful with the word tilstå (to confess), which sounds vaguely similar but has an entirely different meaning. Mixing these up in a legal or police context could lead to significant misunderstandings!

To expand your vocabulary, it is helpful to look at words that occupy the same semantic space as tillate. Depending on the context, one of these might be a more precise choice.

La vs. Tillate

La: Informal, used for physical actions or casual permission. 'La barna leke' (Let the children play).

Tillate: Formal, used for rules, laws, and official permissions. 'Skolen tillater ikke mobilbruk' (The school does not permit mobile use).

Godkjenne vs. Tillate

Godkjenne: To approve or authorize a plan, document, or application. 'Søknaden ble godkjent' (The application was approved).

Tillate: To permit an action. You 'godkjenner' a blueprint so that you can 'tillate' the construction.

Innvilge vs. Tillate

Innvilge: To grant (usually a request, a loan, or a visa). 'De innvilget ham asyl' (They granted him asylum). This is even more formal than tillate.

Vi kan ikke akseptere denne oppførselen, selv om reglene tillater den.

We cannot accept this behavior, even though the rules permit it.

In some cases, muliggjøre (to make possible/enable) is a better choice when you want to emphasize the capability rather than the permission. 'Ny teknologi muliggjør fjernarbeid' (New technology enables remote work) sounds more natural than using tillate in that specific context.

When writing, vary your word choice. Instead of using tillate three times in a paragraph, use 'gi grønt lys' (give the green light) or 'gi tillatelse' (give permission) to keep the text engaging and show off your range.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

It shares the same root as the English word 'let', but 'tillate' took a more formal, administrative path in Scandinavian languages.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tɪlˈlɑːtə/

US /tɪlˈlɑːtə/

Second syllable (till-ATE-e).

Rhymes With

forlate prate gate mate late hate staten fatet

Common Errors

Pronouncing it like the English 'dilate'.
Forgetting to pronounce the final 'e'.
Putting stress on the first syllable.
Making the 'a' sound too short.
Confusing the 't' sounds in 'tillatt'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in signs and formal texts, easy to recognize.

Writing 7/5

Tricky conjugation (tillot/tillatt) and the need for the 'å' marker.

Speaking 6/5

Requires choosing the right register so as not to sound too formal or stiff.

Listening 4/5

Clear pronunciation usually makes it easy to hear.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

la lov ja nei gi

Learn Next

godkjenne innvilge forby nekte rettighet

Advanced

hjemmel sanksjon fullmakt dispensasjon autorisasjon

Grammar to Know

V2 Rule

Nå tillater vi det.

Infinitive with 'å'

Han tillot meg å dra.

Reflexive Pronouns

Jeg tillater meg, du tillater deg, han tillater seg.

Strong Verb Conjugation

Tillate -> tillot (not tillatete).

Passive with 'bli'

Det ble tillatt av styret.

Examples by Level

Er det tillatt å spise her?

Is it permitted to eat here?

Simple question using the past participle as an adjective.

Røyking er ikke tillatt.

Smoking is not permitted.

Common public notice format.

De tillater hunder her.

They allow dogs here.

Present tense, third person plural.

Mamma tillater det ikke.

Mom doesn't allow it.

Subject + verb + object + negation.

Er parkering tillatt?

Is parking permitted?

Short question.

Han tillater meg å gå.

He allows me to go.

Note the 'å' before the second verb.

Vi tillater bare kontanter.

We only allow cash.

Using 'tillate' with a noun object.

Det er tillatt å smile!

It is permitted to smile!

A common friendly idiom.

Læreren tillater oss å bruke ordbok.

The teacher allows us to use a dictionary.

Tillate + person + å + verb.

Museet tillater ikke fotografering.

The museum does not permit photography.

Present tense with negation and a noun.

Vil du tillate denne appen?

Will you allow this app?

Future tense with 'vil'.

De tillot barna å bli oppe sent.

They allowed the children to stay up late.

Past tense 'tillot'.

Er det tillatt å sykle på fortauet?

Is it permitted to cycle on the sidewalk?

Infinitive clause as a subject.

Vi kan ikke tillate dette.

We cannot allow this.

Modal verb 'kan' + infinitive.

Han har tillatt oss å låne bilen.

He has allowed us to borrow the car.

Present perfect 'har tillatt'.

Tillater du at jeg låner pennen din?

Do you permit that I borrow your pen?

Tillate + 'at' clause.

Jeg kan ikke tillate meg en ny telefon nå.

I cannot afford a new phone now.

Reflexive usage meaning 'to afford'.

Sjefen tillot ham å ta en fridag.

The boss permitted him to take a day off.

Past tense 'tillot'.

Reglene tillater ingen unntak.

The rules permit no exceptions.

Formal usage with a noun phrase.

Vi må tillate at folk har ulike meninger.

We must allow that people have different opinions.

Modal verb + 'at' clause.

Været tillot oss ikke å dra på tur.

The weather did not permit us to go on a trip.

Non-human subject 'været'.

Har de tillatt byggingen av det nye huset?

Have they permitted the construction of the new house?

Present perfect question.

Hun tillot seg å være litt egoistisk.

She allowed herself to be a little selfish.

Reflexive 'seg' with an adjective.

Det er strengt tillatt å stille spørsmål.

It is strictly permitted to ask questions.

Using 'strengt' (strictly) ironically or for emphasis.

Hvis omstendighetene tillater det, kommer vi.

If circumstances permit, we will come.

Conditional clause with 'hvis'.

Lovverket tillater ikke denne typen transaksjoner.

The legislation does not permit this type of transactions.

Formal legal context.

Jeg tillot meg å sende deg en e-post i går.

I took the liberty of sending you an email yesterday.

Polite reflexive usage.

Vi kan ikke tillate at sikkerheten blir kompromittert.

We cannot allow safety to be compromised.

Using a passive sub-clause after 'at'.

Metoden tillater oss å måle svært små partikler.

The method allows us to measure very small particles.

Scientific/technical context.

De har ikke tillatt innsyn i dokumentene.

They have not permitted access to the documents.

Formal noun 'innsyn' (access/insight).

Hvor mye tid tillater du deg til hvile?

How much time do you allow yourself for rest?

Reflexive question about time management.

Det er ikke lenger tillatt å bruke asbest i bygg.

It is no longer permitted to use asbestos in buildings.

Adverb 'lenger' (longer) with negation.

Jeg tillater meg å betvile sannhetsgehalten i dette.

I take the liberty of doubting the truthfulness of this.

High-register reflexive usage.

Forfatningen tillater presidenten å nedlegge veto.

The constitution permits the president to cast a veto.

Political/constitutional terminology.

Man må ikke tillate seg å bli likegyldig.

One must not allow oneself to become indifferent.

Formal 'man' + reflexive.

Eksperimentet tillot en dypere forståelse av fenomenet.

The experiment permitted a deeper understanding of the phenomenon.

Past tense in an academic context.

Vil de tillate at saken blir gjenopptatt?

Will they permit the case to be reopened?

Legal terminology 'gjenopptatt'.

Hun tillot seg en sjelden luksus.

She allowed herself a rare luxury.

Reflexive with a noun phrase.

Det tillates ikke unntak fra hovedregelen.

Exceptions from the main rule are not permitted.

S-passive form (formal).

Tiden tillater dessverre ikke en grundigere gjennomgang.

Time unfortunately does not permit a more thorough review.

Formal presentation language.

Rettsstaten kan ikke tillate vilkårlig maktbruk.

The rule of law cannot permit arbitrary use of power.

Complex political philosophy context.

Forfatteren tillater seg visse kunstneriske friheter.

The author takes certain artistic liberties.

Literary criticism context.

Det er tvilsomt om budsjettet tillater slike utskeielser.

It is doubtful whether the budget permits such excesses.

Economic/administrative register.

Tillat meg å utdype dette poenget ytterligere.

Allow me to elaborate on this point further.

Imperative as a polite transition.

Systemet tillater sømløs integrasjon av data.

The system permits seamless integration of data.

Technical/corporate register.

Vi må ikke tillate at frykten dikterer våre valg.

We must not allow fear to dictate our choices.

Philosophical/existential usage.

Hennes stolthet tillot henne ikke å be om hjelp.

Her pride did not permit her to ask for help.

Abstract subject 'stolthet'.

Dersom protokollen tillater det, vil jeg gjerne tale.

If the protocol permits it, I would like to speak.

Highly formal conditional 'dersom'.

Common Collocations

ikke tillatt

hvis tiden tillater det

tillate seg luksus

lovverket tillater

tillate innsyn

streng tillatt

tillate unntak

tillate tilgang

tillate seg å tvile

omstendighetene tillater

Common Phrases

Det er ikke tillatt.

— It is not allowed. A standard way to state a rule.

Det er ikke tillatt å bade her.

Tillat meg å...

— Allow me to... A very formal way to start an action or speech.

Tillat meg å introdusere vår gjest.

Hvis været tillater det.

— If the weather permits. Used when planning outdoor activities.

Vi griller i morgen hvis været tillater det.

Å tillate seg noe.

— To afford something or take a liberty.

Han tillot seg en dyr middag.

Alt er tillatt.

— Everything is permitted. Often used about love, war, or creativity.

I krig og kjærlighet er alt tillatt.

Å ikke tillate seg å...

— To not let oneself do something (usually due to discipline).

Hun tillot seg ikke å gråte.

Så vidt tiden tillater.

— As far as time permits.

Vi svarer på spørsmål så vidt tiden tillater.

Tillat meg å spørre.

— Allow me to ask. A polite, formal inquiry.

Tillat meg å spørre om prisen.

Det tillates ikke.

— It is not permitted (passive). Very formal.

Det tillates ikke hunder i lokalet.

Er det tillatt?

— Is it permitted? Standard question about rules.

Er det tillatt å parkere her over natten?

Often Confused With

tillate vs la

La is for letting go or casual permission; tillate is for official rules.

tillate vs tilstå

Tilstå means to confess a crime; tillate means to permit an action.

tillate vs godta

Godta is to accept something; tillate is to give permission for it.

Idioms & Expressions

"I krig og kjærlighet er alt tillatt"

— In war and love, everything is permitted. Rules don't apply in these extreme situations.

Han løy for å vinne henne; i krig og kjærlighet er alt tillatt.

common

"Å tillate seg en spøk"

— To take the liberty of making a joke, often in a serious setting.

Selv statsministeren tillot seg en spøk under talen.

neutral

"Hvis Gud vil og helsa tillater det"

— If God wills and health permits. An old-fashioned way to say 'hopefully'.

Vi ses neste år, hvis Gud vil og helsa tillater det.

old-fashioned

"Å ikke tillate seg en feil"

— To not allow oneself a single mistake; to be a perfectionist.

Kirurgen kan ikke tillate seg en eneste feil.

neutral

"Tillat meg å bemerke"

— Allow me to remark. A formal way to point something out.

Tillat meg å bemerke at klokken er mange.

formal

"Å tillate seg det meste"

— To take many liberties; to behave as if rules don't apply.

Han er sjefens sønn, så han tillater seg det meste.

informal

"Det tillater ingen tvil"

— It permits no doubt; it is absolutely certain.

Bevisene tillater ingen tvil om hvem som gjorde det.

formal

"Å tillate seg å være uenig"

— To take the liberty of disagreeing politely.

Jeg tillater meg å være uenig i den konklusjonen.

formal

"Tiden tillater ikke mer"

— Time doesn't permit more; we are out of time.

Vi må avslutte nå, tiden tillater ikke mer.

neutral

"Å tillate seg en liten utskeielse"

— To allow oneself a small indulgence or excess.

På bursdagen tillot hun seg en liten utskeielse.

neutral

Easily Confused

tillate vs tillatelse

It is the noun form.

Tillate is the action (verb); tillatelse is the thing you get (noun).

Jeg fikk tillatelse til å tillate dette.

tillate vs utillatelig

It is the negative adjective.

It means 'unacceptable' or 'not allowed' in a moral or legal sense.

Det er en utillatelig oppførsel.

tillate vs lovlig

Both relate to rules.

Lovlig means 'legal'; tillatt means 'permitted' (often within a specific context like a game or a house).

Det er lovlig, men ikke tillatt her.

tillate vs ledig

Sounds slightly similar.

Ledig means 'vacant' or 'free'; tillate means 'permit'.

Er denne stolen ledig?

tillate vs tilstede

Visual similarity.

Tilstede means 'present' (at a location); tillate means 'permit'.

Han var tilstede da de tillot det.

Sentence Patterns

Er det tillatt å [verb]?

Er det tillatt å røyke?

[Subject] tillater ikke [Noun].

Skolen tillater ikke mobbing.

[Subject] tillot [Object] å [Verb].

Han tillot meg å låne boka.

Jeg kan ikke tillate meg å [Verb].

Jeg kan ikke tillate meg å feile.

Hvis [Noun] tillater det, skal vi [Verb].

Hvis været tillater det, skal vi bade.

Tillat meg å [Verb].

Tillat meg å forklare.

Det tillates ikke [Noun].

Det tillates ikke unntak.

[Abstract Noun] tillater [Noun].

Metodikken tillater nøyaktighet.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

High in written/formal Norwegian; Medium-Low in casual spoken Norwegian.

Common Mistakes

Han tillot meg gå. → Han tillot meg å gå.
You must use the infinitive marker 'å' after 'tillate'.
Jeg tillater meg det ikke. → Jeg har ikke råd til det. / Jeg kan ikke tillate meg det.
While 'tillate seg' is correct, the word order and context for 'afford' need to be precise.
Det er ikke tillat. → Det er ikke tillatt.
Spelling: the participle/adjective needs double 't'.
Loven la oss parkere her. → Loven tillot oss å parkere her.
'La' is too informal for a law; use 'tillate'.
Jeg tillater for feil. → Jeg tillater feil. / Jeg tar høyde for feil.
Do not translate 'allow for' literally as 'tillate for'.

Tips

The 'å' rule

Always remember the 'å' after tillate + object. It's the biggest marker of B2 proficiency versus A2.

Workplace Norwegian

Use 'tillate' when writing emails to your boss about permissions or rules. It shows respect and professionalism.

Double 't'

The past participle 'tillatt' has two 't's. The imperative 'tillat' has only one. This is a common spelling test trap!

Social Contracts

Norwegians take 'ikke tillatt' seriously. If a sign says it, don't try to negotiate unless there's an emergency.

Reflexive Power

Master 'tillate seg'. It's a very sophisticated way to talk about your choices and budget.

Don't overdo it

In a bar or at home, stick to 'la'. 'Tillate' at a party might make people think you're a police officer.

Formal Contexts

When you hear 'tillate' on the news, it's almost always about a new law or a political decision.

Authority

Whenever you use 'tillate', ask yourself: Who is the authority here? If there is no authority, use 'la'.

Scientific Writing

Use 'tillate' to describe what your data allows you to see. It sounds much better than 'vise' (show) in research papers.

Time Phrases

Learn 'hvis tiden tillater det' as a single block of text. It's incredibly useful for ending meetings or plans.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Till' + 'Ate'. 'Till' I 'Ate', my mom wouldn't 'tillate' (permit) me to go out and play.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant green 'T' shaped like a gate opening to let people through.

Word Web

lov regel sjef politi adgang ja nei skilt

Challenge

Write three things that are 'tillatt' in your house and three things that are 'ikke tillatt'.

Word Origin

Derived from Middle Low German 'tolāten', which is a compound of 'to' (to) and 'lāten' (let).

Original meaning: Literally 'to let to' or 'to let through', implying opening a gate or removing a barrier.

Germanic (Indo-European).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'Jeg tillater det' as it can sound very patronizing if you don't actually have authority over the person.

English speakers often find 'tillate' too formal and use 'la' instead. In professional Norwegian, 'tillate' is much more common than 'allow' is in casual English.

The Norwegian Constitution (Grunnloven) uses forms of tillate. Famous signs: 'All stans forbudt' (No stopping - the opposite of tillatt). Legal codes use 'tillatt' for zoning and building.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Rules and Regulations

Det er ikke tillatt.
Er dette tillatt?
Ifølge reglene er det tillatt.
Vi tillater ingen unntak.

Personal Finance

Jeg kan ikke tillate meg det.
Har vi råd til å tillate oss dette?
Vi tillot oss en ferie.
Man må tillate seg litt luksus.

Workplace

Sjefen tillot meg å gå.
Vi tillater ikke overtid.
Søknaden om permisjon ble tillatt.
Tillater du at jeg ser på dette?

Technology

Tillat tilgang til kontakter.
Appen tillater ikke dette.
Vil du tillate varslinger?
Innstillinger tillater endringer.

Formal Speech

Tillat meg å presentere...
Hvis tiden tillater det...
Jeg tillater meg å tvile.
Omstendighetene tillater det ikke.

Conversation Starters

"Tillater du at jeg stiller et personlig spørsmål?"

"Er det tillatt å grille i parken her i byen?"

"Hva ville du aldri tillatt barna dine å gjøre?"

"Tillater du deg selv å slappe helt av i helgene?"

"Hvis budsjettet tillot det, hvor ville du reist?"

Journal Prompts

Skriv om en gang du tillot deg selv å gjøre noe modig eller uvanlig.

Hvilke regler i samfunnet synes du ikke burde være tillatt?

Beskriv din ideelle arbeidsplass. Hva tillater de de ansatte å gjøre?

Reflekter over uttrykket 'I krig og kjærlighet er alt tillatt'. Er du enig?

Hva er noe du ikke kan tillate deg akkurat nå, men som du håper å kunne i fremtiden?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

'La' is casual and often implies just not stopping something (e.g., 'La barna leke'). 'Tillate' is formal and implies an active decision by an authority to grant permission (e.g., 'Kommunen tillater bygging').

It is an irregular strong verb: tillate (infinitive), tillater (present), tillot (past), har tillatt (present perfect). Note the double 't' in the perfect form.

Mostly, yes. In a casual conversation with a friend, you would usually say 'la' or 'gi lov til'. Using 'tillate' can make you sound like you are reading from a rulebook.

Yes, in the reflexive form 'tillate seg noe'. For example, 'Jeg kan ikke tillate meg en ny bil' means 'I cannot afford a new car'.

Yes, if you follow it with another verb. 'Han tillot meg å gå' is correct. 'Han tillot meg gå' is incorrect. This is a common mistake for English speakers.

It functions as one. In 'Det er ikke tillatt', it describes the state of the action. It is the past participle of the verb.

The most common opposite is 'forby' (to forbid). You can also use 'nekte' (to deny).

You often see 'Adgang ikke tillatt' or 'Ingen adgang'.

Yes, it is the standard term for 'allow' in Norwegian software translations (e.g., 'Tillat posisjonstjenester').

It is a very common polite phrase meaning 'If time permits' or 'If we have enough time'.