When we use the word 'synes,' we're talking about our personal opinions or what we think about something. It's often used when you're giving your viewpoint on a topic, or when you're asking someone else for theirs.
For example, you might say 'Jeg synes at denne boken er veldig interessant' (I think this book is very interesting) to express your opinion. It's different from 'tror,' which is more about believing something to be true, regardless of personal opinion. Think of 'synes' as expressing what 'seems' to you personally.
When we use the word synes, we're talking about opinions or what we feel about something. It's about personal thoughts and beliefs, not facts.
For example, if you say "Jeg synes den er fin" (I think it is nice), you're expressing your personal opinion about something's appearance. It's how you perceive it, not a universal truth.
You wouldn't use synes for factual statements, like "Jeg synes vann koker ved 100 grader" (I think water boils at 100 degrees), because that's a fact, not an opinion. For facts, you would use "tror" (believe/think) or simply state the fact.
So, remember: synes is for subjective thoughts and feelings.
§ Synes vs. Tenker
Many learners confuse 'synes' with 'tenker'. Both can translate to 'to think' in English, but they are not interchangeable in Norwegian. 'Synes' is for personal opinions, feelings, or judgments. 'Tenker' is for factual thinking, considering, or intellectual processes. This is the most important distinction to grasp.
- DEFINITION
- To think (opinion), to find, to feel.
Here’s why this matters:
- Use 'synes' for opinions: When you express what you feel about something, or your personal take on it.
- Use 'tenker' for thoughts/facts: When you are thinking about something in a more objective way, or considering a problem.
Jeg synes
Jeg tenker på deg. (I am thinking of you. - *A thought process*)
§ Synes vs. Tror
Another common mistake is confusing 'synes' with 'tror'. While both involve a degree of belief, their focus is different.
- DEFINITION
- To believe (in something, or that something is true).
Think of it this way:
- Use 'synes' for subjective opinions: What you personally feel or find.
- Use 'tror' for belief in factual truth or predictions: What you believe to be true, even if you don't have absolute proof. It often implies a prediction or an assessment of likelihood.
Jeg synes
Jeg tror det kommer til å regne. (I believe it's going to rain. - *A prediction/belief about a fact*)
§ Forgetting the 'At' clause
When using 'synes' to introduce an opinion about a statement or a fact, you often need the conjunction 'at' (that). Forgetting 'at' can make your sentence sound unnatural or grammatically incorrect.
Jeg synes at han er snill. (I think that he is kind. - *Correct*)
Compare this to a common mistake:
Jeg synes han er snill. (Less natural, often incorrect in formal settings, though sometimes heard informally.)
Curiosidade
The English word 'seem' shares a common Germanic root with 'synes'. You can think of 'synes' as 'it seems to me' or 'I find it to be'.
Exemplos por nível
Jeg synes den er fin.
I think it is nice.
First person singular, present tense.
Synes du det er dyrt?
Do you think it is expensive?
Second person singular, present tense, question.
Vi synes det er gøy.
We think it is fun.
First person plural, present tense.
De synes maten er god.
They think the food is good.
Third person plural, present tense.
Han synes været er dårlig.
He thinks the weather is bad.
Third person singular (masculine), present tense.
Hun synes kaffen er sterk.
She thinks the coffee is strong.
Third person singular (feminine), present tense.
Jeg synes Oslo er en fin by.
I think Oslo is a nice city.
First person singular, present tense, with a noun phrase.
Hva synes du om boken?
What do you think about the book?
Second person singular, present tense, question about an object.
Jeg synes at norsk mat er god.
I think that Norwegian food is good.
Hva synes du om denne boka?
What do you think about this book?
Vi synes det er viktig å lære norsk.
We think it is important to learn Norwegian.
Hun synes han er veldig hyggelig.
She thinks he is very nice.
De synes været er kaldt i dag.
They think the weather is cold today.
Jeg synes ikke det er en god idé.
I don't think it is a good idea.
Synes du at Oslo er en fin by?
Do you think that Oslo is a nice city?
Vi synes filmen var litt lang.
We think the movie was a bit long.
Jeg synes at filmen var utmerket, til tross for de lunkne kritikkene.
I think that the film was excellent, despite the lukewarm reviews.
Hun synes det er beundringsverdig at han har viet livet sitt til humanitært arbeid.
She thinks it is admirable that he has dedicated his life to humanitarian work.
Vi synes at regjeringens nye politikk er dypt feilbarlig og vil få negative konsekvenser.
We think that the government's new policy is deeply flawed and will have negative consequences.
Hva synes du om denne intrikate filosofiske teksten? Er den forståelig?
What do you think about this intricate philosophical text? Is it understandable?
De synes det er urovekkende hvordan sosiale medier påvirker ungdommens selvbilde.
They think it is unsettling how social media affects young people's self-image.
Jeg synes det er utfordrende å finne en balanse mellom jobb og fritid i dagens samfunn.
I think it is challenging to find a balance between work and leisure in today's society.
Han synes at kunstig intelligens representerer både en enorm mulighet og en potensiell fare.
He thinks that artificial intelligence represents both an enormous opportunity and a potential danger.
Mange synes at klimaendringene krever en langt mer radikal respons fra verdens ledere enn det vi ser nå.
Many think that climate change demands a far more radical response from world leaders than what we are seeing now.
Padrões gramaticais
Expressões idiomáticas
"Jeg synes at..."
I think that... (expressing an opinion)
Jeg synes at norsk er et vakkert språk. (I think that Norwegian is a beautiful language.)
neutral"Hva synes du?"
What do you think? (asking for an opinion)
Vi kan spise pizza eller taco. Hva synes du? (We can eat pizza or tacos. What do you think?)
neutral"Jeg synes det er viktig å..."
I think it is important to...
Jeg synes det er viktig å lære nye ord hver dag. (I think it is important to learn new words every day.)
neutral"Jeg synes synd på ham."
I feel sorry for him.
Han mistet jobben. Jeg synes synd på ham. (He lost his job. I feel sorry for him.)
neutral"Jeg synes ikke det."
I don't think so.
Skal vi gå ut i kveld? Jeg synes ikke det, jeg er trøtt. (Shall we go out tonight? I don't think so, I'm tired.)
neutral"Synes du ikke?"
Don't you think so?
Været er fint i dag, synes du ikke? (The weather is nice today, don't you think so?)
neutral"Jeg synes at det var en god idé."
I think that was a good idea.
Vi dro til fjellet i helgen. Jeg synes at det var en god idé. (We went to the mountains this weekend. I think that was a good idea.)
neutral"Hva synes du om...?"
What do you think about...?
Hva synes du om den nye filmen? (What do you think about the new movie?)
neutral"Jeg synes du er flink."
I think you are good/clever.
Du snakker norsk så bra! Jeg synes du er flink. (You speak Norwegian so well! I think you are good.)
neutral"Jeg synes det var rart."
I thought it was strange.
Han sa hei og gikk videre uten å stoppe. Jeg synes det var rart. (He said hello and walked on without stopping. I thought it was strange.)
neutralPadrões de frases
Jeg synes at ...
Jeg synes at norsk er interessant. (I think that Norwegian is interesting.)
Hva synes du om ...?
Hva synes du om maten? (What do you think about the food?)
Jeg synes (ikke) det.
Jeg synes det. (I think so.) Jeg synes ikke det. (I don't think so.)
Synes du at ...?
Synes du at det er vanskelig? (Do you think that it is difficult?)
Hun synes at ...
Hun synes at filmen var bra. (She thinks that the movie was good.)
Vi synes at ...
Vi synes at kurset er nyttig. (We think that the course is useful.)
De synes at ...
De synes at det er kaldt. (They think that it is cold.)
Jeg synes han er snill.
Jeg synes han er snill. (I think he is kind.)
Memorize
Mnemônico
SYN-thetic cheese has an ODD SMELL, like an OPINION. (Synes sounds a bit like 'synthetic' and you use it for opinions.)
Associação visual
Imagine someone with a thought bubble above their head, but instead of words, there's a big question mark, symbolizing an opinion they're forming. They're 'synes-ing' about something.
Word Web
Desafio
Translate: 'I think it is good.' (Jeg synes det er bra.) 'What do you think?' (Hva synes du?)
Origem da palavra
Old Norse 'sýnask'
Significado original: to be seen, appear, seem
North GermanicContexto cultural
When expressing opinions in Norwegian, <i>synes</i> is the go-to verb for subjective thoughts or beliefs. It's different from <i>tror</i> (to believe/think factually) or <i>tenke</i> (to think/ponder). Using <i>synes</i> correctly shows you're giving your personal take, which is common in Norwegian conversations.
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasThis is a common question! 'Synes' is for expressing an opinion or what you think about something. For example, 'Jeg synes filmen var bra' means 'I think the movie was good.' You're giving your personal take. 'Tenker' is about the act of thinking, pondering, or considering. For instance, 'Jeg tenker på deg' means 'I am thinking of you.' It's less about an opinion and more about the mental process.
Another excellent question! 'Synes' is for opinions, as we've discussed. You use it when you have a subjective feeling or judgment. 'Tror' means 'to believe' or 'to guess.' It's used when you think something is true but you're not entirely certain, or when you believe in something. For example, 'Jeg tror det blir regn' (I think/believe it will rain) – you're guessing based on some evidence, not stating an opinion about the rain itself. If you're giving your opinion on the rain, like 'Jeg synes regnet er koselig' (I think the rain is cozy), then you use 'synes'.
No, not really. 'Synes' is for opinions, not facts. If something is a fact, you wouldn't say 'Jeg synes jorden er rund' (I think the earth is round), because that's a proven fact. You would just state the fact. Save 'synes' for when you're expressing your personal view or feeling.
'Synes' usually takes a clause (a mini-sentence) as its object, often introduced by 'at' (that). For example, 'Jeg synes at den var god' (I think that it was good). You can also use it with an adjective or adverb, like 'Jeg synes den var god' (I think it was good).
Good point. 'Synes' is a regular verb in the present tense, but it's a bit irregular in the past. Here's how it goes:
- Present: synes (jeg synes, du synes, han/hun/det synes, vi synes, dere synes, de synes)
- Past: syntes (jeg syntes, etc.)
- Present perfect: har syntes
- Past perfect: hadde syntes
As an A1 learner, focus on the present and past tense first.
In the context of expressing an opinion, yes, it translates to 'to think.' However, it can also mean 'to find' in the sense of finding something to be a certain way, like 'Jeg synes det er vanskelig' (I find it difficult).
Absolutely! It's perfect for that. You can ask: 'Hva synes du?' (What do you think?) or 'Hva synes du om filmen?' (What do you think about the movie?). It's a very natural way to inquire about someone's opinion.
Yes, very common! You'll hear and use 'synes' all the time in everyday conversation in Norway. It's essential for expressing your opinions and engaging in discussions.
Here are a few:
- 'Jeg synes maten var deilig.' (I think the food was delicious.)
- 'Hva synes du om det nye huset?' (What do you think about the new house?)
- 'Jeg syntes konserten var fantastisk.' (I thought the concert was fantastic.)
The biggest mistake is often confusing it with 'tror' (to believe) or 'tenker' (to think/ponder). Remember: synes = opinion. Don't use it for facts or mere belief. Another common one is forgetting to conjugate it correctly in the past tense ('syntes').
Teste-se 30 perguntas
This sentence means 'I think it is nice.' The verb 'synes' comes after the subject 'Jeg'.
This question means 'What do you think about the food?' 'Hva' (What) starts the question, followed by 'synes' and the subject 'du'.
This sentence means 'We think it is difficult.' 'Vi' (We) is the subject, followed by 'synes'.
Choose the correct verb: Jeg ___ at maten er god.
'Synes' is used for personal opinions about something experienced, like food.
Which sentence correctly uses 'synes'?
'Synes' expresses a personal opinion about an observation or feeling, like the weather being cold.
What is the best translation for 'Jeg synes det er vanskelig'?
'Synes' implies a personal perception or feeling, making 'I find it difficult' a more accurate translation than a general 'I think'.
You can use 'synes' when expressing a belief that isn't based on personal experience, for example, about a future event.
'Synes' is for personal opinions based on observation or experience. For beliefs not based on personal experience or for future events, 'tror' is generally more appropriate.
It is correct to say 'Jeg synes at du er en god person.'
This is a correct usage. 'Synes' is used to express a personal opinion or judgment about someone's character.
When asking for someone's opinion about something they have experienced, 'Hva tror du?' is the most natural question.
When asking for an opinion based on experience or observation, 'Hva synes du?' is more natural than 'Hva tror du?'. 'Hva tror du?' is for beliefs or guesses.
Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) about a movie you recently watched. Use 'synes' to express your opinion about it. Remember to state whether you liked it or not, and why.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg synes den siste filmen jeg så var veldig bra. Skuespillet var fantastisk, og historien var spennende. Jeg synes alle burde se den.
Imagine you are discussing Norwegian food with a friend. Write three sentences where you use 'synes' to express your opinion on different Norwegian dishes (e.g., fårikål, kjøttkaker, brunost).
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg synes fårikål er en veldig god rett, spesielt om høsten. Men jeg synes kjøttkaker kan være litt kjedelige. Jeg synes også brunost er en interessant smak, selv om den er litt uvanlig.
You are planning a trip to Norway. Write a short email (3-4 sentences) to a Norwegian friend asking for their opinion on the best time to visit and what places they 'synes' are a must-see.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hei [Vennens navn], Jeg planlegger en tur til Norge snart. Jeg lurer på når du synes det er den beste tiden å besøke. Og hva synes du er de stedene jeg absolutt må se når jeg er der? Hilsen [Ditt navn]
Hva synes Ola om været?
Read this passage:
Kari og Ola diskuterer været. Kari sier: "Jeg synes det er for kaldt i dag. Jeg vil mye heller ha sol og varme." Ola svarer: "Jeg synes det er perfekt vær for en tur i fjellet. Ikke for varmt, ikke for kaldt." De har tydeligvis forskjellige meninger om hva som er godt vær.
Hva synes Ola om været?
Ola sier eksplisitt: 'Jeg synes det er perfekt vær for en tur i fjellet.'
Ola sier eksplisitt: 'Jeg synes det er perfekt vær for en tur i fjellet.'
Hva synes den andre vennen om middagsplanene?
Read this passage:
En gruppe venner planlegger å spise middag sammen. Én sier: "Jeg synes vi skal spise italiensk i kveld. Jeg er veldig sulten på pasta." En annen svarer: "Jeg synes heller vi skal prøve den nye meksikanske restauranten. Jeg har hørt den er veldig god." De må bli enige om hvor de skal gå.
Hva synes den andre vennen om middagsplanene?
Den andre vennen sier: 'Jeg synes heller vi skal prøve den nye meksikanske restauranten.'
Den andre vennen sier: 'Jeg synes heller vi skal prøve den nye meksikanske restauranten.'
Hva synes Marte om den nye læreboken?
Read this passage:
Læreren spør elevene hva de synes om den nye læreboken. Marte sier: "Jeg synes den er veldig lett å forstå og har gode eksempler." Per sier: "Jeg synes den er litt kjedelig, men informasjonen er nyttig." De har begge positive og negative tanker om boken.
Hva synes Marte om den nye læreboken?
Marte sier: 'Jeg synes den er veldig lett å forstå og har gode eksempler.'
Marte sier: 'Jeg synes den er veldig lett å forstå og har gode eksempler.'
The speaker is talking about the importance of learning Norwegian.
Someone is asking for an opinion about a recent movie.
The people mentioned have an opinion on a project's outcome.
Read this aloud:
Jeg synes at det er veldig fint vær i dag.
Focus: synes
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Hva synes du om denne boken?
Focus: Hva synes du
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
Vi synes at forslaget ditt er interessant.
Focus: forslaget ditt
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) expressing your opinion on the impact of artificial intelligence on daily life. Use 'synes' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Jeg synes kunstig intelligens har en betydelig innvirkning på dagliglivet vårt. Den effektiviserer mange prosesser og kan gi oss nye muligheter. Imidlertid er jeg også litt bekymret for personvern og jobbsikkerhet. Det er viktig å finne en balanse.
Describe a recent controversial news event and state your opinion on it, using 'synes' to introduce your viewpoint. Aim for 3-4 sentences.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Den nylige debatten om bruk av ansiktsgjenkjenningsteknologi har vært veldig interessant. Jeg synes det er et komplekst etisk spørsmål med både potensielle fordeler for sikkerhet og klare ulemper for personvern. Det krever grundig vurdering fra lovgivere.
Imagine you are giving advice to a friend about a dilemma. Write a short email (3-4 sentences) offering your opinion on what they should do, using 'synes' at least once.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Hei [Vennens navn], Jeg har tenkt mye på dilemmaet ditt. Jeg synes du bør følge magefølelsen din og velge den veien som gir deg mest glede på lang sikt, selv om det kan være vanskelig nå. Lykke til!
Hva synes noen forskere er nødvendig for å avverge de verste konsekvensene av klimaendringene?
Read this passage:
Klimaendringene er et globalt problem som krever umiddelbar handling. Noen forskere synes at radikale endringer i livsstil er nødvendige for å avverge de verste konsekvensene. Andre mener at teknologisk innovasjon vil være nøkkelen til å løse utfordringene. Debatten er kompleks og løsningene er mange, men det er bred enighet om at noe må gjøres.
Hva synes noen forskere er nødvendig for å avverge de verste konsekvensene av klimaendringene?
Ifølge teksten 'Noen forskere synes at radikale endringer i livsstil er nødvendige for å avverge de verste konsekvensene.'
Ifølge teksten 'Noen forskere synes at radikale endringer i livsstil er nødvendige for å avverge de verste konsekvensene.'
Hva er fagforeningenes mening om den foreslåtte skattereformen, ifølge teksten?
Read this passage:
Regjeringen har lagt frem et nytt forslag om skattereform. Mange økonomer synes forslaget er for lite ambisiøst og at det ikke vil ha den ønskede effekten på økonomien. Fagforeningene på sin side synes reformen vil ramme vanlige arbeidstakere urettferdig. Dette viser kompleksiteten ved å implementere store økonomiske reformer.
Hva er fagforeningenes mening om den foreslåtte skattereformen, ifølge teksten?
Teksten sier: 'Fagforeningene på sin side synes reformen vil ramme vanlige arbeidstakere urettferdig.'
Teksten sier: 'Fagforeningene på sin side synes reformen vil ramme vanlige arbeidstakere urettferdig.'
Hva er foreldrenes generelle mening om barns skjermtid, ifølge avsnittet?
Read this passage:
Debatten om bruken av sosiale medier blant unge har blusset opp igjen. Foreldre synes ofte at barnas skjermtid er for høy og at det påvirker skolearbeidet negativt. Ungdommene selv synes derimot at sosiale medier er en viktig plattform for sosialisering og informasjonsinnhenting. Det er en pågående diskusjon med ulike perspektiver.
Hva er foreldrenes generelle mening om barns skjermtid, ifølge avsnittet?
Teksten opplyser: 'Foreldre synes ofte at barnas skjermtid er for høy og at det påvirker skolearbeidet negativt.'
Teksten opplyser: 'Foreldre synes ofte at barnas skjermtid er for høy og at det påvirker skolearbeidet negativt.'
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
